Category Archives: Percussion

Robert’s Stäff Picks!!!

Don’t forget, the Music Library is having an LP Bag Sale this Friday, April 26 from 10AM-2PM in front of Bender Library!!!

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This set of Staff Picks is dedicated to currently performing string quartets and new music ensembles/composers.

CD 5290 — Six Quartets, Op. 20 — Haydn

The quartets are pretty standard Haydn works but the cool part about this CD is that this recording is played by the Daedalus Quartet.  The Daedalus Quartet is considered a leader among the newest generation of string ensembles.  The members of this string quartet hold degrees from the Julliard School, Curtis Institute, Cleveland Institute, and Harvard University.  Min-Young Kim and Matilda Kaul play violin, Jessica Thompson plays the viola, and Thomas Kraines plays the ‘cello.  This CD was released in 2009.

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CD 10048 — Meanwhile — eighth blackbird

eighth blackbird “combines the finesse of a string quartet, the energy of a rock band and the audacity of a storefront theater company.” The members of the ensemble  “hail from America’s Great Lakes, Keystone, Golden and Bay States, and Australia’s Sunshine State.  There are four foodies, three beer snobs and one exercise junkie.”  It seems like it would be fun to hang with these folks. Tim Munro plays the flutes, Michael J. Maccaferri the clarinets, Yvonne Lam the violin & viola, Nicholas Photinos the ‘cello, Matthew Dunvall percussion, and Lisa Kaplan the piano.  This CD was released in 2012.

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John Adams

I often reference works by John Adams in my Staff Picks, and I honestly don’t think I could ever forget to mention him.  Adams is a North American based new music composer.  Once again, the symphonic version of my favorite opera, CD 9695 — Doctor Atomic / Guide to Strange Places.  This CD was released in 2009.

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CD 10053 - Adam’s Lament — Arvo Pärt

Do you like Arvo Pärt as much as Ethan Hicks? I doubt it, but you should still take a listen to this fantastic Pärt CD that explores many of his works including, but not limited to: Adam’s Lament, Beaatus Petronius, Salve Regina, and Estonian lullaby.  This CD was released in 2012.

 

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We just got Eighth Blackbird’s GRAMMY NOMINATED “Meanwhile” (and other scores, CDs, DVD)

Get excited about our newest acquisition, Eighth Blackbird’s recent release “Meanwhile”: CD 10048.

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“Is there an ensemble anywhere that conveys the sheer exuberance and joy of contemporary music like Eighth Blackbird? To listen to this brilliant young American sextet is to be constantly reminded of just how exciting, funny and ingratiating new work can be – especially when it’s delivered with these players’ characteristic blend of breakneck virtuosity and charm.”

- Joshua Kosman for the San Fransisco Chronicle

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The Kashmere Stage Band: Texas Thunder Soul, 1968-1974 - CD 10047

Paul Winter Sextet: Jazz Meets the Bossa Nova/Folk Song – CD 10046

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DVD

Chops – Music Library DVD 55

Follows a group of high school students from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, a public school in Jacksonville, FL, as they try to win a competition where the prize is being able to play at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Festival at New York’s Lincoln Center and an opportunity to work with famed jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.

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JOHN CAGE

Bird Cage  -  M1473.C34.B57 1972
Chess Pieces for Piano  -  M25.C34 C54 2005
 Nocturne for Violin and Piano  -  M221.C34 N63 1972
Radio Music  -  M1473.C34 R33 1961
Sonata for Clarinet  -  M72.C34 S66 1963
Sonata for Two Voices  -  M298.5.C34 S66 1979
String Quartet in four parts  -  M452.C32 S77 1960
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MORE NEW SCORES!

David Amram  -  Cancion de Verano: A Piano Quartet for Young Musicians  -  M412 A47.C36 2012
J.S. Bach  -  Sechs Partiten for Klavier, 1-3  -  M24.B115 S8 1958 v. 1
Ludwig van Beethoven  -  Three Equali for four Trombones WoO 30  – M457.4.B44 D74 2012
Luigi Carvelli  -  Serenata Napolitana for Violoncello and Piano  -  M233.C37 S47 2012
Richard Danielpour  -  Spirits in the Well for Soprano and Piano  -  M1621.4.D36 S65 2012
Michael Daugherty  -  Elvis Everywhere for String Quartet and Tape  -  M585.D38 E48 2010
Jacob Druckman  -  Dance with Shadows for Brass Quintet  – M557.4.D78 D36 2012
Beat Furrer (yes that is a name)  -  Phasma for Piano  -  M25.F87 P53 2005
David Friedman  -  Mirror from Another: A collection of solo pieces for vibraphone  -  M175.X6 F75 1987
Osvaldo Golijob  -  Tenebrae (Version III) for String Quartet  -  M454.G65 T46 2011
Aram Khachaturian  -  Double Fugue for string quartet  -  M452.K53 D68 2011
Lowell Lieberman  -  Six Songs on Poems of Nelly Sachs, Op. 14 for Soprano and Piano  -  M1621.L54 op.14 2012

Steve Mackey  -  Fusion Tone for Electric Guitar and Violoncello  -  M295.M33 F87 2012

Steve Reich  -  Know what is above you for Three Soprano Singers, One Alto Singer, and 2 Small Tuned Drums – M2019.5.R45 K66 2012
Igor Stravinsky  -  Circus Polka composed for a Young Elephant, for saxophone quartet  -  M459.S77 C57 2011

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Filed under 20th Century, Baroque, Brass, Cello, Chamber Music, Clarinet, Classical, Contemporary, Flute, Guitar, Jazz, Libary News, New Arrivals, Percussion, Piano, Recordings, Saxophone, Scores, String Quartet, Trombone, Uncategorized, Violin, Vocal

New Arrivals!

New CDs!

Benjamin Broening – Eighth Blackbird – Trembling Air – CD 9978

Victor Herbert – Eileen: A romantic comic opera – CD 9976

Joel Hoffman – Three Paths: 9 Pieces for Piano…the first time and the last         CD 9977

George Walker – Great American Concert Music – CD 9979

CanAm Piano Duo – This is the World – CD 9980

Charles Bestor – Eric Berlin, trumpet – The Sound of Time – CD 9981

Ragtime Concert feat. Bob Becker, Xylophone – CD 9975

New Sheet Music!

Karlheinz Stockhausen – Stimmung for six vocalists, Nr. 24                                M1529.5.S76 S75 1969

Karlheinz Stockhausen – Kurzwellen for six players,  Nr. 25                                M1470.S76 K8 1969

Louis Andriessen – Disco for Violin and Piano – M221.A63 D5 1995

Philip Glass – Four Movements for Two Pianos – M214.G48 M68 2011

Mario Davidovsky – Capricio for Two Pianos – M214.D250 C2 1965

John Cage – Music Walk – M25.C34 M875 1960

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Filed under 20th Century, Chamber Music, Contemporary, New Arrivals, Opera, Percussion, Piano, Recordings, Scores, Symphony, Uncategorized, Vocal

[In] CAGE

[In] CAGE
September 2,  2:00 pm [Studio Theater]
September 7,  4:00 pm – 9:30 pm [Recital Hall]
September 8, 9:00 am [Recital Hall]

Join the AU Music Department in a centennial celebration of John Cage’s birthday!  In partnership with the John Cage Centennial Festival of Washington, DC, American University will be hosting three Cage-ian events!

On September 2nd at 2 pm, come to the Katzen Center Studio Theater to get a taste of Cage’s repertoire with [In] CAGE.  Bonnie Whiting Smith, Dustin Donahue and AU Music Faculty Dr. William Brent, the members of red fish blue fish will be performing.

On September 7th at 4 pm, Tom Delio will give a lecture about John Cage’s percussion work “Amores” [1941].  Following Mr. Delio’s lecture, a series of concerts will cover every decade of Cage’s work from the 1930s to the 1990s.  Steven Schick and the Percussion Group Cincinnati will give rare performances of Cage’s music.  This performance will be located in the Studio Theater at 5:30 pm [free], the Katzen Museum at 6:30 pm [free], and there will  be a feature performance in the Recital Hall at 7:30 pm [$5 with a student ID]. There will be another performance of Cage’s work at 9:30 pm in the Museum [free].

On Saturday September 8th at 9:00 am [Recital Hall], Steven Schick and Percussion group Cincinnati will lead a free masterclass on interpreting Cage and other experimental music that will be performed in the September 7th concert.

For more information about the rest of the John Cage Centennial Festival Washington, DC, visit http://www.johncage2012.com/index.html.

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Filed under 20th Century, Audio tech, Brass, Cello, Chamber Music, Clarinet, Electronic, Flute, Guitar, Instrument, Links, Live Performaces, Oboe, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, Violin, Winds

American Composers

We recently got a ton of scores in here at the Music Library. So many that we can’t really contain it to one post. Therefore in the interest of globalism and international unity, the scores will be categorized into American and European composers.

So let’s start with the American Composers, shall we?

Among other things, we received some Elliot Carter and Steve Reich. However the majority seem to be works by John Cage. In celebration of this, I thought I would present Mr. Cage himself playing a cactus. Awesome, right?

Anyway, here you go:

Louis Andriessen: De Tijd ~ M 1543 .A53 T5 1995

Morton Feldman: Rothko Chapel ~ M 1531 .F45 R65 2008

Steve Reich: City Life ~ M 947 .R45 C58 1998

Steve Reich: Tehillim ~ M 2019.5 .R45 T4 2010

Steve Reich: Different Trains ~ M 452 .R45 D54 1998

John Cage: Rozart Mix ~ M 1470  .C34 R69 1965

John Cage: Speech (1965) ~ M 1470 .C34 S64 1960

John Cage: Cheap Imitation ~ M 25 .C34 C443 1970

John Cage: Music for Wind Instruments ~ M 557 .C34 M8 1997

John Cage and Lou Harrison: Double Music ~ M485 .C34 D68 1961

John Cage: The City Wears a Slouch Hat ~ M 1527.5 .C.24 C58 2010

John Cage: A Book of Music for Two Prepared Pianos ~ M 214 .C3 B6 1960

John Cage: Hymns and Variations for 12 Amplified Voices ~ M 1529.5 .C34 H8 1979

Elliot Carter: Pocahontas ~ M 1003 .C325 P6 1969

Elliot Carter: Night Fantasies ~ M 25 .C73 N5 1995

Elliot Carter: Concerto for Orchestra ~ M 1042 .C37 C6 1990

Elliot Carter: Symphonia: Sum Fluxae Pretium Spei ~ M 1045 .C378  S9 2008

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Tomorrow we’ll have the scores from across the pond.

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Filed under 20th Century, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Organ, Percussion, Viola, Violin, Winds

A lot of Noise — Staff Picks by Alex

So here we are. With all the CD’s to pick from its hard to choose only 5 to recommend. Oh well, here we go…

Symphony No. 5 — Petyr Illych Tchaikovsky: performed by Kurt Masur and the Gewandhausorchester – CD 9333

As a major work of Orchestral literature, Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony has been recorded more times than I care to count. So what does this recording have that makes it stand out? Ill let you take a look at the cover.

I know you shouldn’t judge a book (or CD?) by its cover, but this immediately got my attention. As a brass player, I love playing Tchaikosvky because he writes so well for brass. The parts are written in a way that is satisfying to the sound of the instrument. This recording, apart from having a great cover, reflects that sound as Masur knows how to handle a brass section in this very Brassy symphony.

Alina — Arvo PärtCD 9432

This recording was a collaboration between the the composer and several different musicians. It consists of several interpretations of two of Pärt’s seminal works. The music is very relaxing and a reminder that the best music does not have to be the most intricate.

Ahknaten — Phillip GlassCD 8384

I’ve always had a hard time getting into opera. I don’t really enjoy lighter opera, while the bigger, more romantic stuff has always been too dense and impenetrable for me to enjoy. Ahknaten on the other hand is just light enough that I do not feel overwhelmed while keeping my interest. Besides, as you can probably tell, I am a bit of a fan of minimalism.

Mingus Big Band 93CD 4467

A bunch of really great musicians get together and make a really great band. Then they play some really great music by Charles Mingus.

Dark Full Ride — Julia Wolfe CD 9549

Do you ever wonder what 9 bagpipes bending pitches sound like? If the answer is yes, look no further. This, in my opinion is one of the coolest CD’s we’ve acquired in recent memory. Julia Wolfe, formerly of Bang on a Can, decided to put together four pieces where the focus was on exploring the sounds possible by combining large numbers of the same instrument. If you want more information, you should check out this review by Jay Batzner over at Sequenza21.

Cheers

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Filed under 20th Century, Brass, Chamber Music, Classical, Contemporary, Jazz, Opera, Percussion, Piano, Romantic, Staff Picks, Symphony, Vocal

New Scores and DVDs for the weekend!

Very cool Musical DVDs:

Medea – a film by Pier Paolo Pasolini with  Maria Callas (DVD 194)

Burn to Shine - various performancesWashington DC 1/14/2004 (DVD 195)

New Scores

Sonata St. Marcfor Trumpet and Keyboard – by Tomaso Albioni (M261 .A43 T73 op.6 no.11 2011)

Ganjin Wayfor Trombone and Marimba – by Noriko Nakamura (M298 .N35 G36 2009)

Kurt Weill - Sechs Songs Aus Der Dreigroschenoper (M468 .W45 D74 2009)

Divertimento – for Marimba and Alto Saxophone – by Akira Yuyama (M298 .Y89 D5 1976)

Six Cello Suites – for Viola soloby J.S. Bach (M48 .B15 S8 1982)

The Rite of Spring – for Piano Four hands – by Igor Stravinsky (M1523 .S92 V47 2005)

Stratosphere – Altissimo Etudes for Saxophone – by Noah Getz (MT505 .G38 S77 2011)

Concerto for Trombone & Orchestra – by Melinda Wagner (M1032 .W346 2007b)

Cuatro Madrigales Amatorios – for High Voice and Piano – by Joaquin Rodrigo (M1614 .R74 M3 1990)

Duo Sonata No. 2 - for Violin and Viola – by Robert Baksa (M287 .B296 D86 2011)

Musica ricercata – for Piano – by György Ligeti (M25 .L54 M87 1995)

The Beatitudes – Arvo Pärt (M2079 .E168 P32 2005)

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Filed under DVDs, Library Announcements, New Arrivals, Percussion, Piano, Saxophone, Scores, Trombone, Trumpet, Viola, Violin, Vocal

New CDs for You to Listen to and New Scores for You to Play!

CDs

Legacy: Violin Music of African-American Composers – Includes works for violin by Johnson, Morrison, Baker, Cargile and Hughes (CD 9446)

Ursula Mamok – Volume 3 performed by Heinz Holliger and the Sonar Quartet (CD 9447)

Scores

Gernot Blume – Shinkansen for Trombone, Piano, and Percussion (M 385 .B62 S54 2008a)

Elliot Carter – Brass Quintet (M 557.4 .C4 1993)

Alvin Etler – Quintet for Brass Instruments (M 557.4 .E7 Q5 1993)

Karel Husa – Landscapes for Brass (M 557.4 .H93 L3 1984)

Leos Janacek – Concertino per Pianoforte, Due Violini, Viola, Clarinetto, Corno E Fagotto (M 722 .J33 C62 2006)

Violin Classics – for Violin and Piano, from Intermediate to Advanced levels, includes works by Brahms, Handel, Schubert, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Dvorak and many more!

Intermediate Level (M 217 .V552 2008)

Intermediate to Advanced (M 217 .V554 2008)

Advanced Level (M 217 .V55 2008)

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Filed under 20th Century, Brass, Chamber Music, Classical, Contemporary, Libary News, Library Announcements, New Arrivals, News, Percussion, Recordings, Scores, Sheet Music, Trombone, Viola, Violin

A Cornucopia of New CDs!!

Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini performed by Lang  Lang and the Orchestra of the Mariinksy Theatre (CD 5573)

Kancheli – Mourned by the Wind and Light Sorrow performed by the Orchestra of Flanders conducted by Rudold Werthen (CD 5568)

Haydn – Symphony No. 22, 24 and 30 (CD 5574)

Prokofiev – Symphony No. 5 and Scythian Suite performed by City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Simon Rattle (CD 5565)

Bach - Four Symphonies Concertantes performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ross Pople (CD 5566)

Stravinsky - Le Sacre Du Printemps performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antal Dorati (CD 5567)

Brahms – Symphony No. 2 and Academic Festival Orchestra performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti (CD 5558)

Schumann – Symphonies 1-4 performed by Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich conducted by David Zinman (CD 5557)

Martin – Concerto for 7 Wind Instruments, Etudes, Passacaglia, Violin Concerto, Petite Symphonie Concertante and In Terra Pax (CD 5554)

Shostakovich – Symphony No. 10 performed by the Saint Louis Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin (CD 5553)

Ben Leeds Carson – Music for Percussion (CD 5552)

Wojceich Kilar – Requiem Father Kolbe (CD 5576)

Martinu – Symphonies No. 2 and 4 performed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine conducted by Arthur Fagen (CD 5577)

Sibelius - Symphony No. 3, The Swan of Tuonela, Karelia Suite, Valse Triste and Finlandia performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel (CD 5559)

Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique, Les Francs-Juges and Roman Carnival Overture performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Zinman (CD 5594)

Alfven – Upsala Rhapsody, Symphony No. 1, Drapa for large orchestra and Andante Religioso performed by the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi (CD 5581)

Richard Strauss – Also Sprach Zarathustra and Don Juan performed by the London Philharmonic conducted by Klaus Tennstedt (CD 5579)

Brahms - Serenade No. 1 performed by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin (CD 5578)

Schumann – Concertos performed by Barenboim, Tortelier and Kremer (CD 5600)

Britten - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra and Elgar – Enigma Variations performed by Robert Leonard, piano (CD 5599)

Rozsa – Concerto for Violin and Concerto for Cello performed by Robert McDuffie, violin and Lynn Harrell, cello (CD 5593)

Richard Strauss – Sinfonia Domestica and Parergon performed by Tonahlle Orchestra Zurich conducted by David Zinman (CD 5592)

Alfven – Symphony No. 2 performed by the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam (CD 5591)

Satie – Works for piano solo and piano duet performed by Anne Queffelec and Catherine Collard, piano (CD 5590)

Brahms – Serenades No. 1 and 2, performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras (CD 5589)

Bruckner - Symphony No. 4 performed by Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Herbert Blomstedt (CD 5588)

Brucker – Symphony No. 7 performed by Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by George Szell (CD 5586)

Medtner – The piano concertos and Sonate-Ballade performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi (CD 5585)

Dutilleux - Complete Orchestral Works performed by the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier (CD 5575)

Beethoven - Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 and Choral Fantasy performed by Alicia de Larrocha, piano and the RSO Berlin conducted by Riccardo Chailly (CD 5562)

Schumann - Complete Symphonies performed by Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique conducted by John Elliot Gardiner (CD 5563), performed by the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Barenboim (CD 5587), performed by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jerzy Semkow (CD 5561)

Shostakovich – Symphony No. 1 and No. 7 performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducte by Leonard Bernstein (CD 5582)

Brahms – Symphonies Nos 1-4, Double Concerto and Serenade No 2 performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bernard Haitink (CD 5560)

Beethoven - Piano Concertos 1-5 and Bagatelles performed by John Lill, piano and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Walter Weller (CD 5564)

Kilar – The Triptych (CD 5598)

Brahms, Chopin & Franck - Cello Sonatas performed by Jacqueline du Pre, cello and Daniel Barenboim, piano (CD 5597)

Haydn – Symphonies 88-92 and Sinfonia Concertante performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Simon Rattle (CD 5596)

Stravinsky – Symphony of Psalms, Symphony in Three Movements and Symphonies of Wind Instruments performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Pierre Boulez (CD 5595)

Nigel Kennedy – performing works by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius violin concertos (CD 5569)

Magnard – Symphonies 1 and 3 performed by Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse conducted by Michel Plasson (CD 5570)

Saint-Saens - Symphony No. 3, Danse Macabre, Phaeton and Danse Bacchanale performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel (CD 5571)

Sibelius – The complete string quartets performed by the Sibelius Academy Quartet (CD 5583)

Bach – Cello Suites performed by Jaap ter Linden, cello (CD 5584)

Varese – Ameriques, Arcana, Deserts and Ionisation performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Boulez (CD 5555)

Stravinsky – The Firebird, Scriabin – Prometheus performed by Valery Gergiev (CD 5556)

Verdi – Requiem performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Claudio Abbado (CD 5572)

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Filed under 20th Century, Ballet, Baroque, Chamber Music, Classical, Contemporary, Libary News, Library Announcements, New Arrivals, Organ, Percussion, Piano, Symphony, Uncategorized, Violin

New Music

More new music (no, not contemporary – although there is some contemporary scores-, but music that is “new” – as in “fresh off the press,” as in straight from the bindery) has arrived in time for Spring Break!

For our musical theater lovers we have:

Sondheim Company (M1503 .S75 C6)

For our drummers (specifically marimba) we have:

Intermediate Masterworks for Marimba (M175 .X6 Z45 v.1 and v.2)

For our real new music people we have:

Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht and Pierrot Lunaire (M652 .S37 op.4 1994)

And for our vocalists and romantics  we have:

Schumann Lieder (M1620 .S395 D6 v.3)

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Filed under Contemporary, Musical Theater, New Arrivals, Percussion, Romantic, Scores