Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.553690 Composed by Frederick Delius. Arranged by Ray Thompson. 20th Century,Concert,Holiday,Wedding. 21 pages. RayThompsonMusic #3506929. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.553690). On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring is a tone poem composed in 1912 by Frederick Delius; it was first performed in Leipzig on 23 October 1913. It is the first of Two Pieces for Small Orchestra, the second piece being Summer Night on the River, although these have for many years existed separately on recordings and in the concert hall.The piece opens with a slow three-bar sequence; its first theme is an exchange of cuckoo calls.The second theme is  taken from a Norwegian folk song, In Ola Valley, which was brought to his attention by the Australian composer and folk-song arranger Percy Grainger. (The theme was also arranged by Edvard Grieg in his 19 Norwegian Folksongs, Op. 66.)The clarinet returns with the cuckoo calls before the piece ends in pastoral fashion.Arranged symphonic wind and contra bass/tuba.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.813870 Composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Christmas,Instructional,Romantic Period,Standards. 24 pages. Regis Bookshar #6612509. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.813870). Woodwind Quintet - Advanced/Intermediate - Digital Download. This marvelous arrangement of the March from Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's extremely popular, The Nutcracker Suite, would be a fabulous addition to any music library and could be performed for concerts and recitals but would be most appropriate during the Holiday season. This selection has been arranged to keep all of the intensity and excitement of the original composition and is suitable for high school and college students but professional musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (24 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.The Nutcracker is an 1892 two-act ballet with a score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960's and is performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America. Tchaikovsky's score has become one of his most famous compositions. Some critics have called it astonishingly rich in detailed inspiration and from beginning to end, beautiful, melodious, original and characteristic. The ballet's first complete performance outside Russia took place in England in 1934. The first complete United States performance was on December 24, 1944, by the San Francisco Ballet. It was such an enormous success that the San Francisco Ballet has presented The Nutcracker every Christmas Eve and throughout the winter season, debuting new productions in 1944, 1954, 1967 and 2004. In Salt Lake City, it has been performed every year since 1963. The New York City Ballet gave its first annual performance in 1954. In addition to annual live stagings of the work, many productions have also been televised or released on home video.The Nutcracker continues to be one of Tchaikovsky's most popular compositions and contains some of his most memorable works. Tchaikovsky made a selection of eight of the numbers from the ballet before the ballet's December 1892 premiere, forming The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, and is intended for concert performance. The suite was first performed, under the composer's direction, on March 19, 1892. The suite became instantly popular with almost every number encored at its premiere.Regis Bookshar thought that it would be wonderful if other instrumentalists could also have the opportunity to play some of these wonderful compositions, originally scored for a full orchestra, and has arranged two of the selections, the popular March and the Russian Dance for a wide variety of instrumental ensembles. So, in addition to this version of the March for a Woodwind Quintet, consisting of 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 French Horn and 1 Bassoon, he has made quite a few other arrangements of this selection for various Quintets and Octets and are readily available. If you should decide to purchase this arrangement of the March, I would highly encourage you to also consider purchasing the arrangement of the Russian Dance as well. Scheduling the March followed by the Russian Dance would be a very satisfying addition to any concert or recital. Please take the time to look for other versions of these compositions. You may find something else that might also suit your needs.I would also encourage you to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar, as there are numerous selections in a variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you. Please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of the March from Tchaikovsky's marvelous holiday favorite, The Nutcracker Suite, will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.912635 Composed by Johnson Lee. Contemporary,World. 35 pages. Johnson lee #2897207. Published by johnson lee (A0.912635). https://youtu.be/0hVSzb1pUP0INTERSTELLAR   First movement - Astronomical Space   Synopsis   Astronomical Space is the void that exists between celestial bodies. However, the space is not completely empty, between, the vacuum consists of electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields and dust and cosmic rays.    Within this space, planets and moon freely orbits in their path. An unseen force is behind the organized path and movement of these planets in the galaxy.   This movement uses different aspects of palindrome concept to depict the organised space in music. First, the time signature expands and contracts in palindromic fashion, indicating an orderly manner in which the music orbits. Next, the intervals expands exponentially and also contracts in retrograde fashion.   Analysis   This movement uses palindrome concept for compositional technique. Rhythmically, it is palindromic in nature. The note values starts from a minim to dotted crotchet, crotchet, quaver, semiquavers.  The time signature also expands and contract palandromically, starting from 2/4, 3/4 , 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 5/4, 4/4, 3/4, 2/4.   The intervallic relationships are also in palindrome. Ascending from middle C the interval starts with Minor 2nd and expands exponentially to Major 2nd, Minor 3rd , Major 3rd, Perfect 4th , Augmented 4th , Perfect 5th to the tonic.   Conversely, the intervals descend in similar fashion.       French Horn begins with Low G (Concert C) and builds up this set of intervals reaching high B (Concert E). This melody is repeated by the Clarinet at the start of the new time signature of 3/ 4. Oboe enters at the next time signature of 4 /4. Flute at time signature of 5/4 and Bassoon at time signature of 6/4. The retrograde inversion of this motif is announced by the French Horn, this time starting on its high G (Concert C). Behind all this build up, the intervallic motif as shown above is played. At section A, this motif is announced without the rhythmic palindrome. The motif and its inversion builds up to a climax and re-asserts its presence with all the instruments playing at Bar before rehearsal mark B.  The piece ends with the French horn performing the same motif at the beginning of this movement.         Second Movement - Celestial Bodies   Synopsis   Celestial bodies or Astronomical objects refers to a single cohesive structure that is bound together usually by gravity or electromagnetism. Some examples includes asteroids, moons, planets and the stars. These objects or bodies may range from a single planet to star clusters, nebulae or entire galaxies and they have their position in space.     This movement uses whole tone scale. The whole tone scale is used in this movement as it does not create sharp dissonances and the space between each interval is equal whichever way you stack the notes.   The main melody, 8 bars long is repeated in canonic fashion. A countermelody is announced and also repeated by the ensemble in canonic fashion. Thereafter, both melodies will merge and this movement ends with a chord consisting of the whole tone scale starting on B.   The music gradually unveils the each axis of the motion in which the astronomi.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.813842 Composed by Antonin Dvorak. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Contemporary,Folk,Romantic Period,Standards. 18 pages. Regis Bookshar #6533959. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.813842). Largo (from Symphony No. 9 in E minor) (From the New World) (Db) (Woodwind Quintet) - Intermediate - Digital Download. This marvelous arrangement of the Largo, based on the second movement of Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, would be a fabulous addition to any music library and could be performed for concerts, recitals and church services, especially Funerals, but would be appropriate any time during the church year. This arrangement is suitable for high school and college students but professional musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (18 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from the The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available for the first time.Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 (subtitled From the New World and popularly know as the New World Symphony), was composed by Antonin Dvorak in 1893 while he was the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America from 1892 to 1895. It premiered at Carnegie Hall in New York City on December 16, 1893 and has been described as one of the most popular of all symphonies. The second movement of the symphony, upon which this arrangement is based, is marked Largo, and begins with a harmonic progression of chords which is then followed by a solo instrument playing the famous main theme.Dvorak was interested in Native American music and the African-American spirituals he heard in North America. While director of the National Conservatory he encountered an African-American student, Harry T. Burleigh, who sang traditional spirituals to him. Burleigh, later a composer himself, said that Dvorak had absorbed their spirit before writing his own melodies. Dvorak stated:    I am convinced that the future music of this country must be founded on what are called Negro melodies. These can be the foundation of a serious and original school of composition to be developed in the United States. These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil. They are folk songs of America and your composers must turn to them.He further explained how Native American music influenced his symphony:  I have not actually used any of these (Native American) melodies. I have simply written original themes embodying the peculiarities of the Indian music, and, using these themes as subjects, have developed them with all the resources of modern rhythms, counterpoint, and orchestral colour.In 1893, a newspaper interview quoted Dvorak as saying, I found that the music of the negroes and of the Indians was practically identical, and that the music of the two races bore a remarkable similarity to the music of Scotland. Most historians agree that Dvorak is referring to the pentatonic scale, which is typical of each of these musical traditions.Dvorak was influenced not only by music he heard, but also by what he had seen, in America. He wrote that he would not have composed his American pieces as he had if he had not seen America. It has been said that Dvorak was inspired by the wide open spaces of America, such as the prairies he may have seen on his trip to Iowa in the summer of 1893. Notices about several performances of the symphony include the phrase wide open spaces about what inspired the symphony and/or about the feelings it conveys to listeners.The theme from the Largo was adapted into the spiritual Goin' Home (often mistakenly considered a folk song or traditional spiritual) by Dvorak's pupil, William Arms Fisher, who wrote the lyrics in 1922. Regis Bookshar thought it would be wonderful if other instrumentalists could have the opportunity to play this beautiful melody, so, in addition to this version for a Woodwind Quintet, consisting of 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Clarinet, 1 French Horn and 1 Bassoon, he has made quite a few other arrangements of this.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1083857 Composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Classical,Contest,Festival,Instructional,Multicultural,Romantic Period,World. 16 pages. Regis Bookshar #688055. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.1083857). Coronation March, TH 50, CW 47 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Woodwind Quintet - Advanced/Intermediate - Digital Download. This marvelous arrangement of Peter Tchaikovsky's Coronation March, sometimes called Festival March or Festival Coronation March, would be a fabulous addition to any music library and could be performed for concerts, recitals and other festive occasions. This arrangement keeps all of the intensity and excitement of the original composition and is suitable for high school and college students. Professional musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (16 pages). This selection is one of the many arrangements from The Regis Bookshar Trumpet Ensemble's extensive music library which are being made available to the public for the first time. The Coronation March was ordered by the city of Moscow for the coronation of Tsar Alexander III in 1883. It was written during March of 1883 and was performed for the first time on June 4, 1883 in Sokolniky Park in Moscow, conducted by Sergei Taneyev. The music then included excerpts of the anthem, God Save the Tsar. The American premiere was on May 5, 1891, for the opening concert of Carnegie Hall in New York City, conducted by Tchaikovsky himself. During the Soviet Era, Russian performances and recordings of the music were revised to omit the excerpts from the Czarist national anthem, replacing it with thematic material used earlier in the march, due to an official Soviet ban on the anthem. Starting with Dmitri Medvedev's inauguration in 2008, an abbreviated version of this piece is played during the Russian presidential inauguration accompanying the entrance of the incoming president, and ends well before the playing in this piece of the Tsarist anthem God Save the Tsar. Unlike Tchaikovsky's other major compositions, the Coronation March does not have an opus number. It has been given alternative catalogue designations TH 50 and CW 47. Tchaikovsky's Coronation March was originally scored for a full orchestra and written in the key of D Major. Regis Bookshar has now created an abbreviated version, written in Db Major, and has arranged it for a Woodwind Quintet, consisting of 1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Bb Clarinet, 1 French Horn and 1 Bassoon. In addition to this arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Coronation March for a Woodwind Quintet, other arrangements of this festive composition for various instrumental ensembles are also available. Please feel free to search for other arrangements by Regis Bookshar as there are many more arrangements in a variety of styles, also available for purchase. You may find something else which might interest you as well, and please continue to check periodically because new arrangements are being added as often as possible. I'm certain that this wonderful arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Coronation March will continue to entertain both audiences and performers alike for years to come.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1289652 Composed by Erik Satie. Arranged by Ray Thompson. 20th Century. 8 pages. RayThompsonMusic #880358. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.1289652). Sports et divertissements (Sports and Pastimes) is a cycle of 21 short piano pieces composed in 1914 by Erik Satie.The set consists of a prefatory chorale and 20 musical vignettes depicting various sports and leisure activities. First published in 1923, it has long been considered one of his finest achievements.Musically it represents the peak of Satie's humoristic piano suites (1912-1915), but stands apart from that series in its fusion of several different art forms. Sports originally appeared as a collector's album with illustrations by Charles Martin, accompanied by music, prose poetry and calligraphy. The latter three were provided by Satie in his exquisite handwritten scores, which were printed in facsimile. This is my arrangement for wind quintet of:8. Le Yachting (Yachting) - Modéré (Moderately.) (In half-notes, bass octaves). Legato. Satie's prose:Quel temps !Le vent souffle comme un phoque.Le yacht danse.Il a l'air d'un petit fou.La mer est démontée.Pourvu qu'elle ne se brise pas sur un rocher.Personne ne peut la remonter.Je ne veux pas rester ici, dit la jolie passagère.Ce n'est pas un endroit amusant.J'aime mieux autre chose.Allez me chercher une voiture.A stern ostinato in the lower reaches of the piano summons up a wind-blown sea as it tosses about members of a yachting party.A pretty lady passenger is not amused by the rough weather. I'd rather do something else, she pouts. Go fetch me a car. The sea ostinato returns to end the piece.Arranged standard wind quintetCheck out my other Satie arrangements3 Gymnopédies and 3 Gnossiennes. ( sold separately and as collections).Also: Rag-Time du Pacquebot (Ragtime of the Steampacket) and Sonatina Bureaucratique.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1290659 Composed by Erik Satie. Arranged by Ray Thompson. 20th Century,Chamber. 21 pages. RayThompsonMusic #881366. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.1290659). Arranged  standard wind quintetA  further selection of 9 pieces (Nos.8,10,11,15,16,17,19,20,& 21) from Sports et Divertissementsby Erik Satie arranged wind quintet.(N.B They ARE very SHORT!)something different for your wind quintet to try!Nos. 1 to 7 are available hereSports et divertissements (Sports and Pastimes) is a cycle of 21 short piano pieces composed in 1914 by Erik Satie.The set consists of a prefatory chorale and 20 musical vignettes depicting various sports and leisure activities. First published in 1923, it has long been considered one of his finest achievements.Musically it represents the peak of Satie's humoristic piano suites (1912-1915), but stands apart from that series in its fusion of several different art forms. Sports originally appeared as a collector's album with illustrations by Charles Martin, accompanied by music, prose poetry and calligraphy. The latter three were provided by Satie in his exquisite handwritten scores, which were printed in facsimile.This arrangement includes the following pieces:8.Le Yachting10.Le Carnaval11.Le Golf15.Le Pique-nique16.Le Water-chute17. Le Tango19.Le Flirt20.Le Feu d'Artifice21. Le TennisCheck out my other Satie arrangements:3 Gymnopédies and 3 Gnossiennes. ( sold separately and as collections).Also: Rag-Time du Pacquebot (Ragtime of the Steampacket) and Sonatina Bureaucratique.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1285416 Composed by Erik Satie. Arranged by Ray Thompson. 20th Century,Chamber,Comedy. 19 pages. RayThompsonMusic #876449. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.1285416). A selection of 8 pieces from Sports et Divertissementsby Erik Satie arranged wind quintet.(N.B They ARE very SHORT!)something different for your wind quintet to try!Sports et divertissements (Sports and Pastimes) is a cycle of 21 short piano pieces composed in 1914 by Erik Satie. The set consists of a prefatory chorale and 20 musical vignettes depicting various sports and leisure activities. First published in 1923, it has long been considered one of his finest achievements.Musically it represents the peak of Satie's humoristic piano suites (1912-1915), but stands apart from that series in its fusion of several different art forms. Sports originally appeared as a collector's album with illustrations by Charles Martin, accompanied by music, prose poetry and calligraphy. The latter three were provided by Satie in his exquisite handwritten scores, which were printed in facsimile.This arrangement includes: 1. Choral Inappétissant (unappetising chorale)2. La Balancoire (the swing)3.La Chasse (the chase)4. La Comédie Italienne5. Le Réveill de la Mariée6. Colin-Maillard7. La Pêche17. Le TangoCheck out my other Satie arrangements:3 Gymnopédies and 3 Gnossiennes. ( sold separately and as collections).Also: Rag-Time du Pacquebot (Ragtime of the Steampacket) and Sonatina Bureaucratique.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet Bassoon,Clarinet,Flute,Horn,Oboe - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.553894 Composed by Joseph Haydn/Leopold Mozart. Arranged by Ray Thompson. Children,Christmas,Classical,Standards. 35 pages. RayThompsonMusic #6050327. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.553894). This work was long reputed to be the work of Joseph Haydn, but later scholarship suggested that it was actually written by Leopold Mozart. Its authorship is still disputed, however, and other composers have been proposed as the symphony's true author, including Joseph Haydn's younger brother Michael Haydn, who purportedly contributed movements to the work.Recent research on a newly found manuscript suggests the Austrian Benedictine monk Edmund Angerer (1740–1794) to be the author. If Angerer's manuscript (from 1765, entitled Berchtolds-Gaden Musick) is the original, the Toy Symphony was originally written not in G but rather in C. These findings, however, are disputed among scholars. There is reason to believe that the true composer will likely never be known, in whole or in part, given its confused origins and the paucity of related manuscript sources.Even without a name attached to it, the piece has become a mainstay for children's shows and Christmastime concerts. Each of its three movements features the sounds of actual toys and instruments that sound like they came straight from Geppetto's workshop. The piece calls for a toy trumpet, ratchet, nightingale, cuckoo, drum, and triangle. ( A quail makes it’s only appearance in the 2nd movement.Noisemakers rattle throughout the first of its three movements. The cuckoo and trumpet  call out mischievously during the minuetto of the second movement , and a quail joins the nightingale in the trio. In the short third mvt which is played 3 times, they all play again, each repeat faster than the previous one.The presence of the toy instruments make this a fun piece for children to play, especially when there are also some toys waiting under the tree.My arrangement is based on the Kinder-Symphonie attributed to Leopold Mozart. It is scored in C.It is in 3 mvts and is arranged for wind quintet, and toy percussion.It can be peformed as a stand alone  wind quintet without percussion as all of the important cues (the trumpet and cuckoo) are written in to the instrumnt parts.i have distributed the original strings around the woodwind, and composed an original classical horn part.Sometimes known as The Children’s SymphonyAlso available as a wind dectet/bass arrangement.

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.767471 Composed by Mike Lyons. Concert,Contemporary,Standards. 37 pages. Lyons Music Services #4610379. Published by Lyons Music Services (A0.767471). Basically it is a set of three dances loosely described as Allemande, Courante and Jygg. Orchestration is for wind quintet Flute, Oboe, Clarinet in Bb, Horn in F and Bassoon.The style of the first one is marcato, with a touch of irony! The bassoon leads with an Alberti pattern followed by the first melodic idea stated on the horn. This motif is eventually taken up by all the instruments. The melody then morphs into a lovely little B-section melody on the flute with an oboe obbligato before the DS. Surprisingly simple, but 3 mins long.Movement 2 plays on the meaning of courante (running). It's in 3, as courantes were. Each instrument has an important role in keeping the music flowing - even the bassoon and horn. The middle section has a mournful bassoon melody with weaving contrapuntal lines from all the others. There's a bridge into the DS and the first section is repeated, leading eventually to the short coda.Movement 3 is the hardest movement. It's in 9/8 with lots of dynamism. It also has a few modern touches. After the short (2 bars) 12/8 section, there is a Berlioz-esque dance of the witches type of fever about the music. Then DS to fine

Woodwind Ensemble,Woodwind Quintet - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549868 Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Classical,Concert,Standards,Wedding,World. 56 pages. Jmsgu3 #3559227. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549868). Beethoven Sonata Op. 49 No. 2 arranged for woodwind quintet.Instrumentation: 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet in Bb, 1 French horn, 1 bassoon.Duration: ca: 10:15 Score: 30 pages, 242 measures. In two movements. A great recital piece to demonstrate nuances of the woodwind quintet. Sonata Op. 49 No. 2 Arranged from Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 20, this is a simple but interesting work in two movements showing the composers sense of humor. The first movement Allegro ma non troppo and the second movement Tempo di Menuetto are both in the key of G. Both Sonatas 19 and 20 (op. 49, No. 1 & 2) are named Easy Sonatas because they are technically easier than the usual Beethoven Sonatas. This makes them very popular among students and teachers alike. Beethoven Background Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 –1827) was certainly a German pianist. Above all, he was probably one of the greatest composers in history. As a result, he is a pivotal character in the progress between the Classical and Romantic periods. He is certainly one of the most famous and hence important of all composers. Seems like his most familiar and noteworthy works include symphonies 1-9; piano concertos 1-5; and furthermore, the violin concerto. Also, certainly of extreme importance are the noteworthy 32 sonatas for the piano; the string quartets 1-16; the Missa solemnis; and likewise, his only opera, Fidelio. Beethoven Overview First of all, Beethoven was born and consequently raised in Bonn. Upon turning 21 he moved to Vienna probably to study composition with Haydn. That’s when he consequently grew a reputation as a brilliant pianist. Furthermore, he probably stayed in Vienna the rest of his life. In his late 20s it seems like his hearing certainly began to decline. It slowly declined until consequently he was nearly totally deaf probably by the last decade of his life. As a result, he stopped conducting and performing. Nevertheless, he continued to compose. As a result, some of his greatest works probably come from this period. First Period Seems like we often divide Beethoven’s life into three periods. Period 1 begins with Beethoven’s arrival in Vienna. Hence, during this period, he mastered the Viennese style of Haydn & Mozart. He consequently began increasing the size and scale of his works. Furthermore, he experimented with extreme dynamics, and likewise extreme tempi. He worked similarly with chromatic harmony. His First and Second Symphonies therefore belong to this period. Other important works also belong here: the first six string quartets and the Sonata Pathétique, Op. 13. Second Period His second period probably began as soon as he realized that he was going deaf. During this period, it seems like he became obsessed with the idea of heroism. His works consequently become even larger and more massive. The most noteworthy of these include the symphonies 3 – 8, piano concertos 5& 6, 5 string quartets, several important piano sonatas (Waldstein and Appassionata), the Kreutzer violin sonata, the violin concerto and his only opera: Fidelio. Third Period In contrast, Beethoven's third period is branded above all by works of incredible intellectual depth, formal innovation, and penetrating expression. It seems like he continued to expand his works. Consequently, the string quartet Op. 131 spills over into seven connected movements. Likewise, in the Ninth Symphony he adds choral forces to his orchestra probably for the first time in history. Even more, other works from this period include his Missa solemnis, the final 5 string quartets (including the enormous Große Fuge) and the final five sonatas for piano.     www.jamesguthrie.com