SKU: A0.549359

This arrangement follows the original Bach prelude and so excludes the extra measure that Schwencke introduced in 1783. If you prefer the extra measure, please see Bach-Gounod: Ave Maria, Schwencke version for Oboe & Piano - S0.661853. The convenient 1st & 2nd endings provide an option for extended performance with minimal page turns for the accompanist. The duration with repeat is about 4:50. Score: 6 pages. Solo part: 1 page, piano part: 4 pages. Based on Prelude #1 in C Major from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1. Well suited for church meditations or school programs or recital encores.

Ave Maria

Ave Maria is a Catholic prayer that consequently asks for the mother of Jesus (Mary) to intercede. Charles Gounod composed a famous version of the Ave Maria. He was a French Romantic composer who overlaid a new melody on an existing Bach chord progression. The progression is from Bach’s Prelude No. 1 from Well-Tempered Clavier I. This version, as well as Schubert’s version, have become essential items at weddings, masses, and funerals.

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 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 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 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 an engaging 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.

 

SKU: A0.1194319

Please contact me by email at jfries@ptd.net to make a special request or to find out all that I have to offer and to express your comments or concerns.  You can also type John Fries in the searchbar to see all I have to offer. White Christmas is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. The song was written by Berlin for the musical film Holiday Inn, released in 1942. The composition won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 15th Academy Awards. Since its release, White Christmas has been covered by multiple artists, with the version sung by Bing Crosby being the world's best-selling single (in terms of sales of physical media) with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. When the figures for other versions of the song are added to Crosby's, sales of the song exceed 100 million. A must have in your repertoire!

SKU: A0.1413738

TYPE JOHN FRIES IN THE SEARCH BAR TO SEE ALL I HAVE TO OFFER. Thanks, John. Achy Breaky Heart is a song written in 1990 by Don Von Tress. First released in 1991 by the Marcy Brothers with the title Don't Tell My Heart, it was later recorded by American singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus. The song is Cyrus's debut single and signature song. It became a crossover hit on pop and country radio, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Hot Country Songs chart, becoming the first country single to be certified platinum. The music video for the song led to the explosion of the line dance into the mainstream. The song is considered by some as one of the worst songs of all time, featuring at No. 2 on VH1 and Blender's list of the 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs Ever. However, it later became a cult classic.

SKU: A0.1352581

Wagon Wheel

By Darius Rucker

Music by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor, 2003

Arranged by Massimo Guida, 2023


Instrumentation:
-Solo Violin
-Violin I
-Violin II
-Viola
-Violoncello
-Double Bass
-Piano (Optional)
-Drum Set (Optional)

Total Duration: ca. 5 minutes.

SKU: A0.506422

From Kurt Weill's last Broadway musical, Lost in the Stars, which opened on 30 October 1949, a year before Weill's early death at the age of 50. Based on Cry the Beloved Country, it was adapted by Maxwell Anderson, who worked with Weill on his very first Broadway musical, Knickerbocker Holiday, in 1935, not long after Weill arrived in the USA as a refugee from Nazi Germany. The song makes terrific use of Weill's affinity with the Blues, the harmonies well-suited to the mellow tones of the guitar - a haunting piece!

SKU: A0.1094836

This piece is an arrangement of the Fauré Pavane as a duet for flute and voice (either soprano or tenor). Its focus is on the counterpoint between the two parts (as opposed to the harmony). Genre: Classical Running Time: ~5:50.