Piano Solo - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.873046 Composed by Sally Whitwell. Contemporary. Score. 11 pages. Sally Whitwell #6119391. Published by Sally Whitwell (A0.873046). A Week in November… and what a week it was! It was the week of the US Presidential Election 2020. As I write these words, the absurdist tantrums of the Trump-Pence campaign versus the reasoned compassion of team Biden-Harris continues even well after the results have been called in the Democrats’ favour. There will not be the usual respectful concession speech and transition of power. I worry every day about how these next few months will be so very difficult, maybe even dangerous, for my American friends. Those convoys of flag waving Trumpists gleefully, openly, encouraged by their ‘leader’, attempting to block the democratic process was horrifying to witness. Was America on the brink of civil war? It still doesn’t seem far fetched to think that as I sit in my studio on the other side of the world, feeling helpless. The only thing I felt that I could do for my friends over there was to offer them a way to feel safe and loved in the moment, a bit of musical mindfulness.  It was in this spirit that I wrote the second movement of this work, subtitled A Pocket Full of Calm. My excellent pianist friends Erica Sipes (USA) and Sandra Mogensen (Canada) adopted my little tune, recorded it on their social media to share said moment in the moment as it were. I hope it helped. I mean, if I can bring to even just one person some sense of calm solidarity, I’m happy with that. The fifth movement in the set, Victorious, resolute, but gracious, was a stream-of-consciousness creative response to the Biden Harris victory and the way they handled it so eloquently, so humbly, how they gave the world a sense of optimism once more. For a long while, I’d felt that I probably wouldn’t be welcome in America. As a mixed race, queer woman I was the antithesis of everything they valued. But now, people like me over there can feel human again. The relief! As for the other days of that week in November, they are part of a continuing series of daily composition exercises I started back in October in an effort to end a lengthy period of pandemic-induced creative block. Using a combination of exercises from Music Composition Toolbox (Barbeler/Blom/Hindson) and Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies I’ve been able to find my creativity again. Starting a composition ‘habit’ is the best thing I’ve done for my writing all year and is how I mean to continue for a long time. Sally Whitwell12 November 2020 

Piano Quartet - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548651 Composed by James Pierpont. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas. 17 pages. Jmsgu3 #3408091. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548651). A unique arrangement of Jingle Bells arranged for a piano quartet (piano, violin, viola, cello, and optional sleigh bells). The first verses are based on the traditional version. After an abrupt modulation, the third verse explores an augmentation canon, while the viola pursues a wild sleigh ride passage. Meanwhile, the tune is fragmented and sequenced in the piano. It gets wild but straightens out for the final refrain. Score: 7 pg, 68 ms. String parts: 2 pg. Sleighbell part: 1 pg. Piano part: 3 pg. Jingle Bells is perhaps the most famous song in American music history. James L. Pierpont published the song One Horse Open Sleigh in the late 1850s. Since its introduction, people began to insist that Pierpont wrote it for a Sunday school choir. However, it seems unlikely that such a secular song would be considered appropriate during that historical period for Sunday school. Christmas Repertoire Pierpont wrote the song for the Thanksgiving holidays, but over time people began to think of it more as a Christmas song. Some choirs adopted it as part of their Christmas repertoire in the 1860s and 1870s. Jingle Bells was first recorded in 1889 on a wax cylinder. Origins No one knows where Pierpont composed the song. One theory suggests he wrote it in Medford Massachusetts in 1850. Sleigh races were certainly popular in 19th-century Massachusetts. To this day, a commemorative placard appears in Medford Square claiming that it is the birthplace of Jingle Bells. Others suggest that he wrote it in Savannah, Georgia where he was an organist and music director at the Unitarian Church. This theory gained support from the copyright date of 1857. We know he was living in Savannah by then. Traffic Signals Horse-drawn sleighs are relatively quiet in the snow. Consequently, horses were usually equipped with bell-laden straps so as to avoid accidents at blind intersections. Sleigh drivers in 19th Century New England were constantly vigilant, listening for the sounds of approaching horse-drawn sleighs. The tune imitates the rhythm that the trotting horse bells produce. Social Context Jingle Bells was sung as a drinking song at local revelries: during the song, folks would rhythmically jingle the ice in their glasses. A sleigh ride allowed couples to be alone together. The term Jingle bells is a poetic descriptive adjective referring specifically to the more accurate term sleigh bells. In many arrangements, sleigh bells accentuate the rhythm during the song's chorus.   

Piano Solo - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.885159 By Renee Hyche McKee. By Renee Hyche McKee. New Age,Praise & Worship,Sacred,Traditional,Wedding. Score. 28 pages. Renee H. McKee #491468. Published by Renee H. McKee (A0.885159). Classically-trained pianists are often asked to “play some quiet background music� which is non-invasive, that will support the event without bringing attention to the music itself, and can be brought to a graceful close quickly. “What to play?� is not the only challenge, but also, “What do I do if I run out of music before the event is done?� or, How can I bring a piece to a close if I'm told to stop playing before the piece is over?� “HELP! I can't improvise! I offer you a set of beautiful phrases that are uniquely purposed to fill these needs - and more. Peaceful Measures is a set of twelve four-measure, repeatable, interchangeable phrases with very little melodic distraction. Start with any phrase that suits your need, such as background music for a pastoral prayer. Repeat one phrase indefinitely or flow directly to any other. Skip around. Each phrase leads to all others, and all lead to your choice of two clearly labeled Endings. Because this download includes the seven most commonly used major keys, Peaceful Measures can also be used as vamping material until the song you are accompanying is ready to sing. Or use a phrase to extend a song in order to continue its mood. Print only the pages of the key you need now, or the whole set for quick referrals later. Explore their flexibility for other purposes, such as the passing of Communion for example: find your favorite phrases to repeat, then flow into the Ending that will serve the best timing. Need quiet music filler for an unknown length of time? Choose a phrase and repeat, then go to an Ending of your choice. Everything is written out for easy navigation and on-the-spot reading. The recording I have included is a series of phrases, some repeated, in F Major and uses Ending I. Pianists will discover even more settings for these versatile phrases! Not only are they great for worship services of any faith, they serve as background music for speeches, funeral prelude music, dedications of any kind, wedding filler music, civil ceremonies, personal prayer, and calming meditation music for groups large or small. For some, the most enjoyable thing is to just play them randomly and enjoy the calm they bring for yourself. It is my heart’s desire that these lovelies will serve you, the pianist, the one who is so often called upon to serve others. Blessings, - Renee PS I've included a bonus page that has an extended version of one of the phrases. Enjoy!

Piano,Violin - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1077809 By Glen Campbell. By Jimmy Webb. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Country,Jazz,Pop,Standards,Wedding. 12 pages. Jmsgu3 #681990. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.1077809). Wichita Lineman for Violin and Piano Score: 7 pages, Duration: 2:34Wichita Lineman is a 1968 song by the American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb. The song has since been praised as one of the most influential and greatest recordings in popular music history. The song has been widely praised by critics, and has been called a masterpiece of American music. In 2004, it was ranked number 201 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song has also been praised for its poetic lyrics, as well as its use of electric guitar and strings to create a unique sound. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Glen Campbell, who recorded a version that reached the top of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1968. The song has also been featured in numerous films and television shows, and has been referenced in popular culture. Wichita Lineman has been praised for its universal appeal, and its ability to connect with listeners.Wichita Lineman is a timeless classic that has become synonymous with loneliness. The song is about a telephone lineman who is alone in his work and in his life, looking out at the vast landscape in search of something he cannot find. The melancholy and longing of the song is evocative of the loneliness that many people feel, especially in a society that can often feel disconnected and isolated. Webb's lyrics and Campbell's vocals combine to create a song that is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. It is a timeless song that captures the loneliness of many, and its enduring popularity over the years is a testament to its power.

Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1172232 By Sarah Bonsignore. By Sarah Bonsignore. Arranged by Sarah Bonsignore. 19th Century,20th Century,Classical,Contemporary,Romantic Period. Score. 11 pages. Sarah Bonsignore #772456. Published by Sarah Bonsignore (A0.1172232). Here is a brand new piece in five parts that has been haunting me for two days. It came to me at 3am yesterday and I went into my studio to notate it. It's a dreamy, soothing and sometimes soaring piece that reminded me of the octopus from the amazing documentary My Octopus Teacher. Part 1 is possibly more beginner intermediate, and I think some of the parts can be played as individual solos. I've included a link to the youtube demo on the score with an above hands view and a light up keyboard so that students can follow the score and listen.My husband and children loved this piece when they heard it, so I'm excited to have it published for others to learn and play. Part 3 was an idea from a piece I improvized in the Tottenham Court tube station a few years ago (yes, there was a piano in the tube station, and there should be a piano in every tube station as far as I'm concerned :) The theme I played that day never left me and it seemed to fit here. I wrote an expanded version of part 3 called Flight in D major that I hope to include on my website singplaystudios.com and here in a few weeks, so if you like part 3, I hope you'll check that piece out too. I plan to include this work in my 20 Beautiful Piano Solos book 3 (please find the first two books and many other repertoire and ear training books on Amazon). Thank you for considering learning this piece. It is very special to me, and you can read more about my inspiration and process at the youtube link.

English Horn,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548716 Composed by Martin Luther. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Easter,Instructional,Standards. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3411745. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548716). Out of the Depths I Cry to You by Martin Luther. The first verses feature modified counterpoint and harmony proceeding at quarter = 82. The final verse is reharmonized for maximum dramatic effect at a more contemplative tempo such as quarter = 64. Features the entire range of the instrument. Very powerful selection for Lent or Easter. Duration (3 verses) 3:05, 36 ms. Score: 3 pg. Solo part: 1 pg. The piano reads from the score. Out of the Depths Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (From deep affliction I cry out to you), is, of course, a hymn composed by Martin Luther. Moreover, Luther also wrote the lyrics, essentially a paraphrase of Psalm 130. First published in 1524, it is also one of eight songs in the original Lutheran hymnal. It appears likewise in many hymnals and in different translations. The lyrics furthermore stimulated compositions from the Renaissance to the contemporary. Consequently, composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach built an entire chorale cantata on it. Other composers similarly contributed pieces, such as Felix Mendelssohn and Max Reger. Luther Background Martin Luther, (1483 –1546) was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, and moreover, an influential character in the Protestant Reformation. Luther had a momentous impact on church and society due to his contributions to the musical arts. He wanted to disseminate the gospel among mankind and with this intention thought that the best way to do that was through music. Influence It is important to realize that other musicians, and their descendants, were encouraged by Luther’s songs and wrote their own hymns. Luther, to be sure, had a thorough musical education. For example, he knew secular and sacred songs from an early age. He, in particular, played the lute well and sang in the monastery when he was a monk. That is to say, music was an essential part of his life. He in fact first began writing songs in 1523, sometimes writing the melody as well as the lyrics. Luther was certainly able to evaluate the composers of his time. He thought especially highly of Josquin des and Ludwig Senfl. He was also acquainted, with this in mind, with other composers and their works. Legacy The Lutheran musical ethos soon covered all of Germany and later significantly fashioned Protestant musical culture. Heinrich Schütz and Johann Sebastian Bach are the most compelling evidence of this Protestant musical culture. Additionally, as a point often overlooked, the pedal organ, first refined in northern Germany, became universally prevalent. As a matter of fact, Dieterich Buxtehude established a regular evening organ concert series in Lübeck. Another key point is that this concert series, in turn, spread North German Musical ideas worldwide. Luther was especially convinced that music is a beautiful and exclusive offering of the divine.

Concert Band - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1325806 Composed by Julian Work. Arranged by R. Anderson Collinsworth. 20th Century,Classical,Contest,Festival. 83 pages. R. Anderson Collinsworth #908720. Published by R. Anderson Collinsworth (A0.1325806). Autumn Walk is a miniature tone poem that reverberates Work’s compositional style, imbued with rich tonal harmonies, lyrical melodic ideas, and sensitive orchestrations that radiate with imaginative tone color. It was composed in 1958, and was a notable addition among the repertoire recorded by Frederick Fennell and the Eastman Wind Ensemble for the American Concert Band Masterpieces album in 1959 (Mercury Records MG-50220). Autumn Walk is, in its own right, a marvelous composition, but listening to the 1959 EWE recording, one notices a remarkable difference from the published score, including additional passages that sound organically conceived. In his discography of Fennell’s recordings entitled Ffortissimo, Roger Rickson simply noted the work was recorded with “FF edits.� However, it has been recently revealed that it was Donald Hunsberger, then a graduate student and member of the EWE, who was responsible for adding the enhancements heard on the EWE recording. Shortly before his death in November 2023, Hunsberger stated “FF and I were discussing the piece after a rehearsal (I did a lot of rehearsing for him that year as he was away doing President of CBDNA) concerning some of the thinness of sound… I had just spent 4 years with the Marine Band in Washington, playing trombone and serving as resident arranger. I had been trying to upgrade the band's sound, experimenting with all kinds of orchestration, and told FF that I would work over the score and enrich it in various ways.�This revised edition incorporates the additional passages conceived by Hunsberger and reconciles minor errors and other orchestrational aspects.

Brass Ensemble Trombone - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.813974 Composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. Arranged by Regis Bookshar. Christmas,Concert,Instructional,World. Score and parts. 7 pages. Regis Bookshar #6635873. Published by Regis Bookshar (A0.813974). Trombone 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 Trombone Quintet, 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.

Alto Voice,Vocal Solo - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1022081 Composed by Bill Taylor and Jaye Alison Moscariello, lyrics and Bill Taylor music. Contemporary,Jazz,Sacred. 7 pages. William R Taylor #6475263. Published by William R Taylor (A0.1022081). Nature’s Dream (©2012) – Piano, Vocal, Flute, Soprano Sax, Upright Bass. The first several bars came to me in a 2011 vivid dream in which Paul McCandless was playing soaring soprano sax melodies and Jaye Alison Moscariello was singing lyrics I did not remember from the dream.  It was originally in D with some Dad-related chord progressions.  This version is in A to better fit the alto voice.  After writing 3 verses of rather convoluted lyrics about healing the planet, Jaye helped pare it down to one powerful verse that could be a world anthem.  George and Paul play solos during the instrumental break. We think this would make a great national, or international, anthem. This is our planet, the one that we all share Let us remember that all life breathes the air Our world is sacred, its future in our trust And it continues after bodies turn to dust Shall we continue to think we own the beasts? Or know the truth that all of us share the feast? Grow for each other and for the creatures too Plant life and fungi nourish the whole zoo Lessons we’ve learned from species that have passed Transform our ways or we may not last Take time to learn what ancestors teach us Honor the spirit residing in that which feeds us Act for the future of seven generations And together we can share in this dance of life Act for the future of seven generations Act for the welfare of seven generations

Piano Solo - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.998565 Composed by Joopie Music. Contemporary. Score. 6 pages. Joopie Music #3533919. Published by Joopie Music (A0.998565). INTERVALS : 24 Works for Piano by Julie MandelA musician friend of mine once told me that her favorite songs were those that began with the jump of an octave. Like Somewhere Over The Rainbow. It got me to thinking about how the first two notes of any piece of music really set up what will follow. That octave jump, that interval, is only one of twenty-four possible intervals in a one-octave scale. That is to say, there are twenty-four different intervals with which to begin a piece of music. I have written these twenty-four pieces with the idea of having the first two notes of each of them start with a different interval.I’m delighted that pianists are starting to perform them in concert, and all 24 have been recorded by Hadassah Guttmann. The recording is widely available for purchase and download.Writing them has been like a series of adventures, each of which begins by taking the first two steps - and then discovering where they will lead. I hope you enjoy playing them as much as I enjoyed writing them.Julie Mandel, composerwww.juliemandel.com

Piano,Voice Duet Mezzo-Soprano Voice,Piano - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1280622 Composed by Moyuru Maeda. 21st Century,Chamber,Classical,Multicultural,World. 6 pages. Musik Fabrik Music Publishing #872036. Published by Musik Fabrik Music Publishing (A0.1280622). A setting of the famous poem by Lord Byron for soprano, mezzo and piano using traditional Japanese harmonies : She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

Bassoon,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549346 By Barry Manilow. By Bruce Johnston. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Contemporary,Rock. Score and part. 8 pages. Jmsgu3 #3486719. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549346). Duration: ca. 3:00, score: 5 pages, solo part: 1 page, piano part: 2 pages.Very famous song suitable for church, recital or nightclub. I Write the Songs is a popular song written by Bruce Johnston in 1975 and made famous by Barry Manilow. Manilow's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1976[2] after spending two weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart in December 1975.[3] It won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year and was nominated for Record of the Year in 1977.[3] Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song of 1976.[4]The original version was recorded by The Captain & Tennille, who worked with Johnston in the early 1970s with The Beach Boys. It appears on their 1975 album, Love Will Keep Us Together. The first release of I Write the Songs as a single was by then teen-idol David Cassidy from his 1975 solo album The Higher They Climb, which was also produced by Bruce Johnston. Cassidy's version reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart in August of that year.[5]Johnston has stated that, for him, the I in the song is God,[2] and that songs come from the spirit of creativity in all of us. He has said that the song is not about his Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson.[6]Manilow was initially reluctant to record the song, stating in his autobiography Sweet Life: The problem with the song was that if you didn't listen carefully to the lyric, you would think that the singer was singing about himself. It could be misinterpreted as a monumental ego trip.[3] After persuasion by Clive Davis, then president of Arista Records, Manilow recorded the song, and his version of I Write the Songs was the first single taken from the album Tryin' to Get the Feeling. It first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 15, 1975, reaching the top of the chart nine weeks later, on January 17, 1976. Wikipedia

Bassoon Solo - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1018966 Composed by Benjamin Harry Sajo. 20th Century,Contemporary. Individual part. 2 pages. Benjamin Sajo #6086607. Published by Benjamin Sajo (A0.1018966). Programme Notes: Fanfare: Grit evokes the brassy and rousing tropes of adventure movie soundtracks and Saturday morning cartoons, such as those written by John Williams, Shirley Walker, among others. Writing this piece was an escapade to my own musical roots for this was the first type of music I had been exposed to as a child: incidental music accompanying perilous quests, hairbreadth escapes, and other trials blocking the hero’s path to victory and redemption. I wanted to compose a piece that harkens back to the music that I first fell in love with, that opened up the gates of a legacy--symphonic classical music--that’s always been my solace in trying times. What is grit? Grit is the dirt between smiles and between barefoot toes. Grit is a hard-boiled detective. Grit is tilling the tough soil for the possibility of a beautiful blossoming of flowers.   Grit is saying, See you soon, and making sure it happens. Grit is helping others when it’s hard to help yourself. Grit isn’t easy bravery, but the kind of courage you need to build up brick by brick. The obligatory synonyms: courage, bravery, pluck, mettle, and spirit. Finally, this composition, the fourth of my so-called Beethoven Episodes, was written to accompany Ludwig van Beethoven’s 4th Symphony. This work was written on his 250th anniversary, coincidentally during the Covid-19 Pandemic of 2020, and is the sum of my feelings wrought from that experience. Yet this work was completed on Canadian Thanksgiving, and is also an expression of all that I am grateful for, from the bottom of my heart.

Bassoon & Strings - Digital Download SKU: IZ.BCMF201 Composed by Jess Hendricks. Score and Parts. 59 pages. Imagine Music - Digital #BCMF201. Published by Imagine Music - Digital (IZ.BCMF201). 9 x 12 inches.Quarks are subatomic particles that are thought to be the building blocks of all matter. They actually come together to form protons and neutrons. I have a passing fascination with these mysterious particles and how they all come together. It almost seems as though there exists some kind of microverse that physicists describe in smaller detail every few years.Dances with Quarks celebrates these tiny particles that are, in essence, everything. This piece is both whimsical and introspective. The work is divided into three sections predominantly; the main 'dance' theme, a middle section that is markedly smoother and more melodic, and the return of the dance theme in an augmented fashion. The meter is free and constantly evolving, reminiscent of the chaos of the microverse, but at the same time evocative of the seeming order from that randomness. There is also a persistent dialogue between the bassoon and strings that illustrates the myriad of colors in the universe as well as in music.

Flute,Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549341 By Barry Manilow. By Bruce Johnston. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Contemporary,Rock. Score and part. 8 pages. Jmsgu3 #3486693. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549341). Duration: ca. 3:00, score: 5 pages, solo part: 1 page, piano part: 2 pages.Very famous song suitable for church, recital or nightclub. I Write the Songs is a popular song written by Bruce Johnston in 1975 and made famous by Barry Manilow. Manilow's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1976[2] after spending two weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart in December 1975.[3] It won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year and was nominated for Record of the Year in 1977.[3] Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song of 1976.[4]The original version was recorded by The Captain & Tennille, who worked with Johnston in the early 1970s with The Beach Boys. It appears on their 1975 album, Love Will Keep Us Together. The first release of I Write the Songs as a single was by then teen-idol David Cassidy from his 1975 solo album The Higher They Climb, which was also produced by Bruce Johnston. Cassidy's version reached #11 on the UK Singles Chart in August of that year.[5]Johnston has stated that, for him, the I in the song is God,[2] and that songs come from the spirit of creativity in all of us. He has said that the song is not about his Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson.[6]Manilow was initially reluctant to record the song, stating in his autobiography Sweet Life: The problem with the song was that if you didn't listen carefully to the lyric, you would think that the singer was singing about himself. It could be misinterpreted as a monumental ego trip.[3] After persuasion by Clive Davis, then president of Arista Records, Manilow recorded the song, and his version of I Write the Songs was the first single taken from the album Tryin' to Get the Feeling. It first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 15, 1975, reaching the top of the chart nine weeks later, on January 17, 1976. Wikipedia