Saxophone Quartet,Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Baritone Saxophone,Soprano Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1416919 Composed by Johannes Brahms. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. 19th Century,Chamber,Contest,Festival,Historic,Romantic Period. 17 pages. Jmsgu3 #998509. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.1416919). The Fugue in A-flat minor, WoO 8, is one of the early organ works by Brahms, composed around 1856-57. It is an intense, brooding fugue published without an opus number. The fugue is part of a small set of four early organ pieces by Brahms, including the chorale prelude and fugue O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid (WoO 7). These early organ works demonstrate Brahms' mastery of counterpoint at a young age. While Brahms did not have a close personal relationship with the organ, the genre of the chorale prelude allowed him to pay homage to his musical heritage, following the conventions of the form by paraphrasing and elaborating on pre-existing Lutheran chorale melodies. The Fugue in A-flat minor is considered one of the most significant and high-quality of Brahms' early organ works. It was eventually assigned the posthumous opus number 122, which is still known today. So, in summary, the Fugue in A-flat minor is an essential early organ work by Brahms that demonstrates his mastery of counterpoint, even though the organ was not his primary instrument. It is considered a significant and high-quality piece within Brahms' overall organ output.

Saxophone Quartet,Woodwind Ensemble Baritone Saxophone,Soprano Saxophone - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1101605 By Jaco Pastorius. By Jaco Pastorius. Arranged by Jim Fieldhouse. Classical,Funk,Jazz. 9 pages. Nefarious Music Publications #704978. Published by Nefarious Music Publications (A0.1101605). Portrait of Tracy has become one of the landmark pieces of jazz bass guitar repertoire, featuring the natural harmonics of the instrument to create an etherial quality. Written by the American jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius, this atmospheric composition soon established itself as a bass standard and a benchmark for other players to aspire to. Jaco's composition has been sensitivley scored for three soprano saxophones and one baritone. This is perhaps an unusual choice of piece to transcibe for saxophone quartet but with the right aproach to performance, it lends itself well to this kind of ensemble. The three sopranos play the high floating bass harmonics, while the baritone holds down the pulse provided by the lower strings of the instrument. The four players will need to demonstrate incredible control, balance and ensemble flexibility, to create the right relaxed ambience for the music to sound natural. Scoring: Soprano Sax 1 Soprano Sax 2 Soprano Sax 3 Baritione Sax Difficulty Rating : advanced.

Saxophone Quartet,Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Baritone Saxophone,Soprano Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1434546 Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Baroque,Chamber,Contest,Festival,Historic,Standards. 475 pages. Jmsgu3 #1014683. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.1434546). The Partitas, BWV 825-830, are a set of six keyboard suites composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and published in 1731 as his Opus 1, the first of his works to be published under his direction. They were among the last keyboard suites Bach composed, written between 1725 and 1731, after the English and French Suites. Each partita consists of a series of dances, typically opening with a prelude-like movement followed by an Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, and Gigue, with additional dances inserted. The tonalities of the six partitas form an ascending and descending pattern of intervals, starting and ending with keys related to Bach's name (B-flat and B). Bach supervised the publication, initially publishing them separately before compiling them into the 1731 Clavier-Übung collection. Many surviving printed copies contain handwritten annotations, some likely stemming from Bach himself, providing insights into the composer's final intentions. They are among Bach's greatest keyboard works, demonstrating mastery of counterpoint, expression, and the instrument's technical capabilities.  The partitas range widely in character, from the poetic No. 1 in B-flat to the monumental tragic No. 6 in E minor. So, the Partitas represent the culmination of Bach's genius for keyboard composition and his final thoughts on the dance suite genre.YouTube Playlist Link:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT9KtY0S7DRDEAJI68McqwUGB6XPMvGHl.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quartet - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549860 Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Baroque,Concert,Easter,Sacred,Wedding. 14 pages. Jmsgu3 #3557041. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549860). Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, the Voice is calling us) from Cantata BWV 140. Duration: ca. 4:00, Score: 10 pages, Program this for church services during the Easter season, weddings, or as a recital encore.Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Awake, the Voice is calling us) also known as: Sleepers Awake Bach composed his church cantata Wachet auf (BWV 140) as part of his second annual cantata cycle covering the entire annual church calendar. It is based on the hymn of the same name by Philipp Nicolai (1599). The hymn text covers the readings for the 27th Sunday after Trinity. Bach designed the cantata in seven movements, setting the stanzas in various forms. Among these forms are the chorale fantasia, the chorale prelude, and a four-part chorale. He casts the new lyrics as recitatives – in a manner similar to the opera. Fourth Movement Bach writes the fourth movement, Zion hört die Wächter singen (Zion hears the watchmen singing), in the style of a chorale prelude with the chorale phrases performed as a strict cantus firmus. The phrases seem to enter at times erratically against the famous lyrical melody. The violins play this melody in unison as a foil against the cantus phrases. The violin melody is so independent and complete that when the cantus melody appears it catches the listener at times totally off-guard. Bach later transcribed this movement for organ (BWV 645). This transcription became No. 1 of the Six Schübler Chorales. Bach Overview First of all, Johann Sebastian Bach is maybe the greatest composer in music history. Certainly, he was prolific. As a result, everyone has heard of his works. Furthermore, these works number well over a thousand. It seems like people are probably most familiar with the instrumental works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, and the Goldberg Variations. But, similarly famous are such noteworthy works as the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and certainly the Art of Fugue. Seems like his most famous vocal works include the most noteworthy Mass in B Minor. Also, most noteworthy, though, are the St. John Passion, and certainly the Christmas Oratorio.  History Bach came from a long line of musicians and above all, composers. Consequently, he, first of all, pursued a career as a church organist. So as a result, he gained employment in various Protestant churches in Germany. For a while, he worked as a court musician in Weimar and Köthen. Here he probably developed his organ style and likewise his chamber music style. Eventually, he, therefore, gained an appointment as Cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig. Here he worked until difficulties with his employer ultimately drove him away. The King of Poland finally appointed him as court composer.  Style It seems like Bach created a fascinating new international style. He synthesized elements of the most noteworthy European music ideas into his new style. Even more, this new style was probably his synthesis of European musical rhythm and form. Furthermore, he demonstrated a complete mastery of counterpoint and motivic development. His sense of harmonic organization probably propelled him to the top. Revival               Mendelssohn conducted a Bach revival in the nineteenth century. His effort probably helped to re-familiarize the public with the magnitude of Bach’s works. During this period, scholars published many noteworthy Bach biographies. Moreover, Wolfgang Schmieder published the BWV (Bach Werke Verzeichnis). As a result, this is now the official catalog of his entire artistic output. The BWV number allows us to locate a work in the catalog. Sometimes scholars will simply use an S (Schmieder) as an abbreviation for BWV.  Voyager      

Saxophone Quartet,Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Baritone Saxophone,Soprano Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1431523 Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Baroque,Chamber,Contest,Festival,Historic,Standards. 70 pages. Jmsgu3 #1011997. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.1431523). BACH: Partita No. 3 BWV 827 Contents: Fantasia, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Burlesca, Scherzo, Gigue. Bach's Partita No. 3 in A minor, BWV 827, is an essential work in the composer's output for keyboard instruments. Here are some key points about this piece: It is one of the six partitas that Bach composed for harpsichord or clavichord, regarded as pinnacles of Baroque keyboard music. The Partita No. 3 consists of seven movements following the traditional partita structure: Allemande, Corrente, Sarabande, Burlesca, Scherzo, Gigue.  The Burlesca movement is particularly notable, featuring rapid hand-crossing and a lively, humorous character unusual for Bach's works. The Sarabande movement is considered one of Bach's most profound and expressive, with its rich harmonies and emotional depth. The final Gigue is a tour de force of contrapuntal writing, with multiple melodic lines interwoven in a lively dance rhythm. With the other partitas, BWV 827 demonstrates Bach's mastery of various dance forms and his ability to elevate them into profound artistic statements. So, in summary, Bach's Partita No. 3 stands out for its structural complexity, emotional range, and virtuosic demands, cementing its place among the composer's most outstanding keyboard achievements.

Saxophone Quartet,Woodwind Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Baritone Saxophone,Soprano Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1509854 By Francesco Leone. By Polish traditional. Arranged by Francesco Leone. Traditional. 25 pages. Glissato Edizioni Musicali #1085082. Published by Glissato Edizioni Musicali (A0.1509854). Step into the vibrant world of traditional Polish music with Grandpa's Polka, also celebrated as Polka Dziadek or The Clarinet Polka. This lively folksong, hailing from the late 19th century, has been a staple in folk celebrations and is now ingeniously arranged for Saxophone Quartet S.A.T.B. by Francesco Leone. This intermediate-level arrangement captures the energetic bounce and joyful spirit of the original melody while showcasing the versatility and rich tonality of the saxophone.This eBook provides both the full score and individual parts for the Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone saxophones, each meticulously arranged to ensure a rewarding and authentic polka experience. The arrangement pays homage to the piece’s folk roots while adapting it for the dynamic range of the saxophone ensemble, allowing each instrument to shine in both melody and harmony.An audio demonstration of this arrangement can be found at the provided link to www.glissato.it, offering an excellent opportunity for musicians to familiarize themselves with the pace and vivacity of the piece. The audio demo serves not only as a guide for interpretation but also as a source of inspiration, capturing the exuberance and communal joy that Grandpa's Polka evokes.Whether performed in a concert hall or at a community gathering, this eBook ensures that the rich cultural heritage of Grandpa's Polka is accessible to saxophonists eager to explore folk melodies in a classical setting. It's a delightful addition to any saxophone quartet's repertoire, promising to engage audiences with its infectious rhythm and nostalgic charm.