Composers

New Release – Mucumber’s Waltz

Mucumber’s Waltz for Three Contrabasses is an arrangement of the “…hot dogs are already cooked” aria and scene from Patrick Neher’s children’s opera; Mucumber McGee and the Half-Eaten Hot Dog (2008, based on the children’s book of the same name by Patrick Loehr). This new composition for three basses explores most of the bass range for all three parts, and is considered a pedagogical as well as a performance work. At just under 4:00 minutes, the work is playful, bright, and optimistic. And you can dance to it!

This work is ideally suited for a bass trio performance or for ensemble practice in bass studios at the grade-school and college level. See the page for bass in ensembles and the Premiere Pedagogy page to learn more and to purchase.

July 12, 2021 by bass trio Chamber Music Composers double bass News Pedagogy Sheet Music

Concert Solos for Contrabass 2021

ISG Publications is pleased to announce a new album of four concert solos for contrabass by Patrick Neher. These pieces were composed in February through April of 2021, during the world-wide pandemic. Three of the four compositions are written for and dedicated to contemporary bassists, whom you may know: Cielito de Jesus, Jason Heath, and Frank Proto. Each composition is lyrical and expressive, and challenges a bass player to really “dig in” to the bass, honing his/her interpretive skills and delighting in accomplishing music that has such deep expressive potential, utilizing the contrabass’ great range of pitch. The titles of the pieces are: For Love of the G String, Grandma’s Attic, The End of March, and Divertimento for J.

Patrick Neher’s new Concert Solos for Contrabass 2021 album of four contemporary compositions is available on the contrabass solos page at ISG Publications.

See Jason Heath’s review of one of the pieces in this album, Divertimento for J

June 29, 2021 by Composers News Sheet Music Solo Music

Progressive and “Divertimento” Duets for Bassists

ISG Publications Progressive Duets for Bassists

Available now with a discount for buying all three volumes, purchase 21 Progressive and Divertimento Duets for Bassists on ISG Publications Premiere Pedagogy page, or the contrabass in ensembles page.

In collaboration with Editor, Cielito de Jesus, Patrick Neher has composed three volumes of progressive duets for bass students and teachers. The 21 duets span a plethora of techniques and musical styles, with Volume 1 being the most simple – with 9 titles, focusing on bow control and in the Rabbath 3rd, 4th, and 1st left hand positions. Volume 2’s six titles introduce more challenging left hand melodies in additional positions, with additional bow rhythm development. Volume 3 focuses each bass player on performance and developing their musical interpretations skills. For a total of 21 progressive, tuneful, and contemporary duets, this publication is unique in the world of bass pedagogy and is considered a “must have!” by numerous teachers:

See Jason Heath’s review of the Duets.
AND Here’s what teachers are saying about the new 21 Progressive and Divertimento Duets:

“As a big fan of Patrick Neher’s composition style, I’m excited to see these progressive duets! They add a rich and much needed companion to the George Vance Progressive Repertoire that all bassists can enjoy.” ~ Johnny Hamil, Young Bassist Teacher and Artistic Director, KCBassworkshop

“Patrick Neher’s 21 Progressive and “Divertimento” Duets for Bassists are a valuable new resource for double bass students. These charming pieces are set in the Rabbath/Vance positions and progress from open strings and simple motions into increasingly complex pieces. These pieces are filled with character and a diverse range of musical ideas, and they are sure to bring joy to any bassist who plays them. Highly recommended!” ~ Jason Heath, Contrabass Conversations

“These duets are great! What a fantastic addition to our repertoire. There’s something here for bassists of all levels – from simple, one-position tunes to complex concert music for virtuosos of the instrument. There’s a good mix of keys, meters and techniques that will provide students and teachers alike with a good challenge, and I can’t wait to start using them in my own teaching. Thanks, Patrick!”  ~ Ted Botsford, LA Philharmonic, Occidental College, Colburn School

Available now with a discount for buying all three volumes, purchase 21 Progressive and Divertimento Duets for Bassists on ISG Publications Premiere Pedagogy page, or the contrabass in ensembles page.


May 20, 2021 by Composers double bass Duets News Pedagogy Sheet Music

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.

April 26, 2021 by Chamber Music Composers Continually Advancing Music Series News Piano Trio Sheet Music

April in G for Contrabass Duet

Patrick Neher – April in G for Contrabass Duet

Neher - April in G bass duet
Cover
Score and parts

April, 2020, was supposed to be a beautiful month of creative endeavors, concerts, and flowering trees. Instead it is a bit dreary – never the less, out of pathos comes enlightenment and cheer. Patrick Neher has composed a wonderfully fun duet for double bass players, April in G. The virtuosic composition uses the entire range of the bass (of course) and explores passionate lyricism, professional technique, and expansive chordal textures. The piece is truly fun to play and to listen to, but requires a dedicated level of playing (or for those aspiring to be professional).

A challenging and fun new duet for the repertory, April in G is ready to be performed!

Purchase the sheet music (basses in ensembles) here.

April 3, 2021 by Chamber Music Composers Duets News Sheet Music

New Release: Pedagogy Series, Double Stop Study #1

Patrick Neher has released his new Double Stop Study no. 1 for Contrabass. As an additional title to the Premiere Pedagogy Series of innovative study works, this new etude is also perfect for concert. It’s a 7 minute work that covers the entire range of the double bass, both technically and musically. Double Stop Study no. 1 is a perfect piece for bassists wanting to learn how to play double stops in a contemporary style, while honing their musical interpretation chops!

Purchase the sheet music on ISG Publication’s contrabass page or pedagogy page.

February 1, 2021 by Composers News Pedagogy Sheet Music Solo Music

New Release: Two Arias for String Orchestra

Patrick Neher wrote Two Arias for String Orchestra in memory of Vincent Lionti, who died of Covid19. Vincent was a wonderful violist and conductor, so as a tribute, this composition has many viola solos accompanied by bass solos.

The piece is orchestrated for full string orchestra, with very few divisi in violins primarily. There are violin, viola, cello and bass solos (played by first desk principal) that are integral to the composition. But the piece could be played by string quintet.

Two Arias (Elegy and Homage) is about 14 minutes long. You can purchase the score and parts on the symphonic page at ISG Publications.

January 29, 2021 by Composers News Sheet Music String Orchestra

New Release: Five Fantasies for Strings & Percussion

Patrick Neher – Five Fantasies for Strings, Piano and Percussion has just been released, and is now available. This 15 minute work, in five movements, is suitable for accomplished high school or professional orchestras. It requires a regular string section, one pianist, and two percussionists with a minimal set of instruments (timpani, triangle, snare drum, bass drum).

The movement names are: Ma Pauvre Amie, Mon Champs des Courgettes, Mon Grand Entree, Mon Passepied Curieaux, Mon Petit Cafe. They can be played in any order, or singly. Listen here for example of Mon Petit Cafe

The sheet music is 65 pages of full-sized score and entire set of parts; available for rental or purchase.

January 25, 2021 by Composers News Sheet Music String Orchestra Symphonic Music

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.

January 12, 2021 by Chamber Music Composers Continually Advancing Music Series News Piano Trio Sheet Music

Bottesini Seven Romantic Songs Second Edition

The Second Edition of the popular Bottesini Seven Romantic Songs is now available in clean and beautiful print. We gave the pieces a new cover and reduced the page size a tiny bit, to fit into the standardized “folio” size of sheet music (9″ x 12″). It will reside on your music stand more securely, and page turns are a bit easier.

Neher Romantic Songs CD
The Second Edition automatically comes with a wonderful performance CD. During the early 2000s, these songs were performed numerous times by Patrick Neher (bass), Betty Allen (soprano), and Suzanne Knosp (piano). The CD reflects years of consideration and is now considered a “classic” interpretation of the works.

January 7, 2021 by Chamber Music Composers Mixed Instruments or Voice News Recordings Sheet Music

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.

May 11, 2020 by Chamber Music Composers Continually Advancing Music Series News Sheet Music String Trio

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.

January 21, 2020 by Chamber Music Composers Continually Advancing Music Series News Piano Trio Sheet Music

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

October 17, 2019 by Chamber Music Composers Continually Advancing Music Series News Recordings Sheet Music String Trio

NEW RELEASE: Wheelock Soliloquy

Donald Wheelock – Soliloquy for Solo Cello

Wheelock Soliloquy for solo cello
Wheelock Soliloquy for Cello

Written in 2004 for Matt Haimovitz, Donald Wheelock‘s Soliloquy for Solo Cello has recently been released in this attractive edition from ISG Publications. The sheet music is published in a clear, performance-ready format that is readily accessible by amateurs and professionals. The Soliloquy is a solemn and expressive piece that spans most of the range of the cello, with deep lyricism and technical challenge, yet is always accessible to audiences of all ages. Total duration of the piece is approximately 5 minutes. Matt Haimovitz plays the Soliloquy on YouTube.

Purchase the sheet music “directly from the publisher” on our Cello Pages.

June 28, 2019 by Composers News Solo Music

Sonatina #4 for Contrabass

Patrick Neher’s latest opus is Sonatina #4 for Contrabass and Piano. This lyrical but virtuosic work is about 24 minutes total and includes two movements: February (Moderato, rhapsodic and very lyrical) and March (Allegro vivace giocoso). Completed in January of 2019, the Sonatina was written for the Dixie State University bass festival (February, 2019), and is dedicated to composer and bass player, Frank Proto. See video example. Buy the sheet music here.

January 24, 2019 by Chamber Music Composers News Sheet Music Solo Music

Romance for Contrabass and Orchestra

Romance for Contrabass and Orchestra, by Patrick Neher (2018) This short (7:30) vignette is not a difficult piece. Orchestra is small: One of each: oboe, bassoon, clarinet, trumpet, euphonium (or bass trombone), tuba, tympani, triangle, and a moderate strings section.

This piece is published in three additional formats:
~ for solo cello and orchestra.
~ for solo bass and small wind ensemble
~ for chamber orchestra alone (no soloist)

Go to our purchase site to rent or buy

September 12, 2018 by Chamber Music Composers News Recordings Sheet Music Solo Music Symphonic Music With soloist

Symphony #2 “Cascade” by P. Neher

sym2p1New and hot-off-the-press, ISG Publications presents: Patrick Neher’s Symphony #2 “Cascade” (2016) in one movement.  This 23 minute tour-de-force requires a rather large Classical orchestra with virtuosic players, particularly in the strings, wood winds and percussion.

 

A demo CD is available (gratis) as are study score, performance score and orchestral parts (rental or purchase).

“Symphony #2 ‘Cascade’ is a musical painting of mountainous environments, adventures and challenges. Imagine encounters of cascades of natural resources: water falls, of course, but also snow and rock slides, trees in large cascades of color, animals in large groups (herds, flocks) – cascading down mountain sides or traversing a meandering valley. My dreams while in these environments tend toward active movement; visions of falling debris, clouds, rain, hail, torrents of chemical reactions – catalyzed by sunshine and oxygen, myself falling from a high perch, piece-by-piece,  yet soaring above cascades of wild flowers, striations of rock, glacier and lava flows.” – PN

November 30, 2016 by Composers News Recordings Sheet Music Symphonic Music

Concerto #2 for Contrabass and Orchestra (2016)

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conc2p1Patrick Neher has very recently completed his second concerto for contrabass and orchestra. He also has recorded it, along with Concerto #1 “Pop” on a new demo CD produced by ISG Publications and Bellingham Technical Orchestra (available now).  If you want a demo copy of the CD, please use our inquiry page.

Concerto #2 is a bit more “serious” than Concerto #1 “Pop” and a tad longer. It utilizes the entire range of the double bass and has a special tuning to catch some interesting harmonics (G,D,A,D) but it can be played in regular tuning. The piece is of an expected three-movement structure, Allegro vivace, Lento (Pastoral Potpourri), and Vivace giocoso (Rondo) and orchestrated for full symphony orchestra.

Concert score (13 x 10 inches) and instrumental orchestral parts are now available for rent or purchase.  The solo contrabass part and study score (8.5 x 11 inches) are sold separately. Buy here.

November 30, 2016 by Composers News Recordings Sheet Music Solo Music Symphonic Music

Neher – Antique Furnishings, Tone Poem for Symphony Orchestra

sym1neherp1livingroom d362f7abd602db2a2a30e0495d952ccdPatrick Neher’s first symphonic work, recentlypublished by ISG Publications, is “Antique Furnishings”, a Symphonic Poem in Olden Styles. Composed in 2016 for full symphony orchestra, each movement musically describes a lavishly furnished room in a Victorian mansion, and the human interaction that, perhaps in a romantic novel, occurs in each room. The first movement is titled,  Gentlemen’s Parlor – Allegro vivace. The second movement is; Ladies Boudoir – Andante dolcissimo. The third; Master Bedroom with Columned Terraces – (also) Andante dolcissimo. And the fourth movement is; The Games Room – Vivace molto.  Each movement runs the gamut of melodic and harmonic styles from Baroque and Classical to Rococo, Romantic and Contemporary – thus the “Olden Styles” subtitle.
A truly “listenable” work, Antique Furnishings is 22 minutes long and is the first of two symphonies composed by Patrick Neher, within a year (see blogs for Symphony #2).

A demo recording (gratis upon request), a master score (11×17 inches), a study score (8.5 x 11 inches), and a complete set of parts is available for purchase or rent from ISG Publications. Please inquire.

 

 

November 30, 2016 by Composers News Recordings Sheet Music Symphonic Music

The First Double Bass Concerto!

 

PatrickNeher6837

Patrick Neher has just finished writing his first concerto for double bass. Concerto #1 “Pop” for Contrabass and Orchestra is three movements, playful, energetic, and “not too long”  (12:00 minutes). It is contemporary sounding but very accessible on first hearing with catchy melodies. It is an exciting new piece for the double bass repertory!

Patrick Neher plays Concerto #1 “Pop” for Contrabass and Orchestra, with The Bellingham Technical Orchestra (3rd mvt.). Orchestrated for chamber orchestra (1,1,1,2,2; 1,1,1; tymp, perc,4,4,3,3,2) and solo contrabass, the sheet music, study score with solo part, performance score and parts can by purchased at ISG Publications.
A piano reduction is being created and will be released soon.
ConcertoDB1stpg Concerto1stpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We asked Patrick why, in all his years of composing compositions with double bass, he never wrote a concerto: “I think it is because there are already so many concertos for double bass that really do a good job of showing off a player’s abilities. Before now, I didn’t think I had anything to contribute to the repertory. Now, I have a lot of ideas, and this will not be the only concerto for bass that I will write – promise!”

And why is it subtitled “Pop?” “Well, the second movement is an Elegy to my father who passed away a little more than a year ago. My Pop…. and the composition is very much in a sort-of Hollywood style!”

This new concerto is recommended for adept high-school and college players, as well as for professionals who want to apply their new techniques to a soon-to-be-popular piece!

See more compositions for double bass at ISG Publications

February 16, 2016 by Composers News Recordings Sheet Music Solo Music Symphonic Music

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