Wind Ensembles
Auf dem Strom, Op.119, by Franz Schubert
Obbligato transcribed for A-Clarinet by C. A. Vater
Piano Score and Parts for Voice and A-Clarinet, PDF $9.50
The great Austrian composer Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828) was a master at creating extremely beautiful, melodic, emotional lieder. His song Auf dem Strom (On the River) provided a musical setting for the text of the eponymous poem written by the German poet and music critic Ludwig Rellstab. The lyrics tell the story of a sad parting, of the yearning and loneliness that sets in as the narrator bids farewell to a loved one on shore, while his river journey carries him away towards the sea. The premier performance of Auf dem Strom took place in Schubert’s 1828 public concert, during which the obbligato part was played by Josef Lewy on horn, the instrument for which the obbligato was written and which undoubtedly can provide an appropriately mournful, sentimental character to the piece. However, an alternate obbligato version for cello was also published. Now, with all respect, we provide an A-clarinet version of the obbligato, in expectation that clarinetists will appreciate this addition to the voice/clarinet/piano repertoire. We believe that a well-played clarinet can aptly contribute a suitably complex, dolorous essence and tone that will adequately do justice to this highly romantic lied by Schubert. Schubert himself created one of his most wonderful and popular works, Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, for clarinet obbligato, and we hope he would welcome our adaptation of Auf dem Strom for A-clarinet.
Score, 19 pages; Voice part, 4 pages; A-Clarinet part, 4 pages; Total, 32 pages.
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Sechs Lieder, by Clara Schumann
Transcribed for Clarinet by C. A. Vater
Part for B-flat Clarinet (in lieu of voice); PDF $5.99
In her Sechs Lieder, Op. 13, Clara Schumann set to music six German poems—two written by Heinrich Heine (Ich stand in dunklen Träumen and Sie liebten sich beide), three by Emanuel Geibel (Liebeszauber, Der Mond kommt still gegangen, and Die stille Lotosblume) and one by Friedrich Rückert (Ich hab’ in deinem Auge). Many of Clara Schumann’s songs were composed as gifts for her beloved husband Robert; they are romantic, melodic and highly expressive, and the Sechs Lieder of Op. 13 appropriately convey the broad array of intense emotions portrayed in the poetry that inspired them. These songs, which are absolutely charming, are nicely adaptable for a solo instrument in lieu of voice. They have been transcribed previously for violin or cello, and likely other instruments as well, but are particularly lovely when played on either alto flute or clarinet, instruments for which the voice line falls completely in range. Our Noteworthy Sheet Music editions of Op. 13 for alto flute or clarinet do not include re-notated versions of the score, since a high-quality PDF of the original piano and voice score is available free of charge in the public domain, and that piano accompaniment works perfectly well with our instrumental transcriptions of the voice line. The score we used when creating our parts may be downloaded from the IMSLP website. For NSM’s alto flute transcription of the Sechs Lieder voice line, please click the link.
B-flat Clarinet Part, 4 pages; Total, 6 pages.
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Romance, by Alexander Scriabin
Transcribed for Clarinet or Flute or Alto Flute (and Piano) by J. W. Pratt
Parts, PDF $0.00
Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915), the mystic Russian composer with music to match, wrote nine mind-bending orchestral works and myriad mostly miniature piano pieces. He began as a "Russian Chopin" and ended planning a week-long "Mysterium" to be performed in the Himalayas using "an orchestra, a large mixed choir, an instrument with visual effects, dancers, a procession, incense, and ... mists and lights" (Wikipedia).
The Romance of 1890, his only chamber work except one variation for string quartet, is nearer the Chopin end of that spectrum, though the piano part adds harmonic and rhythmic complexities not evident from the solo part alone.
- John W. Pratt, Jan. 19, 2016
Please click on the links to download your free PDFs:
Transcription for clarinet required no changes of pitch. Scriabin - Romance - Clarinet
The transcription for flute is raised an octave, except the last five measures. Scriabin - Romance - Flute
The transcription for alto flute raises MM21-24 and MM36-48 an octave. Scriabin - Romance - Alto Flute
The piano score is freely available on IMSLP.org.
Scriabin image courtesy of Wikimedia.org, PD-old.
We Gather Together, by Adrianus Valerius
Arranged for Woodwind Quintet by John W. Pratt
Score and Parts for Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, F Horn, and Bassoon; PDF $5.99
Wilt heden nu treden, nowadays more commonly known as We Gather Together, is a Christian hymn of Dutch origin composed by Adrianus Valerius and first published in 1626 (imslp.org); it was later harmonized by Eduard Kremser (en.wikipedia.org). In the United States, We Gather Together is the most popular song traditionally associated with the Thanksgiving holiday. John Pratt has created an arrangement of We Gather Together for woodwind quintet that lends new excitement and interesting harmonies to this old favorite. In his family, the tradition goes back as far as John Pratt (b. 1931) can remember, and when it fell to him to play all three stanzas at his family's annual gathering, he got interested in livening it up. The opportunistic half-step modulations introduced to help amateur voices warm up also brighten successive stanzas for winds. Our Noteworthy Sheet Music edition includes a score in concert pitch, as well as parts for flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, horn in F, and bassoon.
To listen to a computer-generated audio file of the WW5 arrangement, click the link.
Of course, the piece will sound much better live on real instruments.
Note that for this publication, the parts should be printed one-sided since they are only one page each and we have not inserted blank filler pages.
Score, 3 pages; Parts for Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, F Horn, and Bassoon, 1 page each; Total, 10 pages.
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Woodwind Duos, by Elizabeth Vercoe
Original Compositions for 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, or 2 Clarinets, $0.00 (free!)
Elizabeth Vercoe's Duos for woodwinds are available as free downloads from the composer's own website at http://www.elizabethvercoe.com/. Dr. Vercoe kindly offered to allow Noteworthy Sheet Music, LLC to make these duets available from our website as well.
The Duos, in versions for two flutes, two oboes, or two clarinets, are "fun and quite easy. They are suitable for intermediate students."
Photo of Elizabeth Vercoe courtesy of Caroline Alden.
Just click on the links below to download the Duos at no charge; each PDF includes all 5 short duets:
Duos for 2 FlutesDuos for 2 Oboes
Duos for 2 Clarinets