Tag Archives: cello

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.

Borodin – Trio in G Major for 2 Vln & Cello

Aleksandr Borodin‘s lovely (no longer “unfinished”) Grand Trio in G Major for two violins and cello (circa 1860), has just been completed and realized this New Year by Patrick Neher. Neher’s compositional addition to the Trio includes a Minuet and Finale, as third and forth movements, making the Trio completed, accessible, and performable!

ISG Publications / ISG Music Promotions has carefully edited and reissued the four movement composition in a clear, easily readable concert score and archival-quality parts format. The parts have sensible page turns ready for your performance (unlike other versions, where three or more pages are required to be spread way out across the stands – ach!). This new publication is also available by PDF for tablets (parts only). The new Grand Trio in G Major is a welcome addition to the two violin and cello repertory, with a performance time of about 27 minutes.

The cello part has been newly revised and edited by Lloyd Smith, formerly with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The violin parts have been edited by Nancy Bean, also a former member of the Philadelphia Orchestra. And, for virtuoso double bass players, ISG Publications has produced a specially edited and transposed contrabass part.

This Special Edition is NOW AVAILABLE for purchase. Purchase the Trio on ISG Publications’ sheet music for violin or music for cello pages. The contrabass alternative to cello, is available (with the complete Trio) on our Contrabass in Ensembles page. PDF license with all Trio parts, but no score, will be available on the Downloadable page (coming soon).

New Release – Prokofieff Ballade op.15 for Contrabass and Piano

Prokofieff - Ballade, op. 15 for contrabass and piano
Prokofieff – Ballade, op.15 for Contrabass and Piano (ISG Publications, 2022)

As part of our Virtuoso Performer Series, ISG Publications is please to release Serge Prokovieff’s spirited and contemporary Ballade, op. 15, recently edited and transcribed for contrabass by Patrick Neher. Ballade was originally composed for cello and piano, but the composition lays well on the contrabass and has many “bass-like” characteristics. Patrick Neher has always been inspired by Prokofieff’s music, and Ballade is one of those pieces that is “perfect for the bass,” so he edited and arranged the work for contrabass. This unique publication is an excellent vehicle for a bassist and pianist to explore a wide range of potential expression and emotions. Certainly a “tour de force” work for the pianist, the composition is also complex enough for the bassist to provide years of challenge!

Dedicated to Nikolai Pavlovich Ruzsky, Serge Prokofieff wrote Ballade for Cello and Piano in 1912, and yet it still sounds contemporary, as if written just yesterday! It has a freshness that is timeless. The work is especially challenging for pianists. Clearly Prokofieff’s technique of playing the piano is well on display in this piece, requiring substantial “extended” techniques that even the most accomplished pianists will have to develop to play the work’s emotional content as intended.

Ballade was first performed in Moscow, February 1914, by Prokofieff, with cellist, Yevsey Belousov. The first publication of the work was in 1915 by publisher, J. Jurgenson. This new edition comes with the piano score spiral bound and the contrabass part staple bound. A PDF version is in the works. Purchase the sheet music on ISG Publication’s contrabass solos page.

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: 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.

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.

ISG Publications Launches New Web Site

Our new web site: ISG Publications / ISG Music Promotions has just been launched! See the new look at: https://isgpublications.com or https://isgmusic.com.

This new look and organization makes it easier for users to review and purchase our exclusive sheet music and recordings. It has been a long time since the site was updated and the update allows for easier perusal of our titles. More detail about our composers, and more detail about each composition is provided. And we will be adding more and more previews or example performances. Finally, we will be adding more PDF, downloadable titles over the next few months (saves on shipping costs and can be printed at home. If you use an iPad for performance – our PDF downloadable sheet music is perfect!)

If you are one of our composers, please contact us. We need to update your biography and contact information. Email us at info@isgpublications.com

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

Acoustic Art Studio

AASpicISG Publications / ISG Music Promotions  recording studio, Acoustic Art Studio has returned to Bellingham, Washington. We produce Premiere Recordings for Acoustic Musicians. We produce audio and video recordings that focus on jazz, classical, folk, and other acoustic productions. We respect the performance creations of acoustic artists and support their “sound.” Our studio is perfect for recording quintets to solos, audition “tapes,” demos, coachings, master classes, workshops, lectures, voice-overs, commercials, and any production where “live” acoustic and video recording is necessary. We also do remote audio and video recordings in your space, at your music or dance recital or concert, at your lecture or demonstration, for YouTube or other productions.

You have trained to be an expressive musician. We support that, and we enhance your art; letting YOU establish all performance parameters of balance, dynamics, and nuance. We do not process your group’s sound (unless YOU want it!). For musicians and other artists, we can come to you, and we can produce tele-recording projects (multiple remote locations connected).

For more information on production rates, times, schedule, publishing and marketing, etc., go to acousticartstudio.com