Par LACHENMANN HELMUT. temA was written in the summer of 1968. In spite of Ligeti's “Aventures” it may be considered one of the first compositions in which the breathing plays a role as an accoustically transmitted energy process (Holliger, Globokar, Kagel, Schnebel and Stockhausen in “Hymnen” have already worked on this phenomenon independently of each other and from different points of view). Mo…

Par SPARKE PHILIP. MASQUERADE was commissioned by Stadtmusik Willisau from Switzerland (Reto Güdel, conductor) to celebrate their 175th anniversary in 2003 and first performed by them in November that year. 1. OvertureThe first movement opens with a fanfare-like figure, featuring the brass, before the main them is introduced over staccato chords. After a short, syncopated interlude a legato theme …

Gustav Holst has earned a place among the most revered of late 19th and early 20th century composers and is best known for his enduring Orchestral suite The Planets.But before that great work, in his use of Englsh folksongs, Gnostic texts and these Vedic hymns, one can discern Holst's search for a compositional Voice beyond the constraints of the European canon in the early 1900's.Some see composi…

Arr. Philip Sparke. In Classic Hymns, Philip Sparke has taken 10 of the best-loved hymn tunes, popular around the world, and used them as the basis of a collection of short recital pieces, ranging from simple descant arrangements to a full-blown theme and variations. Ideal for concert or contest use, these charming pieces range in mood from triumphal to reflective and can provide that ‘musical mom…

Arr. Wil Van Der Beek. Par NESSLER VICTOR E.. Farewell Song has been taken from Der Trompetervon Säckingen by Victor E. Nessler (1841-1890). Thisopera tells the sentimental story of a plain musicianwho is eventually allowed to marry the daughter ofa baron. From the first performance in 1884, thisopera was well liked - not so much because of thestory but because of its musical features. Impressivet…

Op. 45 Nr. 2. Par DVORAK ANTONIN. Dvorák composed his 'Slavonic Rhapsodies” op. 45 in 1878, initiating his so-called 'Slavonic period”. They were issued by the publisher Simrock the following year as three independent orchestral pieces (in D major, G minor and A-flat major) appearing under the same opus number. Now the 'Slavonic Rhapsodies” are being issued separately in scholarly-critical editio…

Par BACH JOHANN SEBASTIAN. The St. John Passion, Bach’s first passion oratorio, can hardly be understood as “one” work. Between 1724 and 1750 the work was performed at least four times in various Leipzig churches under the composer‘s direction and for every one of these occasions it was revised – sometimes quite substantially. This edition presents the St. John Passion in its second version of 17…

Easter Cantata. Par PACHELBEL JOHANN. Christ lag in Todesbanden (Christ lay in grim death's prison) Easter Cantata In recent years the demand for making available a larger number of choral works by Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) has made itself felt more strongly than ever before. Within the past few years the search for unpublished manuscripts of choral compositions written by Johann Pachelbel has …

Couverture Rigide. Par GLUCK CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD. For his Paris 'Cythère assiégée?, Gluck drew on his eponymous opéra comique from 1759, transforming it into an opéra-ballet. The libretto which was expanded by Charles Simon Favart was adapted: Gluck added recitative passages, reworked individual sections and also added his own compositions, modifying them in parts. By March 1775, the compositional…

Written for SSA chorus and Piano. Commissioned by Gareth Malone for Series Four of BBC TV's 'The Choir' and first performed by Malone and the Military Wives' choir as part of The Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on 12th November 2011 in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. The text is taken from poems, letters and prayers written by the Military Wives, sele…