SKU: A0.1248570

Prelude 14 in D# Minor Dorian from 24 Preludes for the Piano in Major and Minor Modes by composer Brian Golden

   The creative concept in writing these preludes is to provide a link to past preludes written for the keyboard, and in particular to the works of J.S. Bach and Frederic Chopin, whose works stand as essential repertoire for any student of the piano.  Using Bach’s and Chopin’s examples, my goal was to compose in all twenty-four keys, yet offer my own variation on the progression of key signatures – Bach’s being a pattern of major to parallel minor progressing chromatically through all keys, and Chopin’s a pattern of major to relative minor keys progressing clockwise through the circle of fifths.  In order to expand my harmonic and melodic possibilities, I have included the modal keys rather than only the major and harmonic minor keys, and have chosen to work counterclockwise through the circle of fifths, which is a more natural harmonic progression.  Therefore, all major preludes resolve from one to another V-I, as well as do all the minor preludes.
    While there are seven modal scales, I decided to leave out the locrian modes for the following reasons.  First, due to the diminished fifth, the locrian mode cannot be thought of as either major nor minor.  Second, the locrian mode did not have a relative key to pair with, since there were no other keys with the identical characteristic notes.
    In creating the key architecture, I determined that there was only one solution to pairing major and relative minor scales based on a shared parent key and characteristic note - ionian/aolian, mixolydian/phrygian and lydian/dorian.  This specific order of modal scales is the only order that would enable composing in all twelve key signatures.  Finally, the inspiration for each prelude came from playing through several other preludes in the same keys - mostly by Bach and Chopin - and letting their themes and styles influence me in the writing of my own.

SKU: A0.784327

1 Octave Scale Studies in 15+ keys for 4-part ensembles of like or mixed instruments

If this is your first exposure to these scale studies, you are in for a treat! Donuts, if you make a mistake!

The initial incarnation of these studies were written for trombone quartet and we would play them in the Tennessee Tech Trombone Choir with the challenge that whomever made the first mistake had to buy donuts for the rest of the ensemble. Since then I have brought that version to several clinics and warm up sessions. One time before I got to explain the title, a fellow trombone professor said, Oh, I get it! Don’t step in the holes!

I only wish I had thought of that myself... Since we have one of the best donut shops in TN here in Cookeville, treating the studio to sugar coated goodies was always my intent.

As with those initial exercises, you can vary these as much as you’d like.

·     Choose a tempo.

·     Choose a dynamic.

·     Choose an articulation/style.

One way I like to play these is to have one person be the model, playing the entire scale over and over while everyone else plays the fragmented versions. That helps everyone to keep on track and stay in time. Double or triple up the parts for ensemble cohesion with a larger group.

Practice one key, gradually speeding it up to improve fluidity, or choose a variation and take it through all keys, playing version A, B, C, or D then skipping to play the same set in a new key.

If you want an additional challenge, play them in different octaves or change the key. Play the F Major set in f minor (all forms), different modes, etc. Players really have to be on their toes to remember if they are playing melodic minor in the ascending or descending form! For jazz players, try swinging them in dorian or mixolydian modes.

The variations are endless!

If you are using these with transposing instruments, 1) is F Major in Concert Pitch, 2) is Bb Major in Concert pitch, and so on. When you reach a scale that is enharmonic for another key (Db/C#, Gb/F#, or Cb/B), they are presented in both keys for each instrument so Trumpets can play in Eb while the Flutes are playing in C# with similar examples for all keys.

All Donut Etudes with the same volume number are compatible so you can play them in mixed quartets or large ensembles with one or more instruments/people on part 1 and a different instrument on part 2, etc. Since the quartets are all identical, conductors/coaches can use any of the scores to tell which part should be playing at what time. Once you have played a scale with one set of parts, everyone can rotate to a different part and play the same scales again!

Enjoy!

SKU: A0.496445

The original Latin title Passio Domini nostri J.C. secundum Evangelistam Matthæum translates to The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Evangelist Matthew Originally for alto voice, violin solo and string orchestra. The arias are in da capo format (ternary form). Erbarme dich, for alto, and Mache dich, mein Herze, rein, for bass, are examples of such arias in Part Two of the oratorio. In these movements the singers are accompanied by one or a few solo instruments and continuo, occasionally completed by other instrument groups of the orchestra.This Aria was originally composed by J.S. Bach for Violin Solo, strings and alto solo was now arranged for Flute (optional recorder), oboe d'Amore and strings. The flute replaces the solo violin very well, just as the oboe d'Amore's sonority fits wonderfully well by replacing the traditional contralto solo. Intermediate Level Fomat: Concert 9 x 12 inches. 21 pages.

SKU: A0.1191080

Prelude 4 in D Minor Phrygian from 24 Preludes for the Piano in Major and Minor Modes by composer Brian Golden

   The creative concept in writing these preludes is to provide a link to past preludes written for the keyboard, and in particular to the works of J.S. Bach and Frederic Chopin, whose works stand as essential repertoire for any student of the piano.  Using Bach’s and Chopin’s examples, my goal was to compose in all twenty-four keys, yet offer my own variation on the progression of key signatures – Bach’s being a pattern of major to parallel minor progressing chromatically through all keys, and Chopin’s a pattern of major to relative minor keys progressing clockwise through the circle of fifths.  In order to expand my harmonic and melodic possibilities, I have included the modal keys rather than only the major and harmonic minor keys, and have chosen to work counterclockwise through the circle of fifths, which is a more natural harmonic progression.  Therefore, all major preludes resolve from one to another V-I, as well as do all the minor preludes.
    While there are seven modal scales, I decided to leave out the locrian modes for the following reasons.  First, due to the diminished fifth, the locrian mode cannot be thought of as either major nor minor.  Second, the locrian mode did not have a relative key to pair with, since there were no other keys with the identical characteristic notes.
    In creating the key architecture, I determined that there was only one solution to pairing major and relative minor scales based on a shared parent key and characteristic note - ionian/aolian, mixolydian/phrygian and lydian/dorian.  This specific order of modal scales is the only order that would enable composing in all twelve key signatures.  Finally, the inspiration for each prelude came from playing through several other preludes in the same keys - mostly by Bach and Chopin - and letting their themes and styles influence me in the writing of my own.

SKU: A0.1466006

All My Loving is a Beatles song, composed by Paul McCartney (although it is credited to Lennon/McCartney) for the 1963 album With the Beatles.

It was one of the few examples of compositions where McCartney wrote the lyrics before the music; the text was apparently conceived as a poem, composed while he was shaving.

McCartney originally envisioned it as a country & western song, and it was written on piano during a rehearsal for the Beatles' tour with Roy Orbison; George Harrison added his Nashville-style guitar solo to the recording. Using the letter format in the song's lyrics, also used in P.S. I Love You.

SKU: A0.1466009

All My Loving is a Beatles song, composed by Paul McCartney (although it is credited to Lennon/McCartney) for the 1963 album With the Beatles.

It was one of the few examples of compositions where McCartney wrote the lyrics before the music; the text was apparently conceived as a poem, composed while he was shaving.

McCartney originally envisioned it as a country & western song, and it was written on piano during a rehearsal for the Beatles' tour with Roy Orbison; George Harrison added his Nashville-style guitar solo to the recording. Using the letter format in the song's lyrics, also used in P.S. I Love You.

SKU: A0.1292493

Prelude 19 in A Major Ionian from 24 Preludes for the Piano in Major and Minor Modes by composer Brian Golden

   The creative concept in writing these preludes is to provide a link to past preludes written for the keyboard, and in particular to the works of J.S. Bach and Frederic Chopin, whose works stand as essential repertoire for any student of the piano.  Using Bach’s and Chopin’s examples, my goal was to compose in all twenty-four keys, yet offer my own variation on the progression of key signatures – Bach’s being a pattern of major to parallel minor progressing chromatically through all keys, and Chopin’s a pattern of major to relative minor keys progressing clockwise through the circle of fifths.  In order to expand my harmonic and melodic possibilities, I have included the modal keys rather than only the major and harmonic minor keys, and have chosen to work counterclockwise through the circle of fifths, which is a more natural harmonic progression.  Therefore, all major preludes resolve from one to another V-I, as well as do all the minor preludes.
    While there are seven modal scales, I decided to leave out the locrian modes for the following reasons.  First, due to the diminished fifth, the locrian mode cannot be thought of as either major nor minor.  Second, the locrian mode did not have a relative key to pair with, since there were no other keys with the identical characteristic notes.
    In creating the key architecture, I determined that there was only one solution to pairing major and relative minor scales based on a shared parent key and characteristic note - ionian/aolian, mixolydian/phrygian and lydian/dorian.  This specific order of modal scales is the only order that would enable composing in all twelve key signatures.  Finally, the inspiration for each prelude came from playing through several other preludes in the same keys - mostly by Bach and Chopin - and letting their themes and styles influence me in the writing of my own.

SKU: A0.784339

1 Octave Scale Studies in 15+ keys for 4-part ensembles of like or mixed instruments

If this is your first exposure to these scale studies, you are in for a treat! Donuts, if you make a mistake!

The initial incarnation of these studies were written for trombone quartet and we would play them in the Tennessee Tech Trombone Choir with the challenge that whomever made the first mistake had to buy donuts for the rest of the ensemble. Since then I have brought that version to several clinics and warm up sessions. One time before I got to explain the title, a fellow trombone professor said, Oh, I get it! Don’t step in the holes!

I only wish I had thought of that myself... Since we have one of the best donut shops in TN here in Cookeville, treating the studio to sugar coated goodies was always my intent.

As with those initial exercises, you can vary these as much as you’d like.

·     Choose a tempo.

·     Choose a dynamic.

·     Choose an articulation/style.

One way I like to play these is to have one person be the model, playing the entire scale over and over while everyone else plays the fragmented versions. That helps everyone to keep on track and stay in time. Double or triple up the parts for ensemble cohesion with a larger group.

Practice one key, gradually speeding it up to improve fluidity, or choose a variation and take it through all keys, playing version A, B, C, or D then skipping to play the same set in a new key.

If you want an additional challenge, play them in different octaves or change the key. Play the F Major set in f minor (all forms), different modes, etc. Players really have to be on their toes to remember if they are playing melodic minor in the ascending or descending form! For jazz players, try swinging them in dorian or mixolydian modes.

The variations are endless!

If you are using these with transposing instruments, 1) is F Major in Concert Pitch, 2) is Bb Major in Concert pitch, and so on. When you reach a scale that is enharmonic for another key (Db/C#, Gb/F#, or Cb/B), they are presented in both keys for each instrument so Trumpets can play in Eb while the Flutes are playing in C# with similar examples for all keys.

All Donut Etudes with the same volume number are compatible so you can play them in mixed quartets or large ensembles with one or more instruments/people on part 1 and a different instrument on part 2, etc. Since the quartets are all identical, conductors/coaches can use any of the scores to tell which part should be playing at what time. Once you have played a scale with one set of parts, everyone can rotate to a different part and play the same scales again!

Enjoy!

SKU: A0.744299

Five Christmas Carols with narration. Both parts get the melody. Contains O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World. Can be used in combination with the red, orange, yellow, green and blue piano sets to tell the Christmas story with students or family members at different ability levels.
Video examples are available at https://miriamtroxler.com/traditional-christmas-carols-playlists/