News & Views Wednesday, April 24, 2024

If you are in need of something new to interest your Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Stanton’s suggests these charts from Hal Leonard Jazz:

OUT BACK OF THE BARN
arr. Mike Tomaro, Swing Jazz Ensemble Library Gr.4
What better instrument to feature on a bluesy “bump and grind” swinger like this than baritone sax? Written in a medium slow 12/8 feel, this chart will make your entire band sound great, plus allow an often neglected player to really shine.

LULLABY OF BIRDLAND
arr. John Wasson, Swing Professional Editions Gr.5
Arranged in a medium up tempo swing style and featuring an alto sax soloist at the top, here is a fabulous setting of this jazz standard for mature bands. Also featured is an extended sax soli with flugelhorn doubling the lead, as week as answers from the brass and shout sections for the entire band.

WHAT IS HIP?
arr. Mike Tomaro
Funk Little Big Band Series Gr.5
Although this isn’t a big band arrangement, it’s worth mentioning because it’s in the Little Big Band Series. This series, numbering twenty-three charts, are arranged by a couple of the top Hal Leonard arrangers and are a perfect fit for your advanced jazz ensemble that doesn’t quite have the full instrumentation. Oh yeah, this particular T.O.P. is tres cool!

(EVERYBODY’S WAITIN’ FOR) THE MAN WITH THE BAG
arr. Rick Stitzel
Swing Vocal Solo w/Jazz Ensemble Gr.5
Composed in the ’50s, this entertaining holiday tune has been recorded notably by Kay Starr and more recently by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. A dynamic and swingin’ addition to any holiday concert. (Key: Ab)

For more great recommendations, contact “The Jazz Guy” in Stanton’s band department!

On August 13, Stanton’s had the 11th Annual Sacred Piano Reading Session.  Mark Hayes was the clinician for the session, which was attended by over 140 people!  A good time was had by all, as Mark  played selections from new piano collections selected by our keyboard staff.  Collections of sacred piano music arranged by Joel Raney, Mary McDonald, Mark Hayes, Cindy Berry and others were presented.  For a look at the music presented, check out Stanton’s partner site, Sacred Piano Music Only.

Rosanne Cash is the oldest daughter of Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin. She is a singer/songwriter in her own right, beginning her career in the 1970′s.

Best of Rosanne Cash is a collection of songs written by her from 1979 to 2006. If you have enjoyed her recordings, and would like to play her songs for yourself,  this book of 17 of her best songs is for you. From the introspective “Western Wall,” to the poignant “September When it Comes,” this is indeed a collection of her best songs.

For a closer look at this collection, you can find more details on our web site, or call us at 800-42-MUSIC to talk to one of our sheet music specialists in the keyboard/popular music department here at Stanton’s Sheet Music.

If you missed our Elementary General Music Clinic this August, you can still check out these new titles recommended by the elementary/classroom music specialists at Stanton's Sheet Music :

Rhythm Rhyme & Move In Time
This collection of lively musical games and activities was designed to be successfully used in general music classrooms for Grades K-2. A clearly stated objective is provided for each musical selection, instructions for each musical game and suggested movements are contained within the lyrics of the songs. Each music and movement game is a mini-lesson that can be extended to a full instructional period contributing not only to  musicianship but also to the child’s all around academic success. The budget-stretching classroom kit contains a reproducible unison collection as well as an Enhanced StudioTrax CD that includes accompaniment and performance tracks, poster, program, clip art, and composers’ info.

ImagiBOP
Imagine you’re a tiny little seed down in the ground. Imagine you’re climbing a mountain, riding a train or peddling a bike. What would it be like to ride a kooky kangaroo or a ducky dinosaur? How does a kitty cat or scary ghost move? Nurture creativity with scenarios to help children explore their creative selves and let their imaginations soar! ImagiBOP is jammed-packed with songs, ideas, games, movement and creative extension activities for hours of imagination fun. Reproducible songsheets with chord symbols are included in the book that can also be projected from PDFs on the enclosed CD. Creative minds are active minds. Keep them active this year with ImagiBOP!

For more information on these or other elementary resources, contact Stanton's today!

Stanton's Sheet Music pores over all of the new publications each school year-looking for the best sounding, most educationally valid and highly programmable music-to find the best pieces to recommend to you!  Try one of these selections from the vast wealth of English folk music:

GOING, GOING, GONE
Arr. Sandra Dackow
35909 Gr. 2 $40.00
Clever, brisk 19th century song ala Gilbert and Sullivan. Violas get a low F#! Teaching Elements: short bow strokes, lifts • key change (G to C) • 16th note passages

MOCK MORRIS
Percy Grainger/David Giardiniere
35903 Gr. 3 $45.00
Grainger's “merry and bright” English dance with spritely rhythmic patterns. TEACH: Grainger's quirky instructions • staccato bowing • dance rhythms

A MAID IN BEDLAM
Arr. Shirl J. Atwell
SO298C Gr. 3 $48.00
Poignant song of a woman commited to an asylum to keep her from her love. TEACH: balancing melody and accomp • key of D minor • reinforce shifting

For more recommendations from Stanton's, contact Dan in Orchestra!

There is a wonderful new series this year from Sierra Jazz Publications focusing on the music of the popular group Radiohead. This music is NOT for the timid is directed toward advanced high school and college groups. Complex meters and intricate harmonies highlight this unforgettable music. A sampling of the titles (all with sound clips on our website):

BODYSNATCHERS
arranged by Fred Sturm
SMP1100 $67

KID A
arranged by Steve Owen
SMP1101 $67

PACKT LIKE SARDINES IN A CRUSHD TIN BOX
arranged by Dan Cavanagh
SMP1110 $67

For more information on these and other advanced jazz titles, contact our band department.

On September 10th, Stanton’s was pleased to present another organ music reading session at Broad St United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio. The leader of the reading session was Brian Johnson, organist at Broad St UMC. New sacred organ music was presented, which included Christmas and Advent Music, music for fall, and general purpose use.

Collections presented were edited by Michael Burkhardt,  Jeffrey Blersch,  Charles Callahan,  Janet Linker, and more. To see the collections presented, and to listen to some of the pieces that have sound files, visit our companion website organmusiconly.com.

If you want new music to play for the holidays, just contact Stanton’s. Â You may also call 1-800-42-MUSIC and ask for the Keyboard Department at ext. 3–we will be happy to answer your questions!

Stanton's Sheet Music pores over all of the new publications each school year-looking for the best sounding, most educationally valid and highly programmable music-to find the best pieces to recommend to you!  We endorse all of these new Classical transcriptions for use on your upcoming concerts:

PRELUDE AND GAVOTTE
Antonio Corelli/Doris Gazda
YAS91 Gr. 2 $45.00
Perfect example of why Baroque music works so well for strings. Teaching Elements: Baroque style contrasts • staccato • 16th notes

RONDO from EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIC
Mozart/Gruselle
ST6243 Gr. 2.5 $50.00
Familiar, energetic 4th movement from Mozart's famous work. Teaching Elements: Classical Period bowing • dynamics • style & energy

FIRST MOVEMENT from SYMPHONY #1
Beethoven/O'Neill
50250021 Gr. 3 $48.00
Beethoven's innovative first foray into symphonic romanticism. Teaching Elements: chromaticism • spiccato bowing • trills & tremelos

For more recommendations from Stanton's, contact Dan in Orchestra!

If you’re looking for a new sacred piano collection by Mark Hayes, there are three outstanding new collections that are available:

The Art of the Piano Vol 2 Christmas is for the advanced player featuring exquisitely arranged Christmas tunes including Gesu Bambino, O Come All Ye Faithful and What Child is This.

Mark Hayes Jazz Hymns for the Intermediate Pianist is our best-seller from our 2011 Sacred Piano Reading Session.  You’ll love this jazzy collection written for the intermediate player in settings that include Hayes trademark jazz chords and “licks.”  This Little Light of Mine is sure to be a beloved favorite with the congregation!

Praise Classics features praise and worship arrangements that are artistically done by Mark Hayes.  These titles have become well-loved in the contemporary church.  Some of the selections include Shine Jesus Shine, There is a Redeemer and Spirit Song.

Mark Hayes has stated that one of his goals is to “empower church musicians” and he has certainly reached his goal with all of the music he has arranged over the years for piano, choral and other instrumentations.

Feature your elementary choir this winter with one of these great octavos, as featured on our Elementary General Music Clinic with Cheryl Lavender:

Greet the holidays with the happy original There's Christmas in the Air! This flexible selection offers optional scat singing, kazoos and a secular text - great for all your holiday performances!

Celebrate the man in the big red suit with Be a Santa (Medley), a 3-minute mini-medley of favorite Santa Claus songs. Each of the four songs is arranged for success when performed by your youngest choir. A lighthearted, fun-filled tribute to Father Christmas himself! Includes: “Be a Santa,” “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Up on the Housetop.”

Representing each candle of the menorah, the feelings of cheer, kindness, charity, friendship, hope, peace, and prosperity are conveyed through a happy up-beat arrangement in Light a Little Candle. A joyful selection for the celebration of Hanukkah.

From Peggy Lee’s “Christmas Carousel” album comes the playful song The Tree, based on Schumann’s “The Happy Farmer” and celebrating the joy of finding and decorating the perfect Christmas tree! Charming!

Gary and Cathryne Parks have created a lovely partnering of a new melody with the traditional Scottish tune “Auld Lang Syne” in Yuletide Memories. With the option of adding a flute, this work is the perfect combination of new and “Auld” that audiences will enjoy during the holidays.

For more holiday suggestions for your youngest choir, please contact us!

Are you in need of some new repertoire to energize your Young Jazz Band? Check out one of these great charts, endorsed by Ben–”The Jazz Guy” here at Stanton’s:

JACKPOT
by Lennie Niehaus
Grade 2, 60365 $45
In the Kendor Jazz Gateway series, this a wonderful chart to introduce young jazz musicians to the subtleties of Basie-style swing!

SACK OF WOE
arr. Mike Kamuf
Grade 2, 36034 $44
Early 60′s boogaloo jazz is an infectious style that grabs you and won’t let go! This Cannonball Adderley tune combining swing and straight 8th note elements is right up that alley.

WHEN BIG BANDS RULED THE EARTH
by Larry Neeck
Grade 2.5, 032-3992-00 $48
An up tempo swinger from Barnhouse that sounds much more mature than the difficulty level would indicate. Great shout chorus!

SOUL VACCINATION
arr. Paul Murtha
Grade 3, 07011843 $45
A great adaptation of  a classic funk hit from the 70s! It retains the signature horn riffs and licks but pares it down a bit to make it accessible to younger players.

For more great recommendations, contact our band department!

Give thanks for God's goodness and mercy with your church choir by programming one of these outstanding selections for Thanksgiving Sunday:

Give Thanks to the Lord
A strong, rhythmic song of thanks and praise based on 1 Chronicles 16: 8-31 and incorporating KREMSER (We Gather Together). Scored for SATB Choir and keyboard with choral parts well within the reach of the average church choir.

A Thanksgiving Flourish
This perfect opener for Thanksgiving Sunday uses the LANCASHIRE hymn tune and joins it with the traditional text, “Sing to the Lord of Harvest.” Traditional in style and function, the organ and handbells add a festive sparkle to the theme. Simple call and response counterpoint creates an easy antiphonal effect that would make a great choral processional.

With Heart and Hands
Commissioned by the Texas Choral Director’s Association, this new Thanksgiving work by John Rutter concludes with a rousing verse of NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD for choir and congregation. The piece is scored for mixed voices with organ.

For more quality suggestions for your church choir, click here to view our complete Sacred Choral promotion for Fall 2011, or contact us at 1-800-426-8742.

Are you looking for ways to keep your students motivated and get them playing more.  Based on the number of parents and students that stop by our store looking for ‘fun music' to supplement their school materials and remain enthused, we know you are.  To that end, two new pop music instrumental play-alongs have been released by Hal Leonard. 

The first features 15 hits from country crossover star Taylor Swift.  The song list includes Back to December, Fearless, Love Story, Our Song, Today Was a Fairytale, and White Horse.  The other collection features 10 well-known songs from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's ever-popular Broadway show West Side Story, which will be playing Columbus' historic Ohio Theatre April 17-22, 2012.  Songs in this collection include America, I Feel Pretty, Maria, Somewhere, and Tonight. 

Both collections feature play-along CDs with recorded accompaniments and are available for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, f horn, trombone, violin, viola, and cello.  They retail for $12.99 (CD included), and are a great way to keep students playing and experiencing different types of music on their instruments.

Today is Columbus Day, and Stanton’s is closed because…well…here in his namesake city, we just take old Chris a little more seriously than most! You can still browse and shop on our website, and we’ll get to your orders first thing tomorrow.

For your trouble, please enjoy the Singing Men of Ohio:

Click here to watch video

Involve your youngest singers in worship this fall with one of these great anthems for children's choirs!

From the new Hymnz 4 Kidz series, Brethren, We Have Met to Worship makes an ideal “call to worship” anthem and Come, Christians, Join to Sing brings a fresh and innovative arrangement of the grand hymn.

Craig Curry’s setting of the traditional English carol I Saw Three Ships is absolutely exquisite and extremely well crafted for young voices. Curry uses dramatic dynamic changes, stunning piano accompaniment, and accessible harmonies that build to a climax exclaiming “let us all rejoice again on Christmas day!”

Based on a text from Luke and featuring an upbeat and bright calypso-style, Who's the Little Baby features buoyant call-and-response passages, engaging dynamic contrasts, and regular syncopation. This easy-to-teach Christmas anthem is sure to please, and optional percussion parts will add to the fun.

Looking for a Christmas musical for your young singers? In The Case of the Reluctant Innkeeper, Bethlehem court is in session with the Honorable Judge Jody Justice presiding. It’s The People vs. a certain “reluctant” innkeeper…reluctant to give a certain young couple a room for the night, that is. Sam Shepherd is the prosecuting attorney who’s out to get to the bottom of this case by calling key animal witnesses to the stand. It’s eventually revealed that the greatest miracle of all happened the night before, and God can always turn things around for good! Perfect for grades K-4, this 20-minute, easy-to-prepare and present musical can be performed with as few as eight children or many more. The verdict is in…The Case of the Reluctant Innkeeper will delight and inspire your church and community with the joyous message of Christmas!

Want more suggestions from Stanton's.  Contact our choral department at 1-800-426-8742!

What's the best way to review new music.  LIVE! Stanton’s Sheet Music recently hosted a free “Holiday Choral Reading Session.” Stanton's provides reading session and workshop opportunities thoughout the year so that you can experience the music yourself - LIVE - as you make your decisions. 

If you missed our Holiday clinic, you can check out videos of some of the songs featured on Stanton's YouTube channel, or contact Stanton’s choral department for holiday suggestions!

Click here to watch video

Ready to program your upcoming holiday concert.  Stanton's suggests that you try one of these outstanding choices with your choir:

For a Medieval feel, try Gaudete!, a celebratory arrangement of a 16th-century song from the Piae Canciones.  Marvelous choral writing is supported by a crisp rhythmic groove that flows throughout the piece as a natural expression of the text.  Be Glad This Festive Day will bring a similar musical flavor to your middle school concert; partnered with “Deck the Hall” and possessing all the color and pageantry of a Renaissance court celebration, it's a great concert opener.

If you're looking for traditional carol arrangements, try He Is Born (with Pat-a-Pan). This tasty melding of two carol favorites creatively weaves the familiar tunes together with a hip, rhythmic groove and ostinati throughout. An absolute winner for young and developing choirs, it is sure to become a perennial staple. More mature ensembles will love the creative setting of I Saw Three Ships, featuring a cappella choir with flute on the traditional Celtic carol.

A cappella groups will excel with Have You Seen the Baby?  A descending bass line is a firm foundation in the A section; B features the girls vs. the guys as a vocal stack builds in the middle; followed by a soaring descant that takes the final refrain up a notch!

Choir directors will no longer bemoan the lack of meaningful Chanukah material when they take notice of Chanukah Prayer for Children. The sheer beauty of this absolutely gorgeous, uplifting piece alone makes it destined to take its place among, and forever alter, the canon of Chanukah songs - and beyond. Original English lyrics serve as bookends to the Ma’oz Tzur prayer and lend the piece to a universally applicable theme of hope, unity, and freedom.

Looking for something lighter for your performance.  Open with the exuberant Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas from “Home Alone 2,” feature a few outstanding soloists in Last Christmas, as heard on “Glee,” swing an a cappella version of Jolly Old St. Nicholas, and close with a stunningly orchestrated setting of Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Check out our video below for even more quality suggestions, or contact us!

Click here to watch video

The stage is set at the Paper Mill Playhouse!

In 1992, Walt Disney Pictures released “Newsies,” the first original, live-action movie musical that Hollywood had made in years. When it received less than stellar reviews, and was not an immediate box office smash, it was pulled from theatres after only a brief run. Â 

But, over the years, “Newsies” found its audience. Young people were taken by its “We can make a difference” message, college students found ideal audition material in Alan Menken's stirring songs, and school music teachers discovered it to be invaluable in getting boys interested in choir and theatre.

In 1994, “Beauty and the Beast” opened on Broadway, proving that Disney could bring one of its movies to life on the stage. And it wasn’t long thereafter that “Newsies” fans started thinking…“ ‘Newsies' on Broadway–it’s a perfect fit.” In fact, for many years now, Music Theatre International (the agency that rents the performance rights for many of the classic shows to schools, colleges, community theatres, etc.) has gotten more requests for “Newsies” than any other show, but there was nothing to offer.

Kris of Stanton's Band Department

Finally, the good folks at Disney have heard the call. Last month, the first Disney Theatrical sanctioned production of “Newsies: The Musical” premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse – a Broadway-style theatre with an outstanding reputation, in Millburn, New Jersey. Tony winner Harvey Fierstein reworked the story, and Alan Menken & original lyricist Jack Feldman added some new songs.

Jen & Cindy of Stanton's Choral Department

We have several ardent fans of the show here at Stanton's Sheet Music. Five of our staff members ”seized the day” and made their pilgrimage to Jersey to see the new production. There are a number of changes to the original story that have been made to help the show translate better to the stage; no spoilers here, but all your favorite songs and dance features are still in there, and the quality of the production is top-notch! Thank you again to the Paper Mill Playhouse for helping to finally bring this musical to the stage—all agreed that it was certainly worth the 18-hour round trip from Columbus, OH to enjoy this unforgettable experience!

Don’t let the school orchestra corner the market on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite–Jeff Funk offers these fun and challenging a cappella arrangements for your choirs:

Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
Jeff Funk’s choral adaptation of this selection from The Nutcracker Suite was a huge success in its original SATB setting. Now Jeff brings us both men’s (TTBB), women’s (SSAA) and 3-Part editions that will provide wonderful lighthearted programming for your next holiday concert.

Russian Dance  
Sung entirely on “fa-la-la” and “plum,” this novelty piece successfully transforms Tchaikovsky’s orchestration into a light and lively a cappella choral, available in both SATB and SSAA. A jovial choice for holiday performances, Jeff Funk’s arrangement dances along from its recognizable opening flourish to the accelerating, jolly end. Guaranteed to make you smile!

Nutcracker March  
SATB choirs, accompanied only by an optional snare-drum, will love singing this clever a cappella arrangement from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet. Easy to prepare with equal doses of unison singing, uncomplicated chords, “fa-la-la’s,” and “plums.” Treat your singers and audience to some “suite” holiday humor.

Waltz of the Flowers
Bring a touch of the Nutcracker to your next holiday concert with this classy bit of humor for SATB choir! Much of Tchaikovsky’s original material is used in this a cappella setting.

Four Nutcracker Favorites   
A “suite” SATB a cappella collection, including Nutcracker March, Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, Russian Dance and Waltz of the Flowers.

For more holiday and novelty suggestions, contact the choral department at Stanton’s Sheet Music!