Letter from Sado is an exciting new piece for young band based on a Japanese haiku of the same name. Sado refers to Sado Island in Japan in which various artists religious and military leaders were sent in exile many years ago. The island has historically had a strong community of taiko drummers and as such the piece incorporates optional homemade taiko drums. Blackshaw writes: To capture the id…

Gregorian chant is one of the earliest forms of notated music using free flowing rhythms and simple melody. In Old Churches composer Michael Colgrass uses these elements to create an aura of voices echoing in themonastery. Using easy graphic notation students have a fun and creative way to explore sound production along with the compositional process. (Includes score and parts.) (5:20)CD-ROM No…

“I wrote The Nonantum Bulgar in response to a request for a klezmer-style piece for middle school band. Since my local middle school (F. A. Day) is located in close proximity to Nonantum the oldest area of Newton MA Idecided to imagine the dedication of the Adams St. Shul our city's oldest synagogue which took place around a hundred years ago (December 15 1912). According to the Yiddis…