Ensemble Concert Books, The - Volume 1

David P. Miller

General Info

Year: 2018
Duration: c. 37:00 (without narration)
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Silver Clef Music
Cost: Parts - $9.97 per book, discounts for multiple books
Score: $19.97

Instrumentation:

Full Score

Soprano 1 Range

Soprano 1 in C *
Soprano 1 in Bb
Soprano 1 in Eb
Soprano 1 in F

Soprano 2 Range

Soprano 2 in C *
Soprano 2 in Bb
Soprano 2 in Eb
Soprano 2 in F
Soprano 2 in Alto Clef

Alto Range

Alto in C
Alto in Eb
Alto in F
Alto in Alto Clef
Alto in Bass Clef

Tenor Range

Tenor in C
Tenor in Eb
Tenor in F
Tenor in Alto Clef
Tenor in Bass Clef

Bass Range

Bass in C
Bass in Bb
Bass in Eb
Bass in F
Bass in Bass Clef
Bass for String Bass

*These parts are doubled in octaves, so flutes and piccolos can play the higher notes,
while oboes and other C instruments can play the lower notes.

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Description

The purpose of the Ensemble Concert Book Series is to provide music for the dozens or hundreds of musicians who just want to go play, in the dozens or hundreds of venues that want people to come play. The watchwords of the ECB Series is Grab any five or more players to cover all five ranges (SSATB), give an ECB book to each player, and go play a concert!

Volume 1 of the Ensemble Concert Book Series consists of 12 well-known tunes that, when played in order, with the provided narration between tunes to connect the audience to the music and provide a short break for the players, will provide a complete concert of about 45 to 60 minutes.

In addition, each book contains all the narrator notes, and 12 common tunes in an appendix, tunes that are useful in many situations, such as fanfares, the Star Spangled Banner, Happy Birthday, Hot Time, etc.

Program Notes

These notes are intended for narration before each tune.

1. WASHINGTON POST MARCH The Washington Post March was written by John Philip Sousa in 1889, as part of a contest for the Washington Post newspaper. It became a wildly favorite tune in its day, with people everywhere dancing the two-step to this lively tune. Enjoy now John Philip Sousa’s Washington Post March.

2. WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE DRUNKEN SAILOR? The tune What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor? is a traditional sea shanty dating back to at least 1820. This catchy tune remains popular even today, and we hope you enjoy this unique arrangement of it.

3. HOW GREAT THOU ART One of the greatest hymns ever, How Great Thou Art is based on a Swedish Folk melody sung since the mid-1800s. It was voted the most popular hymn in England in the 1990s and is still popular everywhere. Enjoy now this poignant arrangement of How Great Thou Art.

4. BILL BAILEY Won’t You Come Home, Bill Bailey is the lament of a railroad brakeman’s wife, who kicked out her husband in 1902. “I’ll do the cooking, darlin’, I’ll pay the rent…” she cries, begging him to come home. Enjoy now this fun arrangement of the old favorite, Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home?

5. GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY In 1902, George M Cohan wrote the musical Little Johnny Jones about an Englishman sailing to America looking for evidence to prove him innocent of throwing the English Derby race. The favorite tune from this musical, Give My Regards To Broadway, has been performed by such greats as James Cagney and Al Jolson, and was named as one of NPR's top 100 most important pieces of music in the 20th Century. Ladies and Gentlemen, Give My Regards To Broadway!

6. GREENSLEEVES One of the oldest tunes people recognize today is Greensleeves, possibly written in the 1400s, sometimes attributed to Henry VIII in 1580. Shakespeare mentioned the tune in The Merry Wives of Windsor, indicating the tune was well known in 1602. The Christmas song What Child Is This is sung to the same tune. Enjoy now this modern setting of the ancient tune, Greensleeves.

7. A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO In 1891, Englishman Harry Dacre arrived in the United States, and became furious when the customs officer charged him duty on his bicycle. Harry complained about this to everyone he saw, until finally someone told him, “You should be glad it wasn’t a bicycle built for two.” The phrase stuck with Harry, and within a year he had written the song, A Bicycle Built for Two, originally called Daisy Bell. Enjoy now this fun arrangement of A Bicycle Built For Two.

8. GRANDFATHER’S CLOCK My Grandfather's Clock was written in 1876 by Henry Clay Work. Told from a grandchild’s point of view, the song tells about the grandfather's longcase clock purchased on the morning of his birth, which worked perfectly for ninety years, with a wind-up required only once a week. When grandpa brought his bride to the house, the clock struck 24! When grandfather died the clock stopped... “never to go again.” This song is responsible for the fact that a longcase clock is also called a "grandfather clock".

9. ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS Sir Arthur Sullivan is famous for writing hundreds of musical works, including 24 operas and 11 major orchestral works. Perhaps his most famous work is one he originally called St. Gertrude, after the wife of a friend in whose home he was staying. When the Salvation Army adopted Onward Christian Soldiers as its most favored hymn, the tune rapidly gained overwhelming popularity. Enjoy this wonderful hymn with us now.

10. YOU TELL ME YOUR DREAM Charles N. Daniels, born in 1878, used many pseudonyms in his career, but in 1908 under his real name he published a song called You Tell Me Your Dream, I'll Tell You Mine. The song was first recorded in 1931 by the Mills Brothers who eventually recorded it with most of the great bands of the time. Their 1946 barbershop recording is said to be the best as it shows off the romantic feeling of the music itself. Go back with us now to a dreamier time and enjoy this tune of more than a century ago.

11. YOU’RE A GRAND OLD FLAG George M. Cohan wrote You’re a Grand Old Flag in 1906 for his stage musical, George Washington, Jr. The sheet music for this tune was the first from any musical to sell more than a million copies. Arranger Arnie Gross from Connecticut has put this iconic American tune into a delightful and challenging setting that will bring a smile to your face. Get your patriotic grin ready as we play for you You’re a Grand Old Flag.

12. THE BILLBOARD MARCH The Billboard march is one of those tunes everyone recognizes but few can name. John Klohr wrote the march as a contest entry for the Billboard magazine. He won. The tune has been a popular staple since 1901, and many people have written words for it -- some of which are not suitable for polite company. Enjoy this tune with us now, as we close [this section of] our concert with The Billboard March.

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings