SKU: A0.1230360

Recuerdos de mi tierra - Cuarteto para Clarinetes
Esta pieza evoca recuerdos de los años 90 cuando formaba parte de la Banda BASTLAM en la comunidad Mixe de Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, México. Practicábamos el estilo Zapateado-Vals con solos y acompañamiento de banda. Cada instrumento tenía solos y tuttis únicos. En ese entonces, era innovador tocar como solista en un pueblo rico en cultura pero aislado y con limitado acceso a información y conocimientos formales de música. Prácticamente no existían bandas infantiles ni juveniles, por lo que la creación de la Banda Infantil-Juvenil-Bastlam fue uno de los primeros grandes proyectos impulsados por las autoridades municipales. Posteriormente, adoptaron el proyecto y continuaron formando bandas infantiles escalonadamente en dicha comunidad replicándose en otros pueblos y regiones de Oaxaca.

El origen del zapateado es incierto. Se cree que proviene de las sevillanas, fandanguillos, bulerías y peteneras españolas, las cuales se fusionaron con elementos africanos. Sin embargo, fue en México donde este tipo de zapateado instrumental se arraigó y enriqueció en las bandas filarmónicas tradicionales de los pueblos oaxaqueños. El zapateado representa una fusión global entre culturas y sus representaciones. No existe ningún baile o forma musical completamente puro; todos son producto de mestizajes.

SKU: A0.1240995

Recuerdos de mi tierra - Dúo para Clarinetes
Esta pieza evoca recuerdos de los años 90 cuando formaba parte de la Banda BASTLAM en la comunidad Mixe de Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, México. Practicábamos el estilo Zapateado-Vals con solos y acompañamiento de banda. Cada instrumento tenía solos y tuttis únicos. En ese entonces, era innovador tocar como solista en un pueblo rico en cultura pero aislado y con limitado acceso a información y conocimientos formales de música. Prácticamente no existían bandas infantiles ni juveniles, por lo que la creación de la Banda Infantil-Juvenil-Bastlam fue uno de los primeros grandes proyectos impulsados por las autoridades municipales. Posteriormente, adoptaron el proyecto y continuaron formando bandas infantiles escalonadamente en dicha comunidad replicándose en otros pueblos y regiones de Oaxaca. 

El origen del zapateado es incierto. Se cree que proviene de las sevillanas, fandanguillos, bulerías y peteneras españolas, las cuales se fusionaron con elementos africanos. Sin embargo, fue en México donde este tipo de zapateado instrumental se arraigó y enriqueció en las bandas filarmónicas tradicionales de los pueblos oaxaqueños. El zapateado representa una fusión global entre culturas y sus representaciones. No existe ningún baile o forma musical completamente puro; todos son producto de mestizajes.

SKU: A0.1310119

Music composed and performed by David W Solomons
This setting is the first song that I wrote in Strasbourg in 1976, where I met the poet Marie Keyser, who features in this video.
Her poem is about the angst of adolescence. She is a scholar of German poetry and in particular the works of Hölderlin.

The poem is as follows 

Entends mon chant d'exil et comme avec patience 
ensevelie en terre hostile je désapprends la respiration 
l'instant et toute presence humaine

du royaume au bord du temps
ils m'ont arrachée de l'aube

et maintenant le temps sévit
le mal de terre est profond
jamais la nuit n'atteint l'aurore

inachevés abolis nous reposons
mais je me souviens

entends mon chant d'exil 
et le déchirement

au royaume lointain au bord du temps
s'accomplit la naissance 

et le premier vertige de voir 
d'entendre et de de toucher le monde

ploie l'adolescence alanguie enclose en elle

l'île à fleur de mer au chant d'écume éphemère 
et renouvelé

et l'envol s'accomplit vers le point d'aube

où le premier chant indécis de la grive musicienne
délie les sources dormeuses,
le vent et l'envie d'aller

les arbres vont en cortège devant

entends mon chant de retour et le cheminement....

mais pourquoi l'exil revient-il, 
briser l'allégeance
condamner les jardins et les demeures 
et dicter à nouveau l'errance

j'entends par mes déchirures
les rumeurs humaines et l'arrêt de mort 
de l'instant convalescent

ils m'ont arrachée de l'aube....

tu dis que le château 
entre les bouleaux frêles 
regarde la vallée entière
de l'aube à la nuit

et déjà ériges la tour

où dormir ou demeurer où vivre déliée 
de la mélancholie

mais les fleurs dorment sous la terre
semées par milliers dans le jardin balsamaire.

SKU: A0.1028045

On December 14, 2012, at 9:35 a.m., the entire country stood motionless, for a horrific act of terror was underway. Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 first-graders and 6 adults, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut; a moment in history as one of the worst school shootings that our country has ever faced. Every single child which was murdered had a future of their own, taken away at the hands of a ruthless gunman, who in an instant, ended any chance that these 20 children had to have a happy life. Along with these children, were the 6 heroic staff members who so selflessly gave their life in order to stop this perpetrator who came to destroy the fragile object that we all call life. The title of this piece, The Sandy Hook Lullaby, is symbolic to represent the deaths and aftermath on that faithful day. This particular piece is a lullaby to represent the day that the victims lives were taken, ending with a peaceful goodbye. The song starts strong and valiant, to represent the beginning and potential of a new day. As it progresses, the song softens a bit, with clarinet lead, which represents the students learning in the classroom and the staff working as normal. A swell in volume represents the knowledge learned, as they are completely unaware of the events to follow. Halfway through, terror strikes. The percussion solo is representative of the the 5 minutes that the entire attack took place. The entire finale of the song is to represent the peaceful rest of those murdered, the final goodbye. The song ends softly, as the victims are put to rest, and because most of the victims were children, this comes in the form of a lullaby. Just as a loving and caring parent would put their child to sleep with a song, we give our final goodbyes with this Sandy Hook Lullaby. Thank you, and please enjoy with reverence and respect. -Nicholas McClure, Composer.

SKU: A0.1489511

In 2022 the United States Air Force celebrated 75 years of air and space dominance since its creation in 1947.  The festivities and ceremonies surfaced throughout the nation all year.  This composition was crafted as one of those celebratory creations.  “Legacy of Valor” was originally composed for brass quintet and rock band, with two vocalists singing a stirring account of legacy handed down from one generation to another.  The lyrics are here:

In my youth, I knew a man
Who loved to talk about his history;
Unfolded his mystery!
He made me laugh about some things,
And we cried about some others,
And we prayed as we talked about his fallen brothers.

As I grew, I though a lot
About that man who told me stories—
His woes and his glories.
Something firm about his voice
Inspired my skill to make a choice,
To recall our defenders’ valiant sacrifice.

As I wanted to be like this man,
As I pondered and dreamed
Of becoming what I can,
I hoped to see the day, without delay,
To defend, like my friend!

When I took the oath,
I remembered that man!
How proud he would be
Of his brand new Airman!
I answered the call.
I’ll give it my all!
I will not falter!  I will not fail!
I’m a guardian of the tradition of honor!
Fly, fight, and win!

When I hold my little boy,
And think of freedoms he’ll enjoy,
I ponder his destiny.
Yes, it’s hard when I deploy!
But distance cannot destroy
What I love; what I fight so very hard to save!

Generations come and go.
I wish they all could know
How it feels to serve America.

The piece was difficult for the singers, but they practiced hard, and the USAF Heartland of America Band premiered it during an Independence Day concert tour in June and July 2022, including the grand patriotic concert at Mount Rushmore.

A casual comment from one of the singers lingered: “You write for singers like they’re horns!”  It is true that most of my compositional experience is with brass instruments.  This double brass quintet instrumental rendition of “Legacy of Valor” is indeed a much more musically gratifying composition.  It is the way it was supposed to be all along!

Released in 2023 for the 76th birthday of the Air Force, this work and its message are appropriate for any patriotic event, including joint performances between any two brass quintets, civilian or military, American or global.  Many stirring meanings can be communicated and celebrated through “Legacy of Valor”!

SKU: A0.1069990

Whether its food, alcohol,drugs, or viewing pornography. Addictions destroy the lives of everyone around them. I look at addictions as if they were little devils that have us down and are jumping on top of us and won’t let us get up.  Little by little the addicted and all of his friends and family lose faith, hope, love, peace, joy, and self respect. The shame of addiction keeps them in despair. They constantly have voices in their heads that say you’re no good, you’re no good, do you hear me, you’re no good. Well I’m here to tell you that is a lie. You are good. You are worth something. Life ,family, love, peace, joy. Those are all things that are worth fighting for. Take them back. You are not unworthy. You can fight the addiction. You have made mistakes that are correctable.  God tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Then God says to draw near unto Him and He will draw near unto you. When God draws close to us, we will receive His strength and power to leave the addiction behind. With Him we can overcome anything.

SKU: A0.983997

Whether its food, alcohol, drugs, or viewing pornography. Addictions destroy the lives of everyone around them.  I look at addictions as if they were little devils that have us down and are jumping on top of us and won’t let us get up.   Little by little the addicted and all of his friends and family lose faith, hope, love, peace, joy, and self respect.  The shame of addiction keeps them in despair.  They constantly have  voices in their heads that say you’re no good, you’re no good, do you hear me, you’re no good.  Well I’m here to tell you that is a lie.  You are good.  You are worth something.  Life , family, love, peace, joy.  Those are all things that are worth fighting for. Take them back.  You are not unworthy. You can fight the addiction. You have made mistakes that are correctable.  God tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from you. Then God says to draw near unto Him and He will draw near unto you. When  God draws close  to us, we will recieve His strength and power to leave the addiction behind. With Him we can overcome anything.

SKU: A0.813969

Saxophone Quintet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (7 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.

Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.

According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber's original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.

In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Saxophone Quintet, consisting of 2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones and 1 Baritone Saxophone, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. 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 well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide 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 Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

SKU: A0.813966

Euphonium Quintet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (7 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.

Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.

According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber' s original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.

In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a Euphonium Quintet, written in Treble Clef, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There is also a version for a Euphonium Quintet written in Bass Clef, if you prefer. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. 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 well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide 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 Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.

SKU: A0.813995

String Octet - Intermediate - Digital Download. This arrangement of Silent Night, or in German, Stille Nacht, would be a wonderful addition to any music library and could be performed for Christmas concerts, recitals, and, especially, church services. It is equally suitable for junior and senior high school students and even older musicians. Depending on their ability, younger musicians would also enjoy playing this selection. Included are a score and a complete set of parts (12 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.

Silent Night is probably the most popular Christmas carol ever written. It was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr and was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a small village in present-day Austria. A young Catholic priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had written the poem, Stille Nacht, in 1816 and had gone to Oberndorf in 1817. The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for that night's mass, after river flooding had possibly damaged the church organ. The church was eventually destroyed by repeated flooding and has since been replaced with the Silent-Night-Chapel.

According to Gruber, Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who serviced the instrument at the Oberndorf church, was enamored with the song, and took the composition home with him to the Ziller Valley in Tyrol, Austria. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Strassers and the Rainers, included the tune in their shows. The Rainers were already singing it around Christmas, 1819, and once performed it for an audience that included Franz I of Austria and Alexander I of Russia. They also gave the first performance of the song in the United States in New York City in 1839. By the 1840's, the song was well known and was reported to be a favorite of Frederick William IV of Prussia. During this period, the melody changed slightly to become the version that is commonly heard today. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby, or pastoral, differing slightly from Gruber's original which has a moderate tempo. The song has been translated into about 140 languages and has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. The version sung by Bing Crosby in 1935, has sold over 10 million copies as a single.

In this arrangement of Silent Night, Regis Bookshar has kept the basic form of this familiar Christmas carol, but has also included a descant during the third verse. Also, in addition to this version for a String Octet, consisting of 3 Violins, 2 Violas and 3 Violoncellos, there are other arrangements of Silent Night available for a variety of instrumental ensembles. There are Quintets and Octets readily available for purchase. Please take the time to look for other versions of this composition. 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 well, as there are numerous arrangements in a wide 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 Silent Night will continue to entertain both performers and audiences alike for years to come.