News & Views Thursday, May 17, 2012

Do you have a significant other that makes you smile with your heart?  Their looks may be laughable (and even unphotographable) yet they’re your favorite work of art?  Then you could call them “My Funny Valentine.”

With lyrics close to those written above, the well known song, “My Funny Valentine,” has become a staple for the day set aside to honor your favorite loved one.  Written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for their musical, Babes in Arms, it is sung in the show by the female lead, Billie Smith, to her love interest, Valentine “Val” LaMar.  She pokes gentle fun at some of his characteristics, but ultimately tells him not to change, because they are what gives him his charm.  Just about everyone can relate to that set of circumstances.  After all, love reigns supreme – especially on Valentine’s Day!

If you would like to perform this wonderful song, there are many settings from which to choose. There are versions for vocal solo with piano, as well as arrangements for choir, jazz ensemble (with or without vocal solo), jazz combo, concert band and full or string orchestra.  You can find these all on Stanton’s website, or try our Digital Delivery option if there’s no time to lose!

We’re always talking about our knowledgeable staff—you’ll find that very phrase on much of our printed advertising, as well as on our website. Stanton’s sales staff is separated into departments to ensure that each staff member is well informed about a specific area of the wide variety of music that we carry. So when you call and ask about music for trumpet, you’ll be speaking with someone who has first-hand knowledge of repertoire, not just a phone operator with no musical experience. Here’s what you’ll find in each department:

CHORAL DEPARTMENT (ex. 1)
Church Choral Music
School Choral Music
Elementary Classroom Music
Classical Solo Vocal
Handbell

BAND DEPARTMENT (ex. 2)
Concert Band
Marching Band
Jazz Ensemble
Orchestra
Solos for all concert instruments
Instrumental Method Books
Music Software/Technology

POP/KEYBOARD (ex. 3)
Sacred & Secular Piano
Organ
Piano Method Books
Popular/Broadway Solo Vocal
Contemporary Christian Vocal
Guitar Solos and Methods
Music for Folk Instruments

BILLING AND ACCOUNTS (ex. 4)

You can direct emails to the exact department you need by clicking the links above, or press the appropriate extension when you call 1-800-42-MUSIC (1-800-426-8742). If you’re unsure of which department to choose, we’re always happy to direct you to whoever can best address your needs; press “0″ to have your call directed, or send a general email. At Stanton’s, it is important to us that you receive the most educated answers to your questions and the finest music recommendations.

We’re now halfway (!) through January and here in Ohio, thoughts are turning to OMEA Adjudicated Events! Solo & Ensemble events begin January 28th, and High School Large Group events are in March, followed by Junior High events later in the spring. While many of you have been planning since August, our biggest sales for contest music are in January.

Stanton’s strongly suggests that when you order your music for Adjudicated Events, you order the copies or scores for your judges at the same time. Solo & Ensemble events have one adjudicator, and Large Group events have three – each adjudicator needs their own copy of each score. Please do not wait until the week of (or the DAY of) your event to order – every year we get many panicked calls from directors at the last minute! If we don’t have the piece you need in stock it may take as long as two weeks to order it in, and if it is Permanently Out-of-Print, receiving photocopy permission may take even longer.

Still searching for the perfect contest piece? Our website is up-to-date with this year’s Large Group required lists for high school choir, concert band, and orchestra, junior high choir, concert band, and orchestra, and Solo & Ensemble lists for high school instumental and vocal ensembles

Adjudicated Events can be an exciting and rewarding time for you and your students. Let Stanton’s help you by placing your orders early!

The concert band world lost an icon over this past weekend. William Francis McBeth (March 9, 1933 – January 6, 2012) was a prolific American composer, whose wind band works are highly respected. Among the most popular of his nearly 60 band works were Chant and Jubilo, Of Sailors and Whales, Through Countless Halls of Air, Masque, Kaddish, Canto and Caccia.  The popularity of his works in the United States during the last half of the twentieth century led to many invitations and appearances as a guest conductor, where he often conducted the premiere performances of some of his compositions, the majority of which were commissioned. His conducting activities have taken him to forty-eight states, three Canadian provinces, Japan, and Australia.

From 1957 until his retirement in 1996, McBeth taught at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.  He had an early start to his musical training, studying piano with his mother and taking up the trumpet in the second grade. He attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. While an undergraduate at H-SU, McBeth played in the university band. From December 1952 to January 1953, the band traveled with U.S. Camp Shows to Europe. He also played string bass in a jazz combo, which was unusual for the time period due to widespread segregation throughout the South.   He was initiated into the University of Texas Alpha Iota Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia in 1957.  In 1962, McBeth conducted the Arkansas All-State Band, with future president Bill Clinton playing in the tenor saxophone section. He served as the third conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra from 1970 until 1973. He died aged 78 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

McBeth’s most outstanding awards have been the Presley Award at Hardin-Simmons University, the Howard Hanson Prize at the Eastman School of Music for his Third Symphony in 1963, recipient of an ASCAP Special Award each consecutive year from 1965 to present, the American School Band Directors Association’s Edwin Franko Goldman Award in 1983, elected Fellow of the American Wind and Percussion Artists by the National Band Association in 1984, National Citation from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity in 1985, in 1988 Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s Charles E. Lutton Man of Music Award for his achievement and continued contribution to American music, Kappa Kappa Psi’s National Service to Music Award in 1989, Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic’s Medal of Honor in 1993 and Past President of the American Bandmasters Association. In 1975 McBeth was appointed Composer Laureate of the State of Arkansas by the Governor, the first Composer Laureate named in the United States.

The 34^th Annual Kennedy Center Honors airs tomorrow night on CBS.  The 2011 honorees feature four musicians – singer Barbara Cook, singer/songwriter Neil Diamond, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and legendary jazz saxophonist/composer Sonny Rollins – making this a broadcast no musician or music educator should miss.

From the Kennedy Center website, “This year, the Kennedy Center celebrates its 40th anniversary by selecting five extraordinary individuals whose collective artistry has contributed significantly to the cultural life of our nation and the world,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein. “With her sublime voice and rich performances, Barbara Cook has defined all that is best and brightest in the Great American Songbook. Neil Diamond’s songwriting genius has created one of the most enduring catalogs of American popular music and his live performances have captivated audiences for five decades. Yo-Yo Ma’s sterling musicianship makes him one of the most versatile and popular classical music performers in the world and his Silk Road Project has inspired students across the world to love and honor music. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins’ masterful improvisation and powerful presence have infused the truly American art form of jazz with passion and energy.”

In addition to all the pomp and pageantry, the broadcast is sure to feature some top-notch musical tribute performances.  Visit Stantons.com and our digital delivery site for music by and for each of these performers, and don’t forget to tune in or set your DVR!

We don’t usually get very excited about string class technique books, but a new one has come out that has really caught our attention!

The name Sandra Dackow has been associated with outstanding string and full orchestra arrangements for decades.  If her name is on an arrangement, you can count on it being pedagogically sound, true to the original piece, and immensely programmable.  She now offers her expertise in an exciting new way – as co-author, with Kathleen DeBerry Brungard, Michael Alexander and Gerald E. Anderson, of an amazingly thorough high school string class technique book – Expressive Techniques for Orchestra.  This book covers areas never explored by technique books in the past.  It naturally includes standard and solid string pedagogy as well, but its originality sets it apart.

To start with, inside the front cover are arm and finger stretching exercises designed specifically for string players to warm the muscles for the physical contortions players encounter when asking their bodies to play their instrument.  The first page jumps right into String Calisthenics which include finger patterns in not only major and minor scale patterns, but also Lydian, augmented and diminished patterns, which not only exercise the fingers, but the ears as well.  Various bowings are then explored and some basic shifting which involves reading various clefs.  Viola and bass get some work in treble clef, cellos get tenor clef, and – hold on to your hat! – the violins actually get introduced to alto clef as well as 8va reading.  If you have students that plan to go on in music, the violinists will need to learn alto clef at some point, and this is the perfect introduction!

The book proceeds with rhythm studies and chorales in six major and six minor keys.  Natural harmonics are then explored leading into an extensive section on shifting using various finger patterns in various positions, which are then incorporated in well know melodies from classic and folk repertoire.  Same finger shifts as well as lower to higher finger and higher to lower finger shifts are drilled.  Cellos and basses have some thumb position work too.

On to scales – two and three octave scales and arpeggios in major and minor keys, stepwise and in thirds with solid fingerings and notated shifts, but otherwise very cleanly printed.  The last several pages are then devoted to short history lessons in the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods, each with a string-relevant piece that could even be programmed at a concert – selections from “Messiah” for the Baroque, “Eine Kleine Nachtmusic” for the Classical and “St. Paul’s Suite” for the Romantic.  First and Second violin parts are included in the violin book, so the correlating pages in the viola, cello and bass books include some instrument specific literature with which every player should become familiar.

The inside of the back cover isn’t wasted – it includes a chart showing what to look for when sight-reading – identifying various marking (time and key signatures, tempi) and scanning the music for unique musical specifics (“roadmap” issues, key and tempo changes, dynamics, expressive bowings etc.)  Also printed on the inside of the back cover is a picture of a piano keyboard to help in any music theory questions that might come up in the course of the book.

Now you can see why we are so impressed with this new addition to the repertoire!  We don’t think you will ever find a more extensive string technique book than this one.  We highly recommend that you check it out at your earliest opportunity.

Christmas time is here, or so the song goes, and now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, a few of the Stanton's staff would like to share some of our favorite Christmas albums with you.  Hopefully you'll find something new and different to add to your holiday playlist.  Feel free to share your favorites in the comments section below - we're always looking for something new to listen to, and Merry Christmas!

Caryn - Pop & Keyboard Dept.
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Christmas Collection - Michael W. Smith
Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity and Christmas with the Cambridge Singers - The Cambridge Singers; London Sinfonia; John Rutter
O Holy Night - Jackie Evancho
December Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition - George Winston
Indigo Christmas: Retro Jazz Swing – (no specific artist)
Carol - The American Boychoir
And Winter Came - Enya

Jen - Choral Music Specialist
Angels on High - Robert Shaw Singers
Holiday Spirits - Straight No Chaser
Elf Movie Soundtrack
Christmas Together - John Denver and The Muppets

Ken - Band/Instrumental Dept.
A Charlie Brown Christmas – Vince Guaraldi Trio
Christmas Songs – Diana Krall & the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Jingle All the Way – Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole
Christmas Jazz Jam – Wynton Marsalis
Christmas in the Morning: A Celebration in Brass – Canadian Brass; Michael Laird & Philip Jones Brass Ensembles
A Night Before Christmas – Spyro Gyra
Christmas Greetings – The Festival Chorale, conducted by H. Royce Saltzman
White Christmas – Bing Crosby

If you still need another selection to add to your Holiday program, try one of these recommendations from Stanton’s:

A DICKENS CHRISTMAS CAROL SUITE
Arr. Andrew Dabczynski
35960 Gr. 2.5 $42.00
Tell the whole story with English carols, opt. narrator & percussion. Teaching Elements: Working with a narrator • aleatoric chaos • glissandi

THE MOON OF WINTER (The Huron Carol)
Arr. Vince Gassi
35917 Gr. 3 $45.00
Reverent adaptation of Canada's oldest (1643) Christmas carol. Teaching Elements: key of F# minor • LH extensions • celli & bass shifting

WHITE MOUNTAIN RUN
Donald J. Young
50250023 Gr. 3 $50.00
The excitement of a brisk skiing trip up & down Mt. Washington. Teaching Elements: 16th notes at mm 132 • first violin & celli shifting

As heard at the mind-boggling Trans-Siberian stage show. Add the optional rock rhythm section for an intense and very hip musical experience. Then take your students to see the band live!

CHRISTMAS EVE/SARAJEVO 12/24
Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel/Bob Phillips
33755 Gr. 3.5 $60.00
This thought-provoking medley of Christmas tunes describes a lone cellist playing Christmas carols in the midst of the Bosnian war. The piece reflects the power, drama, and hope of a single musician in the midst of war, reflecting on the power of music to bring hope. The rock rhythm section contributes to an intense and very hip musical experience.

WIZARDS IN WINTER
Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel/Bob Phillips
31509 Gr. 3 $50.00
Highlight your strings and even add a rhythm section if you like—whatever you do, play it large!

For more great recommendations, contact Dan in Orchestra!

Stanton's Sheet Music always seeks out the best sounding, most educationally valid and highly programmable music to recommend to you!  Try one of these recent selections for Hanukkah:

S'VIVON (DREIDLE)
Arr. Ben Clinesmith
3033581 Gr. 2.5 $45.00
Give the second violins some of the limelight and all can practice pizzicato! Teaching Elements: D# in the key of E minor • 2nd violin melody • cello ½ position

CHRISTMAS DREIDEL
Arr. Rick England
35983 Gr. 2.5 $47.00
Clever combo of Dreidel Song & Christmas is Coming, the Goose is Getting Fat. Teaching Elements: part independence • flat accidentals • syncopation • cello shifting

HANUKKAH HABANERA
Arr. Tim McCarrick
33753 Gr. 3 $45.00
Bizet's famous opera melody links Hanukkah O Hannukkah & The Dreidel Song. Teaching Elements: moving between D major & D minor • chromaticism • triplets

For more information and other great recommendations, contact Dan in Orchestra!

Do you need some more selections for your Holiday concert? Try one of these educationally valid and highly programmable pieces recommended by Stanton’s Sheet Music:

NORTHPOLE WORKSHOP
Doug Spata
35965 Gr. 1.5 $45.00
Fun polka depicting Santa's elves. Teaching Elements: string crossing • staccato • elementary arpeggios • 8th notes

JAPANESE CHRISTMAS
Keiko Yamada
FAS69 Gr. 1.5 $40.00
Unique Bring a Torch + Holly & Ivy. Teaching Elements: Asian pentatonic harmony • subtle dynamics • multiculturalism

GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER
Arr. Bob Cerulli
35912 Gr. 2.5 $45.00
Fun! Sprinkled with Xmas quotes. Teaching Elements: D.S. al Coda concept • 16th/8th/16th rhythm • F & Bb

NUTCRACKER…IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES
Arr. Doug Wagner
35896 Gr. 2.5 $45.00
5 tightly woven ballet movements. Teaching Elements: Romantic chromaticism • tempo & meter changes • caesuras

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

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!

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!

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! Consider one of these top favorites from our Summer 2011 String Reading Sessions when you are planning your concerts for this year:

THE CODE
Alan Lee Silva
YAS96 Gr. 2 $48.00
Dramatic, pseudo-spy movie score with fun musical challenges and independent parts. Teaching Elements: syncopation • layering

OVER THE RAINBOW
Arr. Phillips and Beck
35892 Gr. 2.5 $50.00
Done in the Hawaiian ukulele style of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole heard in many recent films. Teaching Elements: “groove” • ukulele hold

BAYOU SELF
Cathy Morris
ST6234 Gr. 3 $50.00
Cajun flavored crowd pleaser with glissandi and call-and-response famous classical snippet quotes. Teaching Elements: Cajun rhythms • glissandi

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

Stanton’s Sheet Music pours 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! Do you have a concert in October? Consider using one of these thematically appropriate pieces:

FRONTIER PHANTOMS
Deborah Baker Monday
ST6262 Gr. 2 $50.00
Ride an eerie western wagon train. Teaching Elements: no key signature-only accidentals • q=144 • cello shifts

MARCH OF THE SHADOWS
Brian Balmages
ST6257 Gr. 2 $45.00
It's broad, brooding and sinister. Teaching Elements: dissonance • Bb/Eb hand position • steady pizzicato

SPIDER DANCE
Michael Hopkins
35920 Gr. 3 $45.00
Have ghoulish, creepy, crawly fun. Teaching Elements: 16th note slash notation • Key of Gm • trills • glissandi

LEGEND OF THE PHANTOM PIRATES
Brian Balmages
ST6258 Gr. 3.5 $50.00
Paint a ghostly picture. Teaching Elements: chromatics • rhythmic patterns with no beat “1”

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