New Releases

NEWS: An excerpt from Carlos Gil's "Suite Estiu" (scroll down) included in Ibrahim Aziz's forthcoming CD can be heard at https://soundcloud.com/chiaro-audio/sets/ibrahim-aziz-viola-da-gamba

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  Fourteen spiritual sonnets by Vittoria Colonna (1492-1547) were set as 5-part madrigals by Pietro Vinci (c1525-1584) and published in 1580: Sarah Mead has edited this first modern edition; VC095 Score, vii+75 pp, $35; with 5 parts: $60; with 8 parts (viol and vocal clefs): $75
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  Peter Seibert's Suite, for SATB recorders features variations on traditional Medieval and Renaissance melodies from candinavia, Bohemia and France: CC093, score & parts: $18.00
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  David Loeb's Jiuta is a solo for bass viol (preferably 7-string, but with modifications for 6-string bass), dedicated to Yukimi Kambe; CI038: $5.00
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  Belinda Reynolds' "Geometry" includes two pieces, "Lines" and "Points" for alto recorder and harpsichord: CI039, score & part: $7.00
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  The second set of fantasias for six viols by Martha Bishop is now available; CC090: $16.00
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  Will Ayton's second set of six is also ready: CC093: $16.00
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  Viol players who have enjoyed Carol Herman's "Twenty-five Easy Etudes for Bass Viol" have been asking for a version for Tenor Viol for years. Here it is: "Twenty-five Tuneful Etudes for the Tenor Viol." some of these will be challenging! they will all be played with great technical improvement, and a chuckle or two. Optional bass accompaniment; ED011: $21.00
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  Belinda Reynolds continues her educational series "Custom Made Music" with Volume 4, for Four Guitars. These five quartets combine Belinda's love of the guitar with her love for chamber music; they will challenge the student and refresh the teacher: Score and parts, ED012: $19.00
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  Thomas Donahue composed two of the pieces selected by Elaine Funaro for her 2012 Anthology of music for harpsichord (our edition CK020); he has now provided us with a suite of three pieces with titles that capture the spirit of "time" -- hence "Chronological Ordre" where "Ordre" borrows François Couperin's word for his collection of harpsichord pieces ; CK022: $12.00.
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  Tom Sears has composed settings for Soprano and viol trio (tTB) of a 15th century carol "A Babe is Born all of a Maid" and Ave Maria; CV019: Score and parts, $12.00
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  This fugue by Bach is established as authentic: its composition has been recently dated to 1706, perhaps his earliest piece of chamber music. In this new edition by Ben Shute, the figured bass has been given a completely new realization by Anastasia Abu Bakar; B067, Score and Parts for Violin, Harpsichord and bass instrument: $12.00.
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  Brooke Green has composed two five-part In Nomines, one for five viols titled "Cock-a-hoop" invoking elation at a drinking session, the other for Soprano and four viols, a tribute to the singer Chavela Vargas (d. 2012), highly popular for her renditions of Mexican rancheras. CC092: Score and parts, $12.00
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  Recorder players essaying Michel Blavet's (1700-1768) second series of sonatas for flute and B.C. have performed them on a voice flute: we now provide all six sonatas transcribed for alto recorder. These brilliant sonatas, in our new edition, have the advantage of a new realization, by Anastasia Abu Bakar, of the basso continuo for harpsichord, in a style completely appropriate for their period. Volume 1, Three Sonatas; B064, Score and Parts for Recorder and bass instrument: $33.00.
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  David Loeb's fantasias for solo viol on Sephardic Melodies (our edition No.CI006), which have been very popular, are now joined by his two new Sephardic fantasias for viol quartet (tTBB) The first, based on an elegiac song, contrasts with the second, a robust setting of the story of King Nimrod. CC091: Score and parts, $12.00
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  Martha Bishop and Will Ayton, in a friendly competition, each decided to compose six viol fantasias: her first three are now available, whimsically entitled "The Whatsit Fantasias" -- What Not, What If, and Whatcha Ma' Call It. for ttTTBB viols. CC089: Score and Parts, $16.00.
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  Will Ayton's first three fantasias are also available, and also for ttTTBB viols. CC088: Score and parts, $16.00
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  "Ardo sì, ma non t'amo" (I burn, yes, but not with love for you) is the first line of a poem by Giovanni Guarini (1538-1612). It and its response by Torquato Tasso were set as madrigals by some 65 composers over nearly a century. AR Editions, which published their scores in 1990, has given us permission to publish 20 of the five voice madrigals by eight composers, including the score and parts for performance by viols or recorders. The texts are included in each part. Edition VC093: Score, $25.00; sets of parts $25.00 (viol or vocal clefs), $35.00(both clefs).
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  The Aliénor Competition of 2015 did not specify a particular theme or form: the result is a collection of impressive, but accessible, new pieces for solo harpsichord in a variety of styles, by composers from around the world. The score includes a CD of all of the pieces performed by the founder of the competition, Elaine Funaro. Edition CK021: Score, $25.00
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  J.S. Bach's D-minor harpsichord concerto, BWV 1052, was the composer's latest arrangement of material also found in BWV 1052a and Cantatas 146 and 188. The solo instrument's range and figuration in these sources persuasively indicate they were adapted from a violin concerto that no longer survives. This edition reconstructs the lost concerto, correcting errors of previous reconstructions and presenting some new readings of source material. Edition B066: Score, $9.00; parts, $15.00.
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  J.S. Bach's D-Major Sinfonia BWV 1045, is his most lavishly scored work featuring a solo violin. Though it survives only as a fragment, clues from the surviving portion indicate the probable form of its intended conclusion. Penmanship clues in the autograph suggest the Sinfonia may likely be an adaptation of a work for strings only, for which this edition makes allowance in the form of ossias corresponding to the putative earlier material. Edition B065: Score $9.00; String Parts $7.00; Full Parts $14.00
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  Nearly 35 years ago, Ogni Sorte Editions published three suites for two division viols by John Jenkins. PRB is pleased to announce that, with permission, these pieces are now in print again. Our larger format, and more modern notation programs have allowed us to present all of the eleven movements without page turns in the parts. The realization of the continuo part, by the 1983 edition's editor, Martha Bishop, is reprinted with minor corrections. VC092: Score and Parts, $23.00.
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  The chorale preludes of Dietrich Buxtehude are justly celebrated as models of the form. Their organ scores, in four parts using, typically, treble, alto and bass clefs transcribe naturally to a four-part viol consort (Treble, two Tenors, and Bass). Six of Buxtehude's preludes are presented here, along with settings of the chorales by other composers: four by J.S. Bach, and one each by Johann Pachelbel and Max Reger. VC094: Score and parts, $23.00
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  Carlos Gil was born in Toledo, Spain: a musicologist, he plays viol with a
  consort in Toledo and Madrid. The title of the Suite, the anagrammatic "Estiu" means summer
  in Catalan. Its five movements evoke the five senses. Estiu is available on a CD of Ibrahim Aziz' solo album, 'Risonanze' (https://firsthandrecords.com) Playing Score, $8.
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  Scriabin's 95 piano Preludes may seem an unlikely source for viol consorts, but a dozen or more of them are perfectly suited for viol quartet (treble, 2 tenors and bass); Score and parts, $23
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  The titles of the five movements of Barbara's new suite are mood-related, ranging from Indecision, through Certainty, to Remembrance. Not difficult, but requiring careful time-keeping by the four viols: Score and parts, $12.
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  Although the "Trope" movement in Martha Bishop's recent edition (PRB No. CI034) features a highly disguised treatment of the theme, David Loeb's In Nomine for Bass viol is probably the first to set it explicitly for a solo viol (there's a version for solo lute, apparently); Score and parts, $5
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  Larry Wallach is a musicologist who teaches music at Bard College; as composer, he has had many commissions. His Prelude and Fugue for Viols had its premier performance 1n 2015 at the Boston Early Music Festival: Score and parts, $12.
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  Harold Owen's new suite gives the recorder and violin plenty to do, in three movements: CC084; Score and parts, $12.
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  J.S. Bach composed a number of pieces to help his son Wilhelm Friedeman in his keyboard technique: among them are the Two and Three Part Inventions. Our new edition is intended to make this music available to viol players. Each volume contains seven of the fifteen Three-part pieces arranged for treble, tenor and bass viols; VC090, VC091: each volume, $18 for score and parts.
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  This excerpt of the treble viol part shows that for all but one of the sinfonias, we have doubled the note values to assist consort players not accustomed to frequent sixteenth and 32nd notes; transposed the music to more accessible keys. There is still plenty to engage the player: these are not easy pieces.
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  The second volume of "Lessons for the Base-Viol" by John Moss, is now available. Edited by Stephen Morris, this volume includes Suites 5 through 8, in ffedf tuning, for lyra viol and bass. As with volume I (VC085A), the price is $25 for the full score (lyra in tablature, realization plus bass line in notation), and two parts (lyra in tab. and bass/lyra realization in notation.
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  Although Michael East's eight fantasies for 5 viols have long been available, we wanted to provide a richer setting for them, using the under-appreciated tenor viol for the two top parts, and allowing the basses to luxuriate more on their lowest string: the middle part can be played by tenor or bass. If required, barless parts are available. Score and parts: $35.00
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  Peter Seibert, composer of a number of pieces for viols and recorders published by PRB, has arranged 14 dance movements from orchestral suites by Telemann for SATB recorder quartet. Edition B063: Score and Parts, $25.00.
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  Derek Moore Morgan's centenary was celebrated earlier in 2015 with performances of his works, many of which are published by PRB. Among them were selections from this new edition of six songs. Some were composed during his service in convoys during WWII. They include settings of poems by Masefield, Shelley, and James Stephens: CV017, Score: $12.00. NEWS FLASH! Derek's Ascension Anthem, "God is ascended up on high" (CV013: see our catalog) will be performed in Chichester Cathedral, UK, on May 7
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  Brooke K. Green, whose "Shades of Presence Past" we published last year, has composed seven settings of poetry by the Australian Dorothy Porter, for soprano and viol consort (treble, tenor, bass and 7-string bass viols: one setting adds a second tenor viol). Porter's poetry was strong, direct and passionate, as is Brooke's music; "Emerald Elixirs", CV018: Score (44 pages) & parts, $42.00 some of the settings can be heard on CD (Tall Poppies TP233)
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  The 17th Century composer, Samuel Capricornus, was the author of a number of pious works, among them this Passion music "Ein Lammlein" for two sopranos, four viols (two trebles, tenor, and bass) and figured basso continuo. His music was highly praised by his contemporary Heinrich Schutz: edited by David Fenton, Margaret Panofsky, and Kent Underwood. (on CD: Teares of the Muses: 2011) B058: Score and Parts, $25.00
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  The four volumes, whose covers are shown here, comprise settings for SOLO HARPSICHORD of the six Suites for solo cello and the Partita for solo flute by J.S. Bach. The transcriptions, by Winsome Evans of Sydney, Australia, of the cello suites are based on the principal source, the copy by Anna Magdalena Bach, supplemented by the copy by Peter Kellner. The suites are provided with embellished reprises by the editor, in the style exemplified by the composer in his own "agréments" in the English Suites, Goldberg Variations, and other works for keyboard. B059; Cello Suites I & II set for Harpsichord: Score, $30.00.
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  The editor and arranger, Winsome Evans, provides the embellished reprises as examples to the modern harpsichordist, with the proviso that he or she is encouraged to devise original reprises, as was suggested in writings by Bach's contemporaries. Volume 2 includes they keyboard settings of Suites III & IV; B060, Score: $35.00
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  Volume 3 of our edition includes Evans' transcriptions for HARPSICHORD of the cello Suites V and VI. Each volume includes a preface common to all three of the "cello suite" volumes together with explanations appropriate to each suite, and a textural commentary relating principally to matters concerning the keyboard player. Volume 3, B061; Score, $35.00.
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  The fourth volume contains Winsome Evans' HARPSICHORD setting of the Flute Partita, BWV 1013. As with some of the cello suite transcriptions, transposition has been necessary to accommodate the higher tessitura of the flute to the harpsichord. Volume 4, B062; Score: $20.00
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  The fantasias and pavans of John Jenkins are among the most keenly played pieces for viol consort players. The consorts in 4, 5, and 6 parts have always been popular, and accessible. Less familiar is the later, superb series of 27 fantasies and a pavan for three viols. Set for treble and two virtuosic bass viols, most of them require the accompaniment of an organ, which plays introductory and connecting solo passages. Our new edition is an arrangement for treble, tenor and bass viols of 23 of the fantasies and the pavan with the bass viols' high tessitura passages allotted to the tenor viol, and with the bass viol taking over the (no less gratifying) bass viols' low tessiture. The organ's solo music is incorporated into the three viols. VC089; Three part set: $35.00.
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  By allotting most of the organ's accompanying function to the viols, this arrangement, while not a substitute for the original setting, will allow Jenkins fans to continue their relationship with the composer's work, without the requirement for organ or organist. The tenor viol part can also be played by an ambitious bass player. For the first time PRB has ventured into the world of barless editions. With the assistance from carefully placed "rehearsal" letters at cadences, barless devotees can enjoy the long phrases of these fantasies, unbroken by ties and barlines; VC089B, Three-part, alternative barless set: $35.00
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  Our two editions of seasonal music for recorder quartet assembled and edited by Peter Seibert have been very successful. Now comes the third in this series, the Suite No. 2 on Early Carol Tunes and Wassails, for SATB recorders. The settings are based on melodies from the Middle Ages or early Renaissance. CC082; Score & parts, $20.00.
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  Susan Potter's first published composition is a Suite for two bass viols. As might be expected from her training as a musicologist, the suite is reminiscent of 17th Century viol music, employing imitation and more modern rhythmic and harmonic elements. In four movements; CC081, Two playing scores: $8.00
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  Harold Owen has composed a modern trio sonata, using forces familiar to Baroque aficionados: alto and tenor recorders with keyboard (harpsichord or piano). Good alternative instruments for the recorder parts could be flute or oboe and violin (or another flute or oboe). CI035; Score & parts, $12.00.
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  François Roberday published this set of 12 Fugues et Caprices in 1660, for organ, but also designated for four viols. They were, in fact, set out on 4 separate staves, as were similar works by Froberger and Frescobaldi. The Caprices use themes from the Fugues, usually modified rhythmically with lively syncopations. Suggested viols for these pieces are treble, treble or tenor, tenor and bass. Edited by Elizabeth Macdonald. VC087, Score and parts: $35.00
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  Much of the contemporary music for viols has been composed for consorts of three or more instruments. Martha Bishop, seeking to rectify the lack of modern music for solo viols, has composed a prelude and fugue for solo treble, a "trope" on the In Nomine theme for solo tenor, and a challenging piece (Hijaz) for solo seven-string bass viol. More information in our online catalog under "Contemporary Viol Music:" CI034, $8.00
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  In the fall of 2013, Michael Senturia's vocal group "Coro d'Amici" presented a program of his compositions, many of them written for the group. It was an impressive and moving occasion. Now we have the honor of publishing five of these pieces, for a cappella groups of from 4 to 10 voices. More information under "Contemporary Vocal Music" in the online catalog. CV016, Score: $15.00
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  Sarah Mead's new composition for five viols (2 trebles, tenor, and 2 basses) combines the timeless In nomine theme with her own fantasia, to give a widely admired piece which is being played shortly in Australia, and was enjoyed at a recent gamba workshop. CC080: Score & parts, $9.00
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  Tobi Szuts has transcribed a second helping of challenging and satisfying music by Froberger: the collection includes a Canzon, two Ricercars, and three Fantasias, one of them on the hexachord. All for viol quartet (clefs for treble, two tenors and bass). VC086, Score and parts: $26.00
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  Christopher M. Wicks is a composer living in Oregon. These two sonatinas were composed for the doucaine and piano. The doucaine is an early tenor oboe, but its range permits these pieces to be played on tenor or bass recorder, any size viol, viola or cello, or clarinet or bass clarinet. The Piano part can be played on harpsichord or fortepiano if the recorder or viol is used, CI033; score and parts in appropriate clefs: $20.00
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  Little is known of John Moss, except that he succeeded John Jenkins (d. 1678) as a member of the King's Music: the 26 suites of his "Lessons for the Base-[sic] Viol are in French Lute tablature, familiar to most viol players. We are issuing the suites grouped by tuning of the lyra-viol. Volume I includes the four suites with the viol tuned to ffeff, the standard bass gamba tuning: each suite comprises four dances. A separate part contains the "thorough bass," and the score includes the tablature part in staff notation. No page turns for the lyra-viol! VC085A, Score and parts: $21.00
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  These Eight Preludes and Fugues, although included in the Schmieder catalog of J.S. Bach's works, have been attributed to other composers, including Krebs (father and son). The fugues sound excellent on viols, and we have published them under a provisional title, for viol quartet (treble, tenor, tenor/bass, bass). Find them in the Online Catalog under "Collections" (hint: you may find other composers hiding under this blanket description); VC084: Score & parts, $18.00
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  Mozart (was it Mozart?) composed this duet for bassoon and cello, and it has been arranged for a number of duos: Elizabeth Macdonald has arranged it for two bass viols, together with the famous Duet for viola and cello (and two obbligato eyeglasses) by Beethoven, for the same combination. CL019, Score and parts: $20.00