Piano,Tenor Saxophone - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548504 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387401. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548504). The First Noel arranged for Tenor Sax & Piano with new harmony for the final verse.Origins The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning Christmas. Therefore the First Noel translates as the First Christmas. First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the Carols Ancient and Modern songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Alto Sax Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive. Stainer Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870’s.  Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships. Diatonic Function The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling – like maybe it never really ends. Political Context The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

B-Flat Trumpet,Piano - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548502 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387385. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548502). The First Noel arranged for Trumpet in Bb & Piano with new harmony for the final verse.Origins The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning Christmas. Therefore the First Noel translates as the First Christmas. First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the Carols Ancient and Modern songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Trumpet Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive. Stainer Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870’s.  Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships. Diatonic Function The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling – like maybe it never really ends. Political Context The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Piano,Tuba - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548505 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387403. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548505). The First Noel arranged for Tuba & Piano with new harmony for the final verse.Origins The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning Christmas. Therefore the First Noel translates as the First Christmas. First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the Carols Ancient and Modern songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Tuba Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive. Stainer Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870’s.  Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships. Diatonic Function The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling – like maybe it never really ends. Political Context The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Piano,Viola - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548507 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. Score and part. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387407. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548507). The First Noel arranged for Viola & Piano with new harmony for the final verse.Origins The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning Christmas. Therefore the First Noel translates as the First Christmas. First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the Carols Ancient and Modern songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Viola Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive. Stainer Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870’s.  Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships. Diatonic Function The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling – like maybe it never really ends. Political Context The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Piano,Violin - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.548506 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christian,Christmas. 4 pages. Jmsgu3 #3387409. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.548506). The First Noel arranged for Violin & Piano with new harmony for the final verse. Origins The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning Christmas. Therefore the First Noel translates as the First Christmas. First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the Carols Ancient and Modern songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Violin Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive. Stainer Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870’s.  Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships. Diatonic Function The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling – like maybe it never really ends. Political Context The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.    

Piano Quartet - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.549902 Composed by Traditional. Arranged by James M. Guthrie, ASCAP. Christmas,Standards. 6 pages. Jmsgu3 #3685135. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549902). Score: 3 pages, String parts 1 page each. The First Noel arranged for Alto Sax & Piano with new harmony for the final verse.Origins The First Noel is an English Christmas carol. Even more, it was probably written in the late Cornish Renaissance period. While other versions spell the title as Nowell, this is just a colloquial variation. Furthermore, Noel is an older word meaning Christmas. Therefore the First Noel translates as the First Christmas. First of all, Gilbert and Sandy published the earliest version. As a result, this version appears in the Carols Ancient and Modern songbook of 1823. William Sandy edited and arranged the book. Similarly, his partner Davies Gilbert edited and added the familiar extra verses. The First Noel: Piano Quartet Version comes with new harmony in final verse for more energy and drive. Stainer Organist and composer Sir John Stainer published the most noteworthy customary arrangement in the 1870’s.  Stainer is above all famous for his songbook entitled: Christmas Carols New and Old (1871). This volume served as an important catalyst for reviving the English Christmas carol.  Other famous Stainer arrangements from this book are such titles as What Child Is This, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, and I Saw Three Ships. Diatonic Function The melodic structure in the First Noel is uncommon among English folk tunes. It simply repeats one phrase twice then follows a variation refrain. All three phrases of the song end on the mediant scale degree. This is unusual because the diatonic function of the mediant is non-final compared to the more usual tonic or even dominant degrees. Consequently, this gives the song as kind of open-ended feeling – like maybe it never really ends. Political Context The Catholic clergy sang carols outside of the church in Latin. After the Protestant Reformation, the reformers thought it would be better for everyone to sing carols. They decided to bring music back to the common folk. So, they translated the lyrics from Latin into common language. Moreover, the Protestants wanted more control over the music in church than what the Vatican allowed. Protestant composers such as William Byrd composed complex polyphonic Christmas music that they called carols. Nonetheless, some famous folk carols were composed in this era. Eminent composers in the nineteenth century began to revise and adapt them. Consequently, they revived the English carol.  Register for free lifetime updates and revisions at www.jamesguthrie.com  

Keyboard - Digital Download SKU: A0.1503432 Composed by Ken Litton. Arranged by Ken Litton. 20th Century,Christian,Contemporary,Religious,Sacred. Accompaniment. Duration 140. Artist of Note, Inc. #1078881. Published by Artist of Note, Inc. (A0.1503432). A Mission for Every OneAudio accompaniment/demo MP3A song I wrote at the request of the South Brazil Mission of the International Mission Board SBC, for their Annual South Brazil Mission Meeting in 1997 while we were serving the churches of the Federal District Baptist Convention in the capital city of Brasília (1000 miles into the interior of the country).The key reference here is Matthew 24:4-14...And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.—KJV#evangelism #outreach #witness #testifyAvailable where you go for the best in downloadable resources, including:Sheet Music PlusSheet Music DirectAnd via your local Hal Leonard InStore music dealerAlso…check out other titles from East of the Altar/Artist of Note, Inc.!Thanks, as always to the good folks at ArrangeMe.com, a division of Hal Leonard!

Electric Bass Guitar,Instrumental Duet,Keyboard - Level 1 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1468152 By 100 Ans De Musiques De Films. By Henry Mancini. Arranged by Marcelo Borba. Broadway,Classical,Jazz,Musical/Show,Standards,Video Game. 4 pages. Marcelo Borba #1046462. Published by Marcelo Borba (A0.1468152). Leadsheet style arrangement with general score and for electric bass. Born Enrico Nicola Mancini in 1924, Henry Mancini was an American composer, pianist, and arranger renowned for his sophisticated melodies and unforgettable scores. Known for his elegant and jazzy style, Mancini composed music for numerous films and television series.The Pink Panther Theme: A Musical Journey from Inspiration to Iconic StatusThe story behind the creation of The Pink Panther Theme, the iconic theme song for the Pink Panther franchise, is a captivating tale that weaves together creativity, humor, and a touch of serendipity.In 1963, filmmaker Blake Edwards sought a catchy tune for the opening credits of his new film, The Pink Panther. The idea was to craft a lighthearted and comedic jazz melody that reflected the personality of the main character, Inspector Clouseau.

Easy Piano - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.821362 Composed by Scott Joplin. Arranged by Judith L. Maggs. 20th Century,Instructional,Ragtime,Standards. Score. 18 pages. Maggs #6271923. Published by Maggs (A0.821362). There are a multitude of arrangements of The Entertainer and The Maple Leaf Rag, and understandably so - they’re delightful pieces. But Scott Joplin also wrote many other treasures, and I’ve included four of them in this collection for intermediate piano. (Two of them involve stomping your feet while playing!) Each of the four pieces are also published separately, and you can hear a full recording of them on their product pages:Bethena - A Concert Waltz: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/21967233 Rag-Time Dance: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/21969096 Pine Apple Rag: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/21969182Stoptime Rag: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/21969546Enjoy checking out some of Mr. Joplin’s OTHER rags!

Soprano solo, SSAA choir, cello, organ, and synthesizer - Medium - Digital Download SKU: MQ.56-0032-E Composed by Howard Goodall. Instrument part. 17 pages. Duration 7 minutes, 25 seconds. MorningStar Music Publishers - Digital Sheet Music #56-0032-E. Published by MorningStar Music Publishers - Digital Sheet Music (MQ.56-0032-E). Latin. Isaiah 4:6; Psalms 31:7.Written for the Enchanted Voices CD, this is one of many settings of texts either from the Beatitudes (or springing from them) available from this composer. For soprano solo and SSAA chorus, organ, cello, synthesizer, the music has a light, ethereal feeling. “Beati� can be taken as a sort of “Blessed are they� prefix for the movements which are not direct quotes from the Beatitudes. This movement begins with the soloist singing in English (“Blessed are the stateless; blessed are the homeless�). Next the chorus sings Latin settings of Isaiah 4:6 (“And there shall be a tabernacle�) and Psalms 31:7 (“Thou art my refuge�). The Latin is set in a sort of mantra-like declamatory style, moving through unison into two-part and finally three. All voice return to the opening theme in English originally sung by the soloist. Then the two concepts are overlaid, the solo motif with the declamatory Latin. The choral voices recap the unison-through-three part declamatory section, the soloist briefly returns to the opening theme. Duration 7:25Instrumentalists play from the choral score.

Brass Quintet Horn,Trombone,Trumpet,Tuba - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.746742 Composed by Charles W.A Ellerbrook, Daniel Adams Butterfield, Daniel Decatur Dan Emmett ( 1815 – 1904), and Valentine Vousden. Arranged by Keith Terrett. Contemporary,Multicultural,Patriotic,Traditional,World. 39 pages. Keith Terrett #2941995. Published by Keith Terrett (A0.746742). De facto Anthems of the Confederate States of America  ''I Wish I Was in Dixie & Taps''- ''God Save the South No. 1''  - The Bonnie Blue Flag, ''God Save the South No. 2'', arranged for Brass Quintet & Percussion.The Confederate States of America (also referred to as The Confederacy or simply The South) had, like the United States at the time, several patriotic songs in use which could have been considered anthems, like Dixie, The Bonnie Blue Flag, and God Save the South, none of which were officially declared (possibly because declaring an official anthem wasn’t as important to a new nation then as it is now). God Save the South does have more of an anthemaic quality in the music and lyrics, and several publications of the song refer to it as a (or the) anthem, and was also the first song to be published in the Confederacy (which was subsequently published in at least nine editions).God Save the South was written by George H. Miles under the pseudonym Earnest Halphin, soon after the war started. Miles was a Marylander, a state that did not officially secede and join the confederacy, but, being a border state, had several citizens with sympathies for the south. An interesting thing to note about the song is the reference to George Washington (the first president of the United States) in the song’s fifth verse. Apparently, the author of the song meant to tie in Washington’s stance as a rebel against the British in the American revolution with the South’s rebellion against the northern United States in the civil war.The music was written by C. W. A. Ellerbock, but another tune by C. T. De CÅ“niél was also popular at the time as well. (Ellerbock’s version, however, seems to be the original.)For more of my original music, great arrangements and all the national anthems of the world, check out my on-line stores:http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/keith_terrethttp://musicforalloccasions.org.ukhttp://www.sheetmusicplus.com/search?Ntt=keith+terrettNeed an anthem fast?  They are ALL in my store!All my anthem arrangements are also available for Orchestra, Recorders, Saxophones, Wind, Brass and Flexible band. If you need an anthem urgently for an instrumentation not in my store, let me know via e-mail, and I will arrange it for you FOC if possible! keithterrett@gmail.comIf you perform this arrangement in public, make a recording or broadcast it through any media, please notify the PRS (UK), or ASCAP (USA), or SOCAN (Canada), or APRA (Australia) or KODA (Denmark) or the equivalent organisation in your own country, giving the name of the arranger as Keith Terrett.   

Concert Band - Digital Download SKU: A0.917412 Composed by Gregory Fritze. 20th Century,Contemporary,Folk. Score and parts. 370 pages. Musica Nova USA #6321277. Published by Musica Nova USA (A0.917412). The Four Seasons in the Basque Country is a 4 movement symphony for concert band. It is the Third Prize Winner of the 2020 American Prize in Composition - Concert Band. Grade 5, duration 27 minutes. The piece depicts four different places in the Basque country that the composer feels best show the changes of season. The first movement is Winter in the Costa Norte (Galerna). Galerna is on the northerncoast and is subject to harsh storms in the winter. As the piece starts off with a light-hearted dance in thepiccolo, a storm is approaching from afar. At first the storm seems to be in the distance but as it comes closer it overtakes the festivities in a bluster. For a short time two conductors are needed as the concertband is split into two groups – one showing the light-hearted dance led by the piccolo, the other thecacophony of the storm led by the percussion. The storm overtakes everything as it ends the movement with a flourish.The second movement Spring in Rioja Alavesa is a calming contrast to the first movement like the freshness of a spring day. The sun rises and shines beams of light onto the acres of grape vines. After a timea short rain comes to refresh and clean the plants.The third movement Autumn at the Guggenheim Museum is in a traditional 3rd movement form of a symphony, minuet and trio, but the harmonies sometimes use bitonality, having the melody in one key while the accompaniment is in another to suggest surrealism. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbaois one of the world’s most famous museums, not only for the surreal art inside, but also because of the architecture of the building itself.The fourth movement Summer in Bilbao is based on a dance melody composed in the Ezpata- dantza Basque style. It employs a rhythmic element with alternating 6/8 and 3â�„4 meters where the eighth notes are basically equal, but in the dance the 3â�„4 meter is actually a little bit longer. This type of subtlemanipulation of rhythm is used similarly in the Viennese Waltz, when the 3rd beat would be stretched outto accommodate the dancers. The Ezpata-dantza dance continues until the Altza Gastiak, the officialsong of the Bilbao Athletic Club, the local soccer team of Bilbao, is heard. After this the Ezpata-dantzamelody is transformed from a happy dance to a triumphant melody and rousing finale.In The Four Seasons in the Basque Country all of the themes are original except for the short excerpt ofAltza Gastiakin the 4th movement. Some themes are composed in the style of Basque folk dances.Gregory Fritze is a prize-winning composer and Fulbright Scholar, as well as an active performer. He recently retired from Berklee College of Music where he was Professor and Chair of Composition, serving on the faculty from 1979 to 2016. He has written over one hundred compositions for orchestra, band, chamber ensembles and soloists. He has won over sixty composition awards both nationally and internationally. His compositions include works published by several publishers in the United States, South America and Europe that have been performed extensively throughout the world. Many of his compositions are available on ITunes, Youtube and Soundcloud.He has been a frequent traveler to Spain since 1993 and has promoted compositions by Spanishcomposers around the world. He is the only composer who has been commissioned six times by Spanishbands for Certamen competitions, with each band winning first prize.His compositions are recorded on Albany Records, MSR Classics, Crystal Records, Mark Recordsand others. He has been a guest lecturer, conductor and performer at many colleges, universities and music festivals in the United States, Canada, Japan, South America and Europe. He was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1954 and has Composition degrees from the Boston Conservatory and Indiana University.He now resides in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida

Brass Ensemble Horn,Trombone,Trumpet,Tuba - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1030615 Composed by William Billings. Arranged by Mike Allsen. Classical,Praise & Worship,Renaissance,Sacred,Spiritual. Score and parts. 41 pages. Aaron Hettinga #636010. Published by Aaron Hettinga (A0.1030615). William Billings (1746-1800) was North America’s first great choral composer. He spent most of his life in Boston, working at various times as a tanner or as minor civic official, and occasionally as a church musician. Billings seems to have had little formal music training, but when he was just 22, he also set himself up as an itinerant singing-master, teaching “singing-schools,� where children and adults could learn the rudiments of musical notation and solfege. To feed the market he and other singing-masters had helped to create, Billings published six collections of music, mostly for SATB voices, The first of these, The New England Psalm-Singer (1770) featured a frontispiece engraved by his friend Paul Revere. Billings was fairly prosperous by 1780s, but his good fortune faded in the 1790s. His final collection of music, The Continental Harmony of 1794, was published for his benefit by a group of Boston friends. Billings died destitute in 1800. Billings composed some 340 pieces, mostly collected in his printed editions. This music has a rough-edged and sturdy beauty that is distinctly different from anything in contemporary Europe. The vast majority of Billings’s works were hymns or “psalm tunes.� He was particularly attracted to the great English hymn-writer Isaac Watts (1674-1748), though Billings himself wrote verses for many of his hymns. One of the most famous Billings “psalm tunes,� Chester is not a Christian hymn, but rather a patriotic song of defiance directed against the British. Billings spent nearly all of the Revolutionary War in Boston and made no secret of his patriot sentiments. Chester was first published in 1770, but when he republished it in his The Singing-Master’s Assistant during the height of the war in 1778, Billings added a verse calling out the “infernal league� of the leading British generals Howe, Burgoyne, Clinton, Prescot and Cornwallis. Many brass-players will know Chester from the finale of William Schuman’s 1957 band piece A New England Triptych. Billings also composed over 50 “fuging-tunes�—a genre that usually included a short introduction and a repeated contrapuntal section. (These fuging sections usually begin with imitation, but they are otherwise not at all like classical fugues written in Europe at the time.) The fuging-tune Creation is one of his later works, published in The Continental Harmony of 1794, and experiments with the form. It sets two verses of the Watts hymn “When I With Pleasing Wonder Stand� though final line of verse 1 is repeated in a striking phrase that suddenly moves twice as fast (m.15). The fuging section begins in m.30, and rather than the usual exact repeat, Billing writes an entirely new and more elaborate second section beginning at m.44. Billings first published the simple but beautiful Africa in 1770, and published a revised version in 1778; the later version appearing with the Isaac Watts hymn “Now Shall My Inward Joys Arise.� I first arranged Africa in 1995, for the Glenwood Moravian Trombone Choir (Madison, WI), and I edited it for this publication. Phrasing and articulations marked here reflect the original vocal texts. Africa has long been a favorite of the Glenwood group. Chester and Creation were arranged in 2022. Mike Allsen February 2022.

Choral Choir (SAB) - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.780895 Composed by (Countermelody) I Sing About This Country-Cathy Stamegna, God Save Our Native Land-Prof. Julius H. Seelye, Jay Deavereaux, My Country 'Tis of Thee-Thesaurus Musicus, and Samuel F. Smith. Arranged by Cathy Stamegna. A Cappella,Holiday,Patriotic,Sacred. Octavo. 5 pages. Cathy Stamegna #5744113. Published by Cathy Stamegna (A0.780895). God Save Our Native Land (with My Country, ’Tis of Thee) (SAB, a cappella Choir).  Two patriotic hymns are brought together.  A short, original countermelody states that people came from many nations to build a better life for their future generations.  Other vocal arrangements available.  Arranged during a time of social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic, and part of the Hymns of Comfort collection.

String Ensemble,String Trio - Digital Download SKU: A0.1004149 Composed by Matthew Scott Phillips. 20th Century,Contemporary. Score and parts. 13 pages. Matthew Scott Phillips #3510885. Published by Matthew Scott Phillips (A0.1004149). Throughout the centuries, sundials (a flat plate that marks the time of the day by the shadow of a gnomon which is cast onto it) have been used by civilizations to tell time. Unlike modern clocks and digital watches, in which every single second has its own momentary significance, telling time by sundial is more evolutionary. The seconds, and hours, melt into one another. It is perhaps for this reason that sundials have often been conceived not only as practical time pieces, but as works of art, metaphors, and creations that are inherent expressions of the personality of their creators. Etched in many sundials across the world, in Latin, English, German, and other languages are often found mottoes that reflect the thoughts of the sundial's creator. These mottoes can be fatalistic, humorous, transient, morbid, or serene, and almost always involve the subjects of time, the passing of the hours, life and its brevity, or metaphors involving shadows. Many times these mottoes feature some witticism, such as I only count the sunny hours (since a shadow must be present for a sundial to function). Other times, they can be revealingly existential (We are but shadow), and other times offer advice (Use the hours, don't count them).It is these statements of philosophy, etched in sundials throughout the centuries, that most interests me. I am currently composing a set of movements for piano trio (Piano, Violin, Cello) dedicated to the mottoes found on sundials, and their significance to me. The first movement, subtitled Tempus Edax Rerum (Time devours things) is expansive and attempts a feeling of eternity, into which all seemingly fast moving workings of human beings are inevitably subsumed. For the second movement I am considering the phrase Pereunt et Imputantur (They pass and are counted referring to the hours of the day), and its implication of the way in which time can slip away, whether we observe it or not.