Category Archives: Continually Advancing Music Series

AgroDolces trio for violin, cello, piano

Patrick Neher’s latest composition, AgroDolces for piano trio (violin, cello, and piano) is an exciting concert work that explores various ways to define and interpret music, including the feelings of “sweet and sour,” playful and forceful, lyrical and punctual. This virtuoso work was written for Nancy Bean, former Assistant Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Lloyd Smith, cellist, also formerly with the Philadelphia Orchestra; and it is in four movements: Happy, Bossa, Sara (Andante), and Allegro e giocosa

Purchase this romantic concert work, AgroDolces trio, on ISG’s violin page, cello page, or piano page. The composition will also, soon, be available in PDF format for tablets. Check out our page of sheet music available to download.

NEW RELEASE: Affinità Ferrose – Michele Bernabei

The third composition in our new performance music series, Continually Advancing Music (CAM) is Affinità Ferosse for Piano Trio by young Italian composer Michele Bernabei. Affinitá ferrose is loosely translated into English as “an affinity for iron” or “magnetic attraction.” The music is energetic and very dynamic with challenge of a moderate nature for all instruments. Some “extended techniques” are used, but in general it is the interesting rhythms, dynamic range, pitch range, and counterpoint that the listener will find compelling and attractive (just like iron to a magnet)! The piece is not very long and the composer states that it’s drama fits well at the end of a contemporary music performance, as the finale or as an encore. ISG Publications is excited to publish the work as a wonderful new addition to the piano trio repertory.

Michele Bernabei is an accomplished jazz trumpet player and composer. He earned a BM in trumpet at the Conservatory “N.Paganini” of Genoa and an MM degree with full marks in jazz arranging and composition at the Conservatory “G. Verdi” of Turin, Italy. He studied composition at the Conservatory of Turin with Giorgio Colombo Taccani and in parallel at the “Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale” of Fiesole with Fabio Vacchi. At the same time he received the ABRSM diploma in String Orchestra Direction under the guidance of Fabrizio Dorsi. His compositional language is influenced both by jazz, improvised music, and the theater.

Purchase the SHEET MUSIC here.

New CAM Title: Forest Paths for Piano Trio

Randall Snyder’s new compositions, Forest Paths for Piano Trio, recently publish under our Continually Advancing Music Series (CAM) is an exciting addition to the repertory. The work is a set of contrasting expressions that create a “Nature” or “Garden” (Japanese-music influenced) feeling in the listener.

This short lyrical work was influenced by traditional Japanese music. Mr. Snyder says: “Forest Paths was inspired by my friendship with master Shakuhachi player, Yoshio Kurahashi. … The evolving form follows the Rokudan –  a suite of connected sections,  each becoming more rhythmically active, before a return to the quiet of  the beginning.“
See more about Randall Snyder on our Composers Page.
Score and Parts
Purchase the sheet music here.

NEW RELEASE: Richard Heller-String Trio

Richard Heller – Statement for String Trio

Richard Heller’s work, Statement for String Trio, is the fifth work in our new series of publications, Continually Advancing Music.

This older composition (1977) is for the first time published in the United States, and explores the entire range of each instrument. The short work (under 5 minutes) is virtuosic and has an extended solo for the viola. Though tradition in its form, it is an energetic and intimate “conversation” among the instruments.

Richard Heller (Austrian born living in Germany), born in 1954, has received numerous accolades for his compositions, and has been performed around the world. It is Richard Heller’s aim to balance emotion and construction in his works. He describes the; “starting point for composing is mostly the imagination of instrumental colors (therefore the sense for rare combinations) leading to motif materials which in their turn lead to the architecture of the pieces.” See more at richard-heller.eu

Purchase Richard Heller’s Statement for String Trio on our Violin, Viola, or Cello page.

NEW RELEASE: Jean Ahn – Froggy, Froggy for Piano Trio

Jean Ahn’s “Froggy, Froggy” for Piano Trio

The second new composition in our Continually Advancing Music Series; Froggy, Froggy for Piano Trio by Jean Ahn, promises to be an immensely popular piece for contemporary music concerts. Dr. Ahn was influenced by Korean folk lore and poetry, and brings the well-known “Froggy, Froggy …” to life in her 2009 composition adapted in 2013 for piano trio.

Jean Ahn composer
Dr. Jean Ahn

From an international call that resulted in more than 50 submissions, Jean Ahn is one of five composers that ISG Publications has chosen to highlight in our new series of chamber music publications, Continually Advancing Music.

Purchase the music on our sheet music sales web site, here.

NEW RELEASE – CAM Series: Donald Wheelock – String Trio

Wheelock String Trio (violin, viola, cello) – 2003/2019

Donald Wheelock presents his 2003 trio in a new revised edition (2019), prepared specifically for ISG Publication’s new series, Continually Advancing Music (CAM). This wonderful addition to the string trio repertory was written for the Forester Trio, and is a superb example of carefully crafted lyricism and counterpoint – following in the tradition of the great string trio composers, such as Beethoven. Listen to audio examples performed by the Forester Trio:
Mvt. 1, Mvt 2, Mvt. 3, Mvt. 4, Mvt. 5

This beautiful publication comes with a full-size (10×13″ pages), readable score and concert parts with intelligent page turns. PDFs (for reading on your tablet) are also available.

For professional musicians, and those aspiring to be, ISG Publications provides stunning and compelling concert repertory. Purchase this exclusive publication on our site:
LINK TO PURCHASE Full Sheet Music (link to viola page. Same on vln, and cello)
PDFs

ISG Publications Announces New Series of Compositions for Professionals: CAM

CONTINUALLY ADVANCING MUSIC (CAM)

ISG Publications / ISG Music Promotions’ new series of sheet music and productions for professional performers, Continually Advancing Music (CAM) will, for the next decade, support composers by publishing works that advance the cause of new music for cellists and double bass players. During this premiere set of publications, we are promoting new music from five living composers. After an international call to composers, where we received more than 50 submissions from around the world, we have chosen five compositions that fit our criteria of: must have one cello or one double bass that plays a prominent role in the composition, must be interesting and challenging to all the performers, must hold the interest and be accessible for today’s new music concert audiences, must be lyrical, and must be marketable (in our opinion).

The five composers chosen for this premiere set are:
Donald Wheelock (USA) – String Trio (2003/2019)
Jean Ahn (USA) – Froggy, Froggy for Piano Trio (2009/2013)
Michele Bernabei (ITALY) – Affinita Ferrose for Piano Trio (2019)
Randall Snyder (USA) – Forest Paths for String Trio (2018)
Richard Heller (GERMANY) – Statement for String Trio (2003)

ISG Publications / ISG Music Promotions wishes to thank all the composers that submitted to our call. Though we are unable to publish more than five compositions at this time, we hope to advance the series for another decade with up to 20 compositions. This exclusive series will expand to include greater instrumentation and media, but will always keep focused on presenting the finest (in our opinion, of course) of new music compositions; providing challenge for our performers and accessibility and interest for our listeners.