News & Views Friday, May 24, 2013

Stanton’s Sheet Music wishes you and your family a warm and happy holiday! We’re closed today for Christmas, but we’ll be back tomorrow to serve your sheet music needs.

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Arguably the most beloved stage musical of all time, Les Misérables, comes to the screen on December 25, 2012.

“The opening night of Les Misérables at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985 was one of those extraordinary occasions when against all the odds a theatrical alchemy took place that made everyone forget the years of work and months of rehearsal that went into adapting Hugo’s sweeping masterpiece for the musical stage…the Guinness Book of Records confirmed that Les Miz had had more concurrent productions (15 at one time) than any other musical in history… Now Les Misérables has, to my surprise, taken over the mantle of the world’s longest-running musical from another of my productions, Cats… Les Misérables is proving more successful than ever with the original London production holding record-breaking advance box office figures.” Cameron Mackintosh (www.lesmis.com)

Fans of the stage musical can find much to be excited about in the new movie. The stellar cast – featuring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried – performed all of the musical numbers live during film production. This will hopefully bring a quality of authenticity and depth that is sometimes missing from movie musicals. Advance previews of the film are already garnering accolades, with Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), Hugh Jackman for Best Actor (Musical or Comedy), Anne Hathaway for Best Supporting Actress and “Suddenly” for Best Original Song.

To celebrate the movie release, Stanton’s Sheet Music is pleased to offer you a new Les Misérables piano/vocal songbook from the Hal Leonard Corporation. The songbook features piano/vocal selections of 16 songs from the film, plus a special 9-page section of fantastic full-color art! Of special note is the inclusion of the Golden Globe nominated song “Suddenly,” which was newly composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg and sung by Hugh Jackman in the film. (Learn more about the creation of this exciting new song here.)

For details on other Les Misérables sheet music – for piano, choir, orchestra and more – contact Stanton’s Sheet Music at 1-800-426-8742.

String Orchestra Directors!  Looking for a refreshing select piece for upcoming adjudications/festivals that not everyone else will be programming?  Here are some excellent pieces at various grade levels that are just slightly off the beaten path and could provide some nice contrast to your required pieces.

Storm Chaser

Harrowland

Star Lake

Southland in the Springtime

Cavatina, Op 75 #1

Andante Moderato

Winconsin Tableau

Symphony #38 (Prague)

For more great recommendations, contact Stanton’s Orchestra department at 1-800-42-MUSIC, ex 2.

The G. Schirmer Piano Collection contains 33 works by 25 composers from the 20th and 21st centuries.  If you or a friend love contemporary piano “classics”, this is the book to have!  Many pianists are at least somewhat familiar with Alexander Tcherepnin‘s Bagatelles Op. 5, Khatchaturian’s Toccata, Kabalevsky’s Four Preludes, Op. 5, or Muczynski’s Six Preludes, Op. 6.  How about trying Antheil‘s  “Sonatina (Death of the Machines)”,  Brubeck‘s  “Dad Plays the Harmonica”,  or Adams’ “China Gates”?   These are serious works, and each one has its challenges.  They are well worth the effort to learn.  This collection of sheet music has a wonderful blend of  newer compositions to explore.  For more information about this collectioon or any other piano compositons, contact us at 1-800-42-MUSIC, email us at keyboard@stantons.com, or visit our website at  http://www.keyboard .com

The National Endowment for the Arts’ American Masterpieces: Choral Music initiative is designed to celebrate our national musical heritage by highlighting significant American choral composers and their works of the past 250 years.  Stanton’s Sheet Music is proud to present this series highlighting the composers and their works featured in this groundbreaking project.

(from NEA.gov)
Conrad Susa’s (born 1935) entire creative life has been centered on vocal and dramatic music. As a student he earned a B.F.A. from Carnegie Institute of Technology and an M.S. from The Juilliard School, where he studied with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti. He joined the composition department at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1988, becoming its Chair in 2000. His musical language is strongly tonal with influence from Baroque counterpoint and polyphony plus many contemporary techniques and idioms drawn from popular music.

Susa has composed more than 100 works for theater, documentary films, and television. His first opera, Transformations, has become one of the most-performed American operas. Since then, he has written operas commissioned by San Francisco Opera, Minnesota Opera, and the American Guild of Organists, among others.

With a background rich in theater, serving as Composer-in-Residence for the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and dramaturge at the Eugene O’Neill Center in Connecticut, it is no surprise that he is known for composing choral cycles that follow a story line or are linked thematically. Examples include whimsical cycles such as Landscapes and Silly Songs and Hymns for the Amusement of Children, the latter an intriguing setting of texts by the 18th-century poet Christopher Smart. Many of his larger choral works use instrumental ensembles of all sorts.

Some of Susa’s most beloved compositions are for the Christmas season, such as A Christmas Garland, his popular Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest, The Midnight Clear, and Three Mystical Carols.

Selected Works:
A Christmas Garland
Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest
Fum, Fum, Fum
Hymns for the Amusement of Children
Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis

For more distinguished choral repertoire suggestions, please contact us.

The season of Epiphany begins on January the sixth, and typically ends on the second of February. The events included in Epiphany are the visit of the Magi, the presentation of the baby Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem, the baptism of Jesus, and the miracle at the wedding in Cana. Probably the most familiar song for Epiphany is the the hymn, “We Three Kings.”  “As With Gladness, Men of Old” is another hymn often sung during Epiphany.

It isn’t very easy to find pieces to play during Epiphany.  Some pieces for piano can be found in “What Can I Play on Sunday? , Book 1: January and February Services” arranged by Cindy Berry. We usually have 4 organ books in stock that contain music for Epiphany: “The Parish Organist Part Six“   from Concordia, and three collections from Morning Star:  “6 Hymn Settings for Epiphany” by Wilbur Held, “Three for Epiphany” by Paul Manz, and “Three Epiphany Preludes” by Robert Hobby.  It’s not too early to choose your music for church; Christmas and Epiphany will be here before you know it!

The end of the year is almost upon us, holiday concerts are (thankfully) done, and everyone is counting down the days to winter break!  What better way to waste some time than voting for the Best Concert Band Cover of 2012?  There are several publishers that have made new concert band covers an art form, and our band staff looks forward to the unique and creative images each year.  Check out the covers in the slideshow below, then vote for your favorite in the poll at the end of this post.  Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Planning ahead for spring concerts already?  Stanton’s Sheet Music suggests that you make your students the stars this spring with some of these great popular music choices for high school mixed choirs.  Whether you’re looking for current pop, an a cappella feature or an inspirational ballad, we’ll help you find the perfect choice for your ensemble!

The British boy band One Direction is capturing the hearts of young fans all over the world!  The catchy single What Makes You Beautiful from their “Up All Night” album is fun and upbeat, ideal for young choirs in this accessible setting.

The 2011 Broadway revival of “Godspell” brought new interest to the upbeat pop anthem Beautiful City. It speaks directly to the human spirit and our ultimate power to build a truly “civilized” community – a wonderful message for young adults.

Fresh from the top ten of both the Billboard Hot 100 and Pop charts, the Owl City/Carly Rae Jepsen Platinum-certified hit Good Time is great for choreography. “We don’t even have to try, it’s always a good time!”

Powerful vocal harmonies and an awesome drum track will make your audience want to stand up and cheer to Some Nights from the indie/pop group fun. It soared up the Hot 100, Rock and Adult charts, and it will electrify your audience!

The expressive ballad When I Fall in Love has been expertly arranged for a cappella mixed voices by Kirby Shaw.  A classic song + a classic setting = a memorable performance experience for all.

For more suggestions, check out our video below, or contact us!

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The band staff at Stanton’s is excited to announce that we have added three more composers to the Featured Composers and Arrangers section of our Concert Band Listening Library!  Roland Barrett, Rossano Galante, and Randall D. Standridge have been writing fantastic original works and arrangements for concert bands at all levels for the past several years.  Their works feature interesting and bold contemporary writing, gorgeous lyricism, and plentiful teaching opportunities, in addition to being a joy to listen to and fun to play!  We have highlighted a number of our favorite titles by each composer below, and you can click on each composer’s name to view a complete list of titles by each.

Roland Barrett
And In the End It Was Earth – Grade 4
Arabian Dances – Grade 2
Of Wizards and Warriors – Grade 2.5
Silent Stands the Elm – Grade 3
Tangents Angular – Grade 3

Rossano Galante
Cry of the Last Unicorn – Grade 4
Journey to the Lion’s Castle – Grade 5
The Redwoods – Grade 5
Resplendent Glory – Grade 5
The Winged Stallion – Grade 4

Randall D. Standridge
Adrenaline Engines – Grade 2+
Afterburn – Grade 2
Gadget – Grade 2+
The Rowan Tree – Grade 2
Steel – Grade 3

There are very few band programs with the musicianship, instrumental depth, and outright chops necessary to perform grade 4.5-5 literature, so we only promote a couple of titles at those levels each year.  Nevertheless, our band staff enjoys checking out the new titles at this difficulty with an ear toward the best of them.  To that end, we are happy to share the following titles as the best new pieces for advanced bands this year!

Alleluia – Samuel R. Hazo
Commissioned by the award-winning Kalamazoo (MI) Concert Band, Alleluia is a convergence of hauntingly emotive themes that culminate in breathtaking builds. The Kalamazoo Gazette described it as the “pinnacle of the concert” in which it was premiered, adding that the composition takes the listener from “…bells and chimes to full Hosannas…It first fades like a sunset, then explodes in white light…” Written for mature ensembles, this work will have a powerful impact on the performers as well as all who hear it.

Along an English Countryside – Richard Saucedo
An adept, energetic concert opener composed in tribute to Sir Malcolm Arnold and steeped in British flavour, lilting rhythms, and heartwarming, folklike melodies that dance and celebrate an incomparable musical tradition.

Ascension – Darren Mitchell
Best known for his video game music, Mitchell’s first published band work is a tightly knit composition characterized by upward major and minor thirds and creative use of triple meter. Sparkling scoring and rising lines propel this work toward its ultimate, exciting goal. This musical tour-de-force will help your advanced band ascend to new musical heights!

Conquest 1 – Kenneth Lampl
Bring the excitement and energy of a Hollywood film score to your next concert, and take your students on the epic musical adventure of “Conquest 1.” This non-stop musical juggernaut will get your heart pounding with a soul-stirring climax that will leave your audience breathless!

Metal – Brian Balmages
Inspired by both metallic sounds and heavy metal, this opener or closer is intense in every sense of the word! Aggressive multi-meter passages soon move into dazzling fanfares that play with shifting tonalities before eventually resolving to a brilliant and powerful final chord. Extremely intense and invigorating!

Symphonic Essay – James Barnes
Symphonic Essay is a dramatic work featuring brass fanfares, tonal pyramids, and startling polyharmonies. The mysterious undertones of the piece are interwoven with moments of lyricism, counterpoint, and a multiplicity of timbres and creative settings which culminate in a spectacular coda.

True Calling – Charles Rochester Young
This powerful and exhilarating concert opener depicts the struggle to honor one’s “true life calling.” The pulsating rhythmic elements alternate between 6/8 and 3/4, and on several occasions the two meters are juxtaposed.

With Christmas around the corner it seems strange to think that it’s almost time to purchase music for Lent and Easter! Plan to attend Stanton’s Sacred Choral Clinic on Saturday, January 12th, 2013, and you’ll be fully prepared for the next “holiday season.”

We will be featuring the best new choral publications for Lent, Easter and beyond, as chosen by Stanton’s sacred choral staff. The clinic will be held in its usual place at the Battelle Fine Arts Center at Otterbein University in Westerville, OH.

Attending this clinic is a fantastic way for you to choose new church anthems for your choir by hearing the music read live. This January’s clinicians will be Stanton’s own Judy Henry and president emeritus Jim Strouse. Please feel free to contact Stanton’s at 1-800-42-MUSIC and speak with a choral staff member for the details of the event. We look forward to seeing you at 8:30 on January 12th for registration, coffee and doughnuts followed by a wonderful morning of singing!

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The song “Auld Lang Syne” comes from Scotland. The song is very old, collected by Robert Burns – by his own account – though some of the poem may well have been composed by him. The words “auld lang syne” translate rougly to “long, long ago,” and “for auld lang syne” means “for the sake of old times.”

Do you think you know the words?  Are you sure?  Stanton’s has the sheet music for this song. It is also included in several Christmas books of sheet music: Holiday Hits, Ultimate Christmas, and Essential Songs Christmas.

We know what a busy time of year December is for everyone, but especially for church musicians! Between extra services and Cantata rehearsals, when do you have time to find all your sheet music for Christmas Eve?! Make it a little easier on yourself, by purchasing all your arrangements in one volume for these two sacred favorites:

The Complete Gesu Bambino
We proudly present The Complete Gesu Bambino collection. This beloved Christmas classic by Pietro Yon is presented here for high, medium, and low voice with piano accompaniment; piano solo in advanced, intermediate, and easy editions; an organ solo; an organ/piano duet; and for violin and piano. Also included in this collection is a biographical sketch of Yon. A must for every church musician!

The Complete O Holy Night
Eight versions of the song in one collection, each in both French and English. 3 vocal solos (high, medium, low) with piano accompaniment, and 3 vocal solos (high, medium, low) with organ accompaniment. Also includes organ solo and piano solo.

For more Christmas music recommendations, read our previous blog on Christmas Vocal Solos,  check the “Christmas” category on Sacred Piano Music Only, or contact Stanton’s Sheet Music!

“Fingerpicking Christmas”  is a collection of 20 carols arranged for solo guitar.  The songs are written in standard notation and in tablature. If you play classical guitar or fingerpicking style, this is a good intermediate collection.  If you play your guitar for church, these pieces would be perfect for the offertory-just play 2 in a row.  This is a collection worth returning to every year!

  “Christmas Classics” is a collection of 15 Christmas songs for 3 or more guitarists.  Written at the mid-beginner level, these songs are each 2 pages long, so they are quick to prepare.   The players need to read music.  If you play guitar and have 2 more guitarist friends, take advantage of this collection in time for the Christmas season!  Other guitar ensemble music collections are  in the Essential Elements Guitar Ensembles line from Hal Leonard.

For information about these books of Christmas sheet music or other guitar books, please call us at 1-800-42-MUSIC or email us at keyboard@stantons.com.

If you’re tired of the same old time signatures, and looking for a new challenge for your high school band, why not introduce some mixed-meter.  This will change-up your rehearsals and concert programming, and creates a great opportunity to work on some, dare we say it, math skills with alternative counting and subdivisions.  The following new titles are perfect choices for teaching new time signatures.  Consider a title a grade level lower than your band can play – this will limit the range and technical demands allowing your students to focus on the meter and its inherent rhythms and subdivisions.

Grade 3-3.5
Dream Chaser, Travis Weller – Grade 3
* Mixed meter: 3/4 + 4/4; sections of 3/4 & 4/4; single measures of 2/4
Dramatic choruses of brasses & woodwinds dance & intermingle in playful, rhythmic counterpoint and sweeping, lyric passages.

The Escape, Marvis Rorie – Grade 3
*Mixed meter: 4/4 + 2/4; 3/4 B-section; 3/2 final section
Exciting rhythms in a mixed meter framework characterize this exuberant celebration of freedom! It spins a musical portrait of a journey from wrongful imprisonment to freedom, and travels across some very interesting musical ground along the way.

Everest: The Forbidden Journey, Rob Romeyn – Grade 3.5
* Mixed meter: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4; 7/8 B-section
Expeditions to find joy at the top of the world are an intoxicating mixture of danger, excitement, awe and solitude, all of which are finely woven into this emotional musical adventure with a driving pulse and a soaring spirit.

Gale Force, Larry Neeck – Grade 3
* Mixed meter: 4/4, 3/4, & 2/4; 3/4 B-section
The forces of nature and the sea are portrayed in “Gale Force.” A powerful introduction leads to driving themes that depict a tempest at sea. A temporary calm prevails, providing beautiful lyrical themes that showcase the subtly and expressiveness of your ensemble. Driving rhythms then lead to a thrilling conclusion.

Time Shift, Bill Calhoun – Grade 3.5
* Mixed meter: 2/4, 3/4, & 4/4
Beginning with a long bell striking constant quarter notes and a fast-paced introduction, Time Shift switches rhythmic feels, including a 3 against 2 with changing meters throughout. Its middle section uses segmental chorales before moving back into a quicker time signature.

Grade 4-5
Exuberance, Brant Karrick – Grade 4
* Mixed meter: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, & 3/2
Embrace a wealth of musical styles in this stunning hymn-based fantasy that sings with flowing, interwoven melodic lines and a carefree rhythmic pulse, deftly contrasted with spiritual, organ-like lyrical reflections and a soaring, multifaceted finale.

Joy in All Things, Brian Balmages – Grade 4
* Mixed meter: 4/4, 6/8 + 1/4, 5/4, 9/8, & 2/4
Jubilant, inspiring, and triumphant, a showpiece of contrasting moods, reflection and celebration woven from the timeless hymn tune “Come Christians, Join to Sing.”

Stardance, Michael Sweeney – Grade 4
* Mixed meter: 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 2/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, & 12/8
Listeners are surrounded by a swirling dance of celestial lights and sounds, while onstage the percussion section introduces a driving ostinato pattern. A delicate and beautiful middle section suspends time with bluesy interaction and a rich background texture. The frantic pace returns climaxing with a stunning chorale while the percussion continues simultaneously at a separate tempo!

True Calling, Charles Rochester Young – Grade 5
* Mixed meter: 6/8 & 3/4
This powerful and exhilarating concert opener depicts the struggle to honor one’s “true life calling.” The pulsating rhythmic elements alternate between 6/8 and 3/4, and on several occasions the two meters are juxtaposed.

Stanton’s has lots of music-related gift items. From forty cent pencils and up, we have purses, coin purses, handbags, tote bags, mugs, sports bottles, ties, winter caps, gloves and scarves lots of jewelry including watches, composer busts, and more.

Whether you are a church soloist or other working vocalist, you may be called upon this month to provide some holiday music this month that is more classical in style (not that there’s anything wrong with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” but it doesn’t always fit…). Select something from one of Stanton’s favorite classical Christmas collections, and you’ll be sure to provide the appropriate mood:

The Christmas Collection
This beautiful volume is a large resource for classical singers of 53 songs for holiday services and events, designed for a lifetime of use. Contents include 26 Art Songs/Traditional Songs, 19 Christmas carols – including 5 Alfred Burt carols, arrangements by John Jacob Niles and Harry T. Burleigh, and 14 arrangements by Richard Walters – and 8 popular Christmas standards in arrangements especially for singers. The same song list appears in the High Voice and Low Voice volumes.

Christmas Solos for All Ages
The most practical, all-around Christmas collection for singers, with 45 essential solos for the season. There are traditional carol arrangements, art songs and traditional Christmas songs, and three of the greatest of all popular Christmas standards. All songs are in English. Available in three keys, this collection is perfect literature for teaching voice.

The Classical Singer’s Christmas Album
Christmas music selected especially for the classical singer. Contents: The Virgin’s Slumber Song (Reger), O Holy Night, The Birthday of a King (Neidlinger), Jesus of Nazareth (Gounod), Noëls Des Enfants Qui N’Ont Plus De Maisons (Debussy), O Jesulein Suess (Bach), Ermuntre Dich (Bach), Nun Wandre Maria (Wolf), Schlafendes Jesuskind (Wolf), Epiphanias (Wolf), Silent Night (arr. Walters), In the Bleak Midwinter (arr. Walters), I Stand Here at the Cradleside (Karg-Elert).

12 Christmas Favorites
Custom arrangements for voice and piano in two keys, High Voice and Low Voice, including: Caroling, Caroling, The Christmas Song, Do You Hear What I Hear, Ges Bambino, Go, Tell It on the Mountain, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, I Wonder as I Wander, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, O Holy Night, Silver Bells, Some Children See Him, White Christmas. CD includes full performances as well as accompaniment-only tracks.

For more Christmas recommendations, contact Stanton’s classical vocal department.

If you’re looking for a great new challenge for your developing band, why not introduce odd or mixed meter?  Obviously mastery of basic time signatures like 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 is important, but if your ensemble is getting really solid on these they may appreciate the challenge and interesting new sound and feel of different time signatures, and, let’s face it, odd and mixed meters are a lot of fun, too!  Why not make a game of it by seeing what sections of the band can master and get through the piece first?  There are several new pieces perfect for introducing different time signatures and mixed meter that our band staff is pleased to share.  Enjoy!!

Ancient Legends, Gary Fagan – Grade 2.5
* 1^st movement: 5/4, ending in 3/4; 2^nd movement: 4/4
Ancient Legends is a two-movement suite that musically depicts two legendary creatures from ancient times—the quiet, serene unicorn, and the hideous, terrifying Minotaur.

Incandescence, Richard Saucedo – Grade 2
* Mixed meter: 3/4 + 4/4
Introduce your students to mixed meter in a controlled manner with this fiery, energetic opener. Perfect for internalizing 8th note subdivision and advancing counting skills, Incandescence is loaded with percussion, plenty of color and timbral texture, rhythmic contrast and is sure to command audience and adjudicator attention!

Take the Stairs, Bob Lipton – Grade 1.5
* Meter: 7/4
Your young band will enjoy playing this fresh, fun new composition in a very natural seven. Students will easily master the rhythms, then enjoy playing the layered harmonies and melodies all the way to the big finish.

The Voyage, George Sweet – Grade 2
* Alternating sections of 4/4 and 3/4
Lush and mysterious, then light and uplifting, The Voyage begins.  Invigorating ideas and harmonic treatments, as well as shifting rhythmic feels from 4/4 to 3/4, set the stage for great interplay between various sections of the band juxtaposing light woodwind sounds with bold brass interjections.