French Horn,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549438 Composed by Antonin Dvorak. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Instructional,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 12 pages. Jmsgu3 #3494249. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549438). Score: 7 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 3 pages. Duration: 4:25 Not difficult, but requires sensitivity & dynamic control. Suitable for recitals, church meditations, or school programs. Dvořák Background Antonín Dvořák (1841 –1904) was, of course, a composer from Czechoslovakia. As a matter of fact, he was among the first Bohemian composers to attain universal recognition. It is important to realize that the late Romantic Nationalist period featured composers who used traditional and folk elements to portray the character of their nation. In particular, we see this in the music of Grieg (Norway), Finland (Sibelius), and Smetana (Bohemia).  Dvořák relied markedly on rhythms and other characteristics of Moravian and Bohemian folk music. Ascent to Fame Dvořák was truly a child musical prodigy on the violin. The premiere performances of his compositions notably occurred in 1872 and 1873. He submitted his First Symphony in particular to a German competition, but it failed to win. Consequently, in 1874 he presented two more symphonies to the Austrian State Prize for Composition. Johannes Brahms was the principal of the jury and was accordingly very impressed. They forthwith awarded the prize to Dvořák in 1874, 1876, and 1877. At this point, Brahms thereupon endorsed Dvořák to the publisher Simrock. Later, the publisher commissioned Dvořák to compose the Slavonic Dances, Op. 46. These became popular overnight and, as a result, Dvořák's worldwide status was launched. International Status Dvořák visited England upon invitation nine times. On each visit, he frequently conducted performances of his own compositions. He conducted concerts of his music, especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Eventually, the Prague Conservatory in fact appointed Dvořák as a professor. There, to be sure, he wrote his famous Dumky Trio. United States Consequently, the National Conservatory of Music of America appointed him as director in 1892. As a result, Dvořák composed his two most famous symphonic works: the Symphony No. 9 (From the New World), which spread his name universally, and his Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, one of the most famous of all cello works. Moreover, he wrote his most celebrated American String Quartet during this time. At the same time, because of his growing recognition in Europe and his homesickness for his own country, he left to return to Bohemia in 1895.

Piano,Soprano Saxophone - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549685 Composed by Tcahikovsky. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Children,Christmas,Romantic Period,Standards. Score and part. 13 pages. Jmsgu3 #3520287. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549685). Duration: ca. 1:42, 52 measures, Score: 7 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 4 pages. A popular Christmas favorite from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular of the great composers in America. His music certainly appeals to musicians. Likewise, it appeals even to folks who don’t normally listen to serious music. This is probably because of his most noteworthy melodies. Above all, he writes with great emotion. This certainly makes a most noteworthy if not an unforgettable impact. Education First of all, He attended classes at the Russian Musical Society. Even more, He also attended the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There he studied music theory with Nikolai Zaremba. He also consequently studied composition with Anton Rubenstein. It seems like Rubenstein came under criticism from a group of Russian composers known as the Five. The Five The Five certainly rejected Western musical influences. They rather sought to use elements from Russian music. They furthermore wanted to use more exotic musical materials. Western Techniques More than other Russian composers, Tchaikovsky studied modern Western music. He certainly develops his music like the European masters. So, rather than repeating a motive, he moves to a new key. He then introduces a different theme in the new key. Hence, he maintained his independence from the Five. Even more, he became the first Russian composer of international stature. Influences Tchaikovsky was probably influenced in his ballet scoring by Léo Delibes. Richard Wagner influenced his symphonic writing. Tchaikovsky’s most famous works include the 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker Suite, and Swan Lake. Also famous are the Violin Concerto in D and the six symphonies. The greatest of the six symphonies may be No. 6, the Pathétique. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a The Nutcracker Suite is a ballet that was performed for the first time in December 1892 in St. Petersburg. To begin with, the original ballet failed to attract a positive reception. However, the ballet suite became probably one of the most popular of all of Tchaikovsky’s works. The ballet suite became even more famous in the 1960s. It is now performed all over the world, particularly during the Christmas season.

Baritone Saxophone,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549800 Composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Children,Christmas,Romantic Period,Standards. Score and part. 16 pages. Jmsgu3 #3539199. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549800). Duration: ca. 2:10. Score: 9 pages. 77 measures in 2/4. Solo part: 2 pages, Piano part: 4 pages. A favorite Christmas selection from the Nutcracker Suite. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular of the great composers in America. His music certainly appeals to musicians. Likewise, it appeals even to folks who don’t normally listen to serious music. This is probably because of his most noteworthy melodies. Above all, he writes with great emotion. This certainly makes a most noteworthy if not an unforgettable impact. Education First of all, He attended classes at the Russian Musical Society. Even more, He also attended the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There he studied music theory with Nikolai Zaremba. He also consequently studied composition with Anton Rubenstein. It seems like Rubenstein came under criticism from a group of Russian composers known as the Five. The Five The Five certainly rejected Western musical influences. They rather sought to use elements from Russian music. They furthermore wanted to use more exotic musical materials. Western Techniques More than other Russian composers, Tchaikovsky studied modern Western music. He certainly develops his music like the European masters. So, rather than repeating a motive, he moves to a new key. He then introduces a different theme in the new key. Hence, he maintained his independence from the Five. Even more, he became the first Russian composer of international stature. Influences Tchaikovsky was probably influenced in his ballet scoring by Léo Delibes. Richard Wagner influenced his symphonic writing. Tchaikovsky’s most famous works include the 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker Suite, and Swan Lake. Also famous are the Violin Concerto in D and the six symphonies. The greatest of the six symphonies may be No. 6, the Pathétique. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a The Nutcracker Suite is a ballet that was performed for the first time in December 1892 in St. Petersburg. To begin with, the original ballet failed to attract a positive reception. However, the ballet suite became probably one of the most popular of all of Tchaikovsky’s works. The ballet suite became even more famous in the 1960s. It is now performed all over the world, particularly during the Christmas season.

Flute,Piano - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548326 By Glee Cast. By Linda Perry. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Contemporary,Dance,Pop. Score and part. 17 pages. Jmsgu3 #3236909. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548326). Duration: 3:44, Score: 10 pages, 63 measures, solo part: 3 pages, piano part: 4 pages. Tempo: quarter note = 78, Gentle ballad suitable for performance in church, recital or small combo.

Flute,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549486 Composed by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 –1847). Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Instructional,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 20 pages. Jmsgu3 #3500637. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549486). CONCERT FLUTE & PIANO - Score: 11 pages, solo part: 3 pages, piano part: 5 pages. Duration: 4:20. This is a popular recital piece that would work well also in church or school programs. Mendelssohn Background Felix Mendelssohn (1809 –1847) was, by all means, a German mastermind composer, musician, and orchestra conductor of the Romantic period. Consequently, Mendelssohn composed in the usual forms of the time - symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano music, and chamber music. To summarize, his most famous works include his music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, The Hebrides Overture, his later Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, and his Octet for Strings. His most well-known piano pieces, by and large, are the Songs Without Words.  Artistic Standing  Musical tastes change from time to time. Moreover, just such a change occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This plus rampant antisemitism brought a corresponding amount of undue criticism. Fortunately, however, his artistic inventiveness has indeed been critically re-evaluated. As a result, Mendelssohn is once again among the most prevalent composers of the Romantic era. Early Family Life Mendelssohn was, in fact, born into a prominent Jewish family. His grandfather was, notably, the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Felix was, in fact, raised without religion. At the age of seven, he was suddenly baptized as a Reformed Christian. He was, moreover, a child musical prodigy. Nevertheless, his parents did not attempt to exploit his talent. Early Adulthood Mendelssohn was, in general, successful in Germany. He conducted, in particular, a revival of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, specifically with his presentation of the St Matthew Passion in 1829. Felix was truly in demand throughout Europe as a composer, conductor, and soloist. For example, he visited Britain ten times. There, he premiered, namely, many of his significant works. His taste in music was. To be sure, inventive and well-crafted yet markedly conservative. This conservatism separated him by all means from more audacious musical colleagues like Liszt, Wagner, and Berlioz. Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatoire which, to clarify, became a defender of this conservative viewpoint. Mature Adulthood Schumann notably wrote that Mendelssohn was the Mozart of the nineteenth century, the most brilliant musician, the one who most clearly sees through the contradictions of the age and for the first time reconciles them. This observation points to a couple of features in particular that illustrate Mendelssohn's works and his artistic procedure. Musical Features In the first place, his musical style was fixed in his systematic mastery of the style of preceding masters. This being said, he certainly recognized and even developed early romanticism from the music of Beethoven and Weber. Secondly, it indicates that Mendelssohn sought to strengthen his inherited musical legacy rather than to exchange it with new forms and styles or replace it with exotic orchestration. Consequently, he diverged his contemporaries in the romantic period, such as Wagner, Berlioz, and Liszt. Mendelssohn revered Liszt's virtuosity at the keyboard but found his music rather insubstantial.

Alto Saxophone,Piano - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.547709 By Vanessa Carlton. By Vanessa Carlton. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Pop. Score and part. 15 pages. Jmsgu3 #3035471. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.547709). Vanessa Carlton: A Thousand Miles arranged for Alto Sax & Piano. Score: 9 pages. Solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 4 pages. Duration: 3'47

Small Ensemble Alto Saxophone,Bass Guitar,Drums,Piano,Tenor Saxophone,Trombone,Trumpet - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.734766 Composed by Joseph Hasper. Jazz. Score and parts. 61 pages. Joseph Hasper #2907353. Published by Joseph Hasper (A0.734766). Turn up the heat with this funk groove and turn the rhythm section loose. Scored for trumpet, sax (tenor sax with alto sax substitute part), trombone, guitar, piano, bass and drums. The sax part is scored for tenor sax but includes an alto sax substitute, so you can use either horn without sacrificing a thing. The rhythm section calls for guitar, piano, bass, and drums. On the recording I only went through the solo section once (with a sax solo), but open solo space is cued for each instrument.Bringing the guitar player more into the forefront of the jazz combo is something I've been working on all year, starting with charts like M Groove where the chart calls for a rock 'n roll type guitar sound. Three Hundred Thousand Degrees extends that concept, giving the guitar some extra room to growl and contribute a nice crunch to the combo.Includes a full score and all parts. 61 pages (24 pages score, 37 pages parts). Open solo space cued in all instruments. Duration: 4’45 (without repeating solo section). .

Small Ensemble Clarinet,Flute,Oboe,Piano - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.786849 Composed by Hugo Jungst, George Frideric Handel. Arranged by Beka Wilson. Christian,Christmas,Sacred. Score and parts. 12 pages. Beka Wilson #6618157. Published by Beka Wilson (A0.786849). This is a fresh, exciting arrangement of two classic Christmas hymns for woodwind trio. It can be played with or without the provided piano accompaniment. This would be a perfect Christmas concert piece or church special around the holidays.12 pages--includes full score (6 pages) and parts (2 pages each)2 minutes 40 seconds in length (120 bpm)upper intermediate level.Want this piece for a different group of instruments? Email me at bekmars10@gmail.com and I'll post a custom arrangement here on Sheet Music Plus.

Piano,Violin - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.550945 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Latin,Standards. 29 pages. Jmsgu3 #4892577. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.550945). Duration 7:30 Score 14 pages, Piano part 9 pages, Solo part 6 pages1. El desembre congelat (Cold December's winds were stilled)

Piano,Viola - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549634 Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Concert,Instructional,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. Score and part. 16 pages. Jmsgu3 #3516289. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549634). Duration: ca 5:20, Score: 8 pages, solo part: 3 pages, piano part: 4 pages. One of Beethoven's finest and most famous works. Program for a recital, church meditation or school program. Sonata Pathétique Op. 13 First of all, this is an arrangement of the second movement of Beethoven’s Sonata Pathétique. It seems like Beethoven wrote this piece before becoming troubled by deafness. Published in 1799, it consequently remains one of the most celebrated pieces Beethoven ever wrote. As a result of its popularity, the movement was therefore performed by Karl Haas. Hass recorded it for a popular radio show called: Adventures in Good Music. 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 for 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.    

Piano Solo - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.862641 Composed by Robert Schumann. Arranged by Michael Bomier. Instructional,Romantic Period,Standards. Score. 67 pages. Michael Butkus-Bomier #3093675. Published by Michael Butkus-Bomier (A0.862641). This set is the full Schumann Album for the Young, with 100% all-original notes of the composer. It has been reset, and some chords, grace notes, and other musical typesetting issues have been modernized or made more visually and pianistically accessible for the younger player. Most pieces are one or two pages. If you print this download as single-sided, you will be able to easily format the pieces that have two pages facing. Many of the pieces are a single page. Only 4 are three pages.  Bind or tape as you see fit.This makes things convenient for teachers and students alike. No audio clips are attached, as this material is quite familiar. MBB  www.gatewayeditions.com    

Instrumental Duet Baritone Horn TC,Instrumental Duet - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549787 Composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Children,Christmas,Romantic Period,Standards. Score and parts. 11 pages. Jmsgu3 #3536975. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549787). Duration: ca 1:00 Score: 5 pages, Solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 3 pages. Short but fascinating Chinese Dance from the Nutcracker Suite. Program this for a recital encore or Christmas pageant. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular of the great composers in America. His music certainly appeals to musicians. Likewise, it appeals even to folks who don’t normally listen to serious music. This is probably because of his most noteworthy melodies. Above all, he writes with great emotion. This certainly makes a most noteworthy if not an unforgettable impact. Education First of all, He attended classes at the Russian Musical Society. Even more, He also attended the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There he studied music theory with Nikolai Zaremba. He also consequently studied composition with Anton Rubenstein. It seems like Rubenstein came under criticism from a group of Russian composers known as the Five. The Five The Five certainly rejected Western musical influences. They rather sought to use elements from Russian music. They furthermore wanted to use more exotic musical materials. Western Techniques More than other Russian composers, Tchaikovsky studied modern Western music. He certainly develops his music like the European masters. So, rather than repeating a motive, he moves to a new key. He then introduces a different theme in the new key. Hence, he maintained his independence from the Five. Even more, he became the first Russian composer of international stature. Influences Tchaikovsky was probably influenced in his ballet scoring by Léo Delibes. Richard Wagner influenced his symphonic writing. Tchaikovsky’s most famous works include the 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker Suite, and Swan Lake. Also famous are the Violin Concerto in D and the six symphonies. The greatest of the six symphonies may be No. 6, the Pathétique. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a The Nutcracker Suite is a ballet that was performed for the first time in December 1892 in St. Petersburg. To begin with, the original ballet failed to attract a positive reception. However, the ballet suite became probably one of the most popular of all of Tchaikovsky’s works. The ballet suite became even more famous in the 1960s. It is now performed all over the world, particularly during the Christmas season.

French Horn,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549590 Composed by Edvard Grieg. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Concert,Instructional,Romantic Period,Standards,World. Score and part. 18 pages. Jmsgu3 #3511353. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549590). Duration: ca. 2:17 Score: 10 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 5 pages. A proven audience pleaser - perfect for a recital encore! Grieg Background In the first place, Edvard Grieg (1843 –1907) was a Norwegian composer as well as a concert pianist. As a matter of fact, most music historians consider him one of the foremost Romantic era composers. Consequently, his music is part of the international standard classical repertoire. Grieg moreover used Norwegian folk music in his own compositions.  Consequently, he ushered Norwegian music to transnational consciousness. Furthermore, he forged a national musical identity for Norway. It is important to realize that he did this in a manner similar to Jean Sibelius in Finland, and BedÅ™ich Smetana in Bohemia. Legacy Grieg is especially celebrated in the city of Bergen. For example, the city has erected numerous statues depicting Grieg. Specifically, the city has named a concert hall (Grieg Hall), a music school (Grieg Academy) and a professional choir (Edvard Grieg Kor) after him. As a matter of fact, there is also a museum located at his former home in Troldhaugen. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Op. 46) Grieg wrote incidental music for the purpose of illustrating a play by Ibsen known as Peer Gynt. The play includes, in particular, the famous selection entitled, In the Hall of the Mountain King. In this composition, Grieg indeed depicts the exploits of the scoundrel, Peer Gynt. In one famous episode, for example, Peer steals a bride at her wedding. For this reason, the people chase him, but soon Peer falls, thereupon striking his skull on a boulder. He wakens forthwith in a highland bounded by angry gnomes. Consequently, the music of In the Hall of the Mountain King represents the mad gnomes taunting Peer. Therefore, each time the theme repeats it gets louder and faster. In the end, Peer surprisingly escapes from the mountain. Holberg Suite and Misc. Summary It must be remembered that Grieg originally wrote his Holberg Suite for the piano. In other words, he only later arranged it for strings. Further, Grieg composed by and large many songs with lyrics by famous writers such as Heine, Goethe, Ibsen, Hans Christian Andersen, Rudyard Kipling, and others. On balance, Norwegian pianist Eva Knardahl recorded altogether Grieg’s whole piano catalog on LP in 1980. These recordings were released again on CD in 2006. In any event, Grieg himself performed and recorded the bulk of these pieces toward the end of his life.

Piano,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549439 Composed by Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Instructional,Romantic Period,Sacred,Standards. 14 pages. Jmsgu3 #3494667. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549439). Score: 9 pages, solo part: 2 pages, piano part: 4 pages. Duration: 4:18. Suitable for a recital of church meditation. School Years First of all, Sullivan attended music school at the Royal Academy of Music. Because Sullivan was so talented, the Academy awarded him the Mendelssohn Scholarship for two years in a row. He, therefore, studied with John Goss, who studied with Thomas Atwood, who in turn studied with Mozart. Sullivan similarly studied the piano at the Academy with Arthur O’Leary. Study Abroad During his first year, he also earned money by singing solos in the Chapel Royal. At the end of his second year, the Academy consequently continued his scholarship and sent him to study at the Leipzig Conservatoire. He certainly studied composition, and likewise counterpoint and piano. Hence, during his final year in Leipzig, Sullivan finally completed his graduation composition project: Incidental Music for Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Association with Gilbert It seems like Sullivan built the bulk of his composing career largely in the 1860s. As a result, he became famous for his incidental music for the Tempest and his Irish Symphony. He, therefore, began collaborating with the poet W. S. Gilbert in the 1870s. Rather than focus on serious opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, in contrast, concentrated on comic operas such as H. M. S. Pinafore, the Pirates of Penzance, and the Mikado. Therefore, certainly as a result of his education and experience, Sullivan composed a total of 24 operas, 11 symphonic works, and 10 choral pieces. Even more, he wrote a large number of noteworthy hymns such as Onward Christian Soldiers. Lost Chord The general style of his music is maybe similar to Mendelssohn, Schumann, and perhaps Liszt. It seems like Sullivan was fond of writing distinct melodies for each character in his operettas. His melodies combine together as the characters did. Furthermore, he was a master orchestrator, and therefore played the flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone fluently. The Lost Chord Sullivan wrote his most noteworthy song the Lost Chord in 1877. As a result, it was a great success and was certainly performed all over the world by a variety of singers such as Enrico Caruso. Because Sullivan was the most famous composer in England, the Lost Chord became the most famous of all British or American songs of the 1870s and 1890s. Consequently, in 1888 Thomas Edison recorded The Lost Chord for the phonograph. It was one of the first songs ever recorded. Furthermore, Queen Victoria knighted Sullivan in 1883.  

Euphonium,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549833 Composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Children,Christmas,Romantic Period,Standards. Score and part. 29 pages. Jmsgu3 #3550767. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549833). Duration: 6:12, Score: 29 pages, Solo part: 6 pages, Piano part: 12 pages. This is the grand finale of the Nutcracker Suite. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular of the great composers in America. His music certainly appeals to musicians. Likewise, it appeals even to folks who don’t normally listen to serious music. This is probably because of his most noteworthy melodies. Above all, he writes with great emotion. This certainly makes a most noteworthy if not an unforgettable impact. Education First of all, He attended classes at the Russian Musical Society. Even more, He also attended the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There he studied music theory with Nikolai Zaremba. He also consequently studied composition with Anton Rubenstein. It seems like Rubenstein came under criticism from a group of Russian composers known as the Five. The Five The Five certainly rejected Western musical influences. They rather sought to use elements from Russian music. They furthermore wanted to use more exotic musical materials. Western Techniques More than other Russian composers, Tchaikovsky studied modern Western music. He certainly develops his music like the European masters. So, rather than repeating a motive, he moves to a new key. He then introduces a different theme in the new key. Hence, he maintained his independence from the Five. Even more, he became the first Russian composer of international stature. Influences Tchaikovsky was probably influenced in his ballet scoring by Léo Delibes. Richard Wagner influenced his symphonic writing. Tchaikovsky’s most famous works include the 1812 Overture, The Nutcracker Suite, and Swan Lake. Also famous are the Violin Concerto in D and the six symphonies. The greatest of the six symphonies may be No. 6, the Pathétique. Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a The Nutcracker Suite is a ballet that was performed for the first time in December 1892 in St. Petersburg. To begin with, the original ballet failed to attract a positive reception. However, the ballet suite became probably one of the most popular of all of Tchaikovsky’s works. The ballet suite became even more famous in the 1960s. It is now performed all over the world, particularly during the Christmas season.