Small Ensemble Flute,Piano,Voice - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.889815

Composed by Ginny Saltzman (Bethlehem Angel) and The First Noel - Traditional. Christmas. Score and parts. 9 pages. Ginny's House of Music #4362443. Published by Ginny's House of Music (A0.889815).

*Bethlehem Angel and The First Noel This is a very beautifully flowing presentation which includes both an original work by this composer entitled Bethlehem Angel and an arrangement of The First Noel. It includes scriptures and lyrics. It was written for flute, guitar, voice, and piano accompaniment  on Intermediate Level.

 It is based on the scriptures Luke 2: 8-11 --- And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord and Matthew 2:1-10 ----  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, art not the least among the princes of Judea: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 

Instrumental Duet,Piano B-Flat Clarinet,Flute,Instrumental Duet,Piano - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1180477

Composed by John R. Sweeny, Robert Lowery, Robert Robinson, John Wyeth. Arranged by Ginny Saltzman. 19th Century,Christian,Praise & Worship,Religious. 12 pages. Ginny's House of Music #780380. Published by Ginny's House of Music (A0.1180477).

These are the 4 hymns in the colorized movie Stars in My Crown.

(1) Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown? - An old favorite simplified hymn arrangement on Late Elementary-Early Intermediate Level, in the Key of G, with lyrics and Guitar chords included. From the scriptures Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

(2) Shall We Gather At The River? - An old favorite hymn with simplified Early Intermediate Level Piano Accompaniment, Lyrics, and Guitar chords. Very special arrangement with duet notation using the Violin and Flute. From the scriptures Revelation 22: 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

(3) Beulah Land - An old favorite hymn with simplified Late Elementary - Early Intermediate Level Piano Accompaniment, Lyrics, in the Key of G. From the scriptures Deuteronomy 8: 7 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 10 ¶ When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Isaiah 33:17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

(4) Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - An old favorite hymn in the Key of C, with simplified Early Intermediate Level Piano Accompaniment, Lyrics, and additional melody with the Bb Clarinet. From the scriptures 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.1 Samuel 7 :12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1143904

Composed by Igor Korneitchouk. 20th Century,A Cappella,Contemporary,Religious. Octavo. 37 pages. Studio at the Post #744209. Published by Studio at the Post (A0.1143904).

Duration: 16 minutes, 33 pp. Description: Exodus is a great story that belongs to everyone. Not only is it central to Judaism, not only is it integral to the Christian Bible, it is an immortal story that has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to oppressed peoples everywhere on this planet. It is relevant not just as ancient scripture but as living text, to be rediscovered by each new generation of an ever-widening Family of Man. The theme of struggle against oppression and slavery was just as relevant to the early Christians persecuted in Ancient Rome as it was relevant to the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960's, just as relevant to the Soviet Jews wishing to emigrate as it is to the South African Blacks resisting Apartheid. From the Dark Ages and the Spanish Inquisition, to Ghandi's emancipation of India, to the Holocaust, to, full-circle, the ongoing struggles in Palestine today, the story of Exodus is a guiding light in a dim and often grim world. According to the composer: The Story of a Leader is a collection of ‘re-chorales’ I created one summer when I was totally immersed in a post-educational obsession with the 371 Chorales by Johann Sebastian Bach. We used to study these to learn the rules of harmony and voice-leading (no parallel fifths, avoid crossed voices, etc.) at the Cleveland Institute of Music where I began my compositional career. That summer, now a professor of music in my own right, I discovered many broken and bent rules by the master himself and, along with the glory of being able to work through these Chorales myself at the piano, I felt an incredible feeling of liberation and possibilities unmediated by instructors of music theory. I began by stripping away all that Bach wrote, leaving only the hymn tunes which were not his to begin with. These tunes existed long before Bach used them for his tonal experiments, some attributed to Martin Luther, or someone else, others simply listed as ‘anonymous’. The same is true for the texts, which were then translated into English mostly in the 19th century (the provenance of each can be found herein on the first page of each of my reharmonizations). In some cases I modified the text to fit the context. I selected 12 of these ‘re-chorales,’ linking them together based on their texts in a kind of logic that worked for me, and created a narrative that told The Story of a Leader (Moses). This story is highlighted in the music with such techniques as cross-modal harmonies, points of imitation, a beer drinking song in one instance, and in another, to symbolize the parting of the seas for Moses’ people, an inversion of the soprano line in the bass..

Full Orchestra - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.976734

Composed by Robert Myers. 20th Century,Christmas,Contemporary. Score and parts. 99 pages. WheatMyer Music #6496769. Published by WheatMyer Music (A0.976734).

CONJUNCTION interprets the convergence of Jupiter and Saturn near the end of the year 2020 as a celestial metaphor for the good news of Christ's birth in a replay of the Star of Bethlehem. Hence, its subtitle of The Christmas Star of 2020. The music, along with narration from selected Old and New Testament scriptures, delivers a message of hope amid the turmoil and chaos of current times.

It's written for smaller concert bands hungry for challenging music. Ample cues and doubling allow for flexible instrumentation while mixed meters, varying tempos and textures, and interesting solo lines provide opportunities for strong players to shine. CONJUNCTION is also available with strings for orchestra.

PROGRAM NOTES:

2020 is widely characterized for its maladies: murders, burning cities, riots, a pandemic, economic shocks, and political turmoil. For some of us, it also held personal tragedy such as my brother’s passing from COVID. But, 2020 also brought a sign of hope, namely the celestial phenomenon known as the Great Conjunction of 2020. For earth-bound observers, this was the closest approach of Jupiter and Saturn in almost 400 years as they appeared to almost touch in the early evening sky to produce the most brilliant evening star of our lifetimes. The occurrence of the event in November-December neatly coincided with the Advent season, peaking just before Christmas Day. One could hardly fail to note the parallels with the Christmas star of Matthew’s gospel which gave the conjunction its alternate name, the Christmas Star of 2020. Thus, this star spoke, to those with ears to hear, the same message the prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming Messiah, The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. This star thus served to remind us that the LORD has not rejected us; He will show His favor again; His love has not vanished; His promises have not failed; He has not forgotten to be merciful or compassionate; and we are called to remember His mighty deeds (Psalm 77). CONJUNCTION: The Christmas Star of 2020 is inspired by these particulars.

For the music, I looked to Gustav Holst’s The Planets for themes that would portray Jupiter and Saturn’s pas de deux. I selected several motives from the corresponding movements mixed and matched in sometimes easily recognized quotations and other times in heavily camouflaged derivations. An exuberant polyphonic passage recaps themes from both Jupiter and Saturn when the music resolves from uncertainty into hopefulness. While Holst’s motives provide CONJUNCTION’s foundation I also used Handel’s Messiah for transitory and climactic material. You will hear his The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light in transitions and a short trombone solo. And a re-harmonization of the opening line from For unto us a child is born brings the music to a joyous climax.

Although the music stands firmly on its own, I elected to incorporate some narrative to make the musical sentiment explicit. In a commentary on 2020’s grim events, I took adaptations of Habakkuk 1:2-4 and 2 Tim 3:1-4 and set them over Saturn’s plodding and ominous harmonies. Contrasting replies shimmer with hope as the narration melds Isaiah 9:2 and Luke 1:78-79 over another Saturn motive set against pitch sets from Jupiter’s main hymn theme. Still, it’s the music that tells the story of the Christmas Star of 2020.

Please visit my website for a complete score preview: https://wheatmyermusic.com/conjunction-the-christmas-star-of-2020

I feel somewhat guilty making claim to this music as almost all the building blocks are taken from other composers. But the end result is neither a medley, nor an arrangement, rather it is something clearly new, so I call it my own with deep respect to those giants on whose shoulders I stand.

Robert Myers
S.D.G.

Full Orchestra - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1081697

Composed by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber. Arranged by Joshua Choe. Baroque,Classical,Easter,Sacred. Score and parts. 95 pages. JMJ Arrangements #685818. Published by JMJ Arrangements (A0.1081697).

[S]tanding by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), 'I thirst.' A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished'; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'Not a bone of him shall be broken.' And again another scripture says, 'They shall look on him whom they have pierced.' --John 19:25-37.

Piano,Soprano Flute - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1394363

Composed by Camille Saint-Saens. Arranged by Helene Schulthess. 19th Century,Chamber,Children,Classical,Halloween. Score and part. 11 pages. Helene Schulthess #977844. Published by Helene Schulthess (A0.1394363).

Open configuration options
Danse macabre (op. 40) is a symphonic poem for orchestra. However, the first version was a song with piano accompaniment. Saint-Saëns himself later made two versions for violin and piano and for two pianos. Further transcriptions were added by other composers, e.g. for solo piano and organ etc. Giuseppe Gariboldi wrote a Fantaisie-Transcription for the flute.

The composition is based on the poem by Henri Cazalis. In the 19th century, piano songs with dance of death stories had a special significance. (e.g. F. Schubert: The Death and the Maiden)

According to legend, Death appears at midnight every year on Halloween. He calls forth the dead from their graves to dance for him. The skeletons dance for him until the cockerel crows at dawn, then they must return to their graves until the next year.

Choral Choir (2-Part) - Digital Download

SKU: A0.844330

Composed by Dan Cutchen. Sacred. Octavo. 13 pages. Dan Cutchen Music #3121697. Published by Dan Cutchen Music (A0.844330).

Easy to learn but fun to sing!  
For 2-part women/men choir with piano accompaniment and optional children's melody.

The presence of children in a choir presentation can be quite charming and encouraging for the congregation.  

These kind of experiences for children can prepare them for a love of choral and exposure to singing with the big choir.  

Plus, as Psalm 8:2 informs us, children can have a ministry that silences the negative influence of the enemy and bring strength and encouragement to all who hear them sing praise!

The children's part in this piece of music is a simple counter melody, no parts.  You do not need an established children's choir, only a few good singers will do nicely.
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This is a wonderful expression of praise based on an amazing story in the Bible.

In II Chronicles 20, word comes to King Jehoshaphat that three nations are coming to attack Jerusalem and the people of Judah.  After prayer, the Lord reveals to them what to do:  Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!

The people marched out the next day with choir of ministers leading the way ahead of the warriors.  This is the song they sang, Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.

God caused the enemy to attack each other in confusion and they destroyed each other.  The Israelites just picked up the plunder!

The Scriptures tell us in II Chronicles 20,
22 When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
 23 The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.
24 When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors!
25 Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing, and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.

Choral Choir (SATB) - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.926660

Composed by Michael A. Morizio. A Cappella,Christian,Sacred. Octavo. 112 pages. M.A. Morizio #3588371. Published by M.A. Morizio (A0.926660).

During the late spring of 2017, I began composing a new choral piece based on the 1 Timothy 3:16 text. I was studying Paul's first letter to Timothy at the time when this particular passage jumped out at me. Not only was it an efficient summary of the Gospel message, but it was also a textual grouping, or form, such as might be found in a traditional hymn. What I was reading were indeed lyrics to an actual 1st Century Hymn to Christ, the music of which has since been lost. I entitled my piece, Great is the Mystery. I composed the anthem for SATB (a cappella), and set it to the ESV translation of the scripture. Based on its context, I suspected the song would work great for Ascension Sunday. Our choir sang the piece beautifully, crescendoing at the finish to the words, Believed on in the world and taken up in glory!

Later that spring, I played the piece for a dear friend of mine who is Pastor at Immanuel Church in Manchester, New Hampshire. What he told me was actually a bit stunning. He informed me that there were (at least) seven specific known Hymns to Christ written into the New Testament Scriptures, whose text is found among the writings of the apostles’ Paul and John. The 1 Timothy 3:16 verse that I had selected for my piece was indeed one of those texts. At that moment, Pastor Don and I made a pact. If he were to supply me with the literal Greek translations of the other six known Hymns to Christ, I would set out to compose brand new anthems for them all. A new musical collaboration had begun. 

With this short introduction serving as the genesis of my new song cycle, I offer you these new Seven Anthems to Christ based on the seven known ancient ‘Hymns to Christ' texts found in the New Testament.  

Chamber Orchestra - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.890767

Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann. Arranged by Sneakwood Editions. Baroque,Classical. Score and parts. 41 pages. Sneakwood Editions #4781035. Published by Sneakwood Editions (A0.890767).

Edition based on Ms. D MÃœu, ms. 775

Score (20 pages) and Parts (friendly performance edition): Violino principale, Violin I, Violin II, Violin III, Viola, Violoncello and Harpsichord.

The Violin Concerto in A major (TWV 51:A4), which has come to light only fairly recently, does not take as its musical model the song of the nightingale (as in ‘La Bizarre’ [TWV 55:G2]) or of the goldfinch (Vivaldi), but the croaking of the common frog, also called ‘Reling’ in certain regions of Germany, whence the concerto’s subtitle. Nothing better could be expected of a composer who found inspiration even in crows and in the out-of-tune playing of village musicians! Although this concerto, which the manuscript attributes to Telemann, bears traces of his personal style, other features, such as the exceptionally high solo part, leave room for doubt. At a structurally important point in the first movement the soloist produces no more than a succession of repeated notes, ‘a-a, a-a’, which infect the other parts as well. Of course, this is the vowel that the frog croaks, given a distinctive tone-colour by use of the open A string and stopped D string. But worse is to come. In the second ritornello the orchestral violins ‘forget’ the beginning of their theme, whilst the cello inappropriately pushes its way into the foreground. The setting of the second movement (Adagio), probably a moonlit stretch of shallow water, then audibly inspires a pair of courting frogs to make sweet music together. We are given the opportunity to rejoice in their croaking offspring in the concluding Menuet and its rapid Double. This movement entirely dispenses with concertante sounds of nature and thereby betrays its origins in the suite, where it always takes its accustomed place in Telemann’s music. If we knew that a satirist was at work in this ‘Relinge’ Concerto, someone who was deliberately exhibiting all these deviations from good taste, then we could infer with some certainty that the composer is indeed Telemann. Since his own concertos ‘smack of France’ (as he puts it in his autobiography of 1718), we may most likely credit him with permitting his not at all ‘sullen old heart’ a little joke at the expense of the relevant concertos of a certain Italian composer… – Peter Huth (trans. Charles Johnston)

www.snakewoodeditions.com

Choral Choir (2-Part) - Digital Download

SKU: A0.844319

Composed by Dan Cutchen. Sacred. Octavo. 9 pages. Dan Cutchen Music #3055611. Published by Dan Cutchen Music (A0.844319).

Easy to learn but fun to sing!  
For 2-part women/men choir with piano accompaniment

A separate Mp3 accompaniment track is available for only $1.99!
Cut and past, Choral - O Give Thanks to the Lord Accompaniment Track
in the search area.

This is a wonderful expression of praise based on an amazing story in the Bible.

In II Chronicles 20, word comes to King Jehoshaphat that three nations are coming to attack Jerusalem and the people of Judah.  After prayer, the Lord reveals to them what to do:  Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!

The people marched out the next day with choir of ministers leading the way ahead of the warriors.  This is the song they sang, Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.

God caused the enemy to attack each other in confusion and they destroyed each other.  The Israelites just picked up the plunder!

The Scriptures tell us in II Chronicles 20,
22 When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
 23 The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.
24 When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors!
25 Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing, and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.

Small Ensemble - Level 1 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.890779

Composed by Georg Philipp Telemann. Arranged by Sneakwood Editions. Baroque,Folk,Jewish,World. Score and parts. 32 pages. Sneakwood Editions #5799897. Published by Sneakwood Editions (A0.890779).

Georg Philipp Telemann – Polish Dances from the Rostock Manuscript TWV 45 (Danse d`Polones / Danse Polonie)

Telemann was seduced by Polish music, especially by his dances and popular music

I became acquainted there and also in Krakau with Polish and Moravian music in its true, barbaric beauty […] […] it is impossible to imagine the fantastic musical ideas they presented between dances when the dancers rested and the musicians improvised music together [‘jammed’] to fill out the time. Anyone who paid very close attention could pick up in 8 days sufficient musical ideas to last a lifetime.

(Telemann’s autobiography, published in Mattheson’s Ehren-Pforte, Hamburg, 1740)

It is easy to understand, through Telemann’s own words, the great influence that Polish music and Polish dances had on Telemann. It was in 1705 when Telemann become Kapellmeister for the court of Count Erdmann II of Promnitz at Sorau (now Żary, in Poland), His career there was cut short in early 1706 by the hostilities of the Great Northern War but his contact with Polish music marked him for life.

These Polish dances found in Rostock are a reflection of the music that Telemann heard and transcribed. A reflection of that barbaric beauty.

The manuscript was discovered in 1986 at the University of Rostock. It consists of two volumes. One of the volumes contains the violin part and the other the bass part.

Choral Choir (Mixed) - Level 5 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1028226

Composed by Candace R. Lambert. Christian. Octavo. 19 pages. Candace R. Lambert #3452119. Published by Candace R. Lambert (A0.1028226).

Appropriate for church services, college, or professional groups.
Context: The piece receives its title from my little sister's nickname. Dia was born 10 weeks early and weighed less than 3 pounds. The doctors told us that she would not live. My father began to pray and certain scriptures came to his mind. Soon, he and my mother began to remind each other of these scriptures. Dia ended up making it. I tell her God must have something planned for her if she survived such a rough start.
Performance: The piece opens with a joyful piano solo followed by the higher voices' entrance. These are the mothers exclaiming their joy for the new coming baby. The lower voices then make their statement in their own melody. They are the fathers expressing the excitement of the chlid's birth. The piano takes a turn into the minor key. A soloist represents the doctor delivering the bad news as the rest of the choir makes waiting room sounds. Have people texting or talking on the phone, flipping through magazines, or rustling papers. The alto soloist then repeats the doctor's message. The higher voices began to weep and cry as the father begins to pray. The 3 basses (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) answer in scripture. The father begins to recite the scripture with God and soon the rest of the choir joins. The key modulates to the Major 3rd as the piano solo returns to represent the child living. 

Solo Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.899127

Composed by Richard Strauss. Arranged by Rod Whittle. 20th Century. Individual part. 4 pages. Maggie Creek Music #3037161. Published by Maggie Creek Music (A0.899127).

Transcription for solo classical guitar. 4 pages.

Richard Strauss (1864 -1949)

Strauss's music amounts to a huge body of symphonic and operatic work written over 60 years. Full of vitality, endlessly melodic, brilliantly orchestrated, it begins and ends in the romantic tradition, but for the most part expresses something more modern and individualistic, not without controversy in its time. Variation of style and structure is drawn from the descriptive (literary) nature of compositions, and an extraordinary inventiveness enlivens the scenes, moods and situations. Strauss said once that he produced music the way cows give milk, and indeed his music rarely seems contrived.

The opera

Strauss wrote 15 operas on a variety of subjects and across the whole spectrum of drama. He acknowledged being enchanted by the soprano voice, and his writing for it highlights many of the works, including Adriane auf Naxos (composed in 1912). The opera has been described as 'sparkling', which sums it up well, and passages influenced by Bach, Mozart, Puccini, and Wagner add to the interest. The storyline is a play within a play, the second part being the mythological 'Opera' staged in the story. The three pieces transcribed* are from this Opera.

The guitar arrangements

All classical guitar pieces are compromises. The instrument has only six strings, the left hand four fingers able to be used, and with the right hand its rare to use more than three fingers and the thumb. So, despite the amount of noise possible, it's inevitable that passages occur where either harmony, bass or fragments of counterpoint that would be beneficial are left out. In particular, the higher up the neck music is played the simpler it tends to be, if harder to play, and unless the low bass is an open string there wont be any.

So I think the main part of attaining a fair transcription (better to be called an arrangement if the original musical structure is not strictly followed, as in this case) is determining how a good compromise can be reached. Melody, counterpoint, bass and main harmonies demand inclusion, and register is important. One may generally assume the original score can't be improved on. However, if the music may sound well on guitar, and the above elements can be incorporated without the playing becoming very difficult, something enjoyable to play and worthwhile listening to should be able to be achieved.

Overture; 'A golden time …'

Here the Mozart influence, better, inspiration, is wonderfully evident. A gentle waltz time (only the first section of the overture is transcribed) carries the colourful harmonies, strong melodic threads and connecting flourishes that stamp both pieces. The aria is alluded to in the Overture several times, which as you would expect, is intricately woven with the hints themes later to be established in the Opera. It has a kind of 'jazzy' freedom, and it's always miraculous to me that composition so involved can retain its musical line, here done in Strauss's inimitable way. The aria, sung not far into the Opera, has the perfect inevitability of Mozart, but again it is Strauss. As explained, keys have been changed to suit the guitar.

Chorus and Aria

This selection from the finale has features well worth trying to translate. The device of having a strong chorus, in the style of a Bach chorale, stated and then counterpointed by a solo voice in a restatement, is potent, and that in the opera the chorus (of the three nymphs) isn't immediately followed by the accompanying aria (of Ariadne) means the latter comes as a moment of surprising beauty. Neither parts are complicated, and lovely arpeggios, a feature Strauss's music, often impart the assured progressions.

A problem was to capture the distinct register of the soprano voices, som.