News / Announcements
News and announcements about the library are posted below, arranged by date (YYYY-MM-DD). Many of these
announcements also appear on the front page in abbreviated
form.
2008-07-28 - August 2008 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 288 -
show additions -
show updates
Print & Play pieces - 26
This month's "Transportation" theme covers trains, planes,
automobiles, highways, speedways and even the ocean.
ADDITIONS
- "Bride of the Waves" - a brilliant solo piece by Sousa Band cornet soloist, Herbert L. Clarke.
- "Neola Waltz" - a sparkling little waltz by composer Fred Jewell using a thinly veiled pseudonym.
- "Ottumwa" - named for the small town in Iowa.
- "Romance" - Don't let the title get in the way… this is an excellent march with some interesting hooks.
- "The Aviator" - Tribute to the heroes of the era, daredevils of the air.
- "I Dare You" - Liven a concert up with this tango by Maurice Levi.
- "The Ideal Railway" - the overnight train from New York to Chicago, offering the luxury of a grand hotel. Wide leaps and a fast pace mark this very smart galop.
- "The Messenger Boy" - written by Everett J. Evans, said to have been a pupil of Sousa.
- "Motor King" - from the early days of the automobile. Find the piano edition of this march online and note the excitement portrayed on the cover.
- "National Highway" - Straightforward march.
- "The Old Stage Coach" - Fast paced circus gallop. Program this on your next Wild West show.
- "Side by Side" - an easy 6/8 march
- "Southern Railway March" - written in the heyday of the railroads.
- "Speedway March" - Shortly after the introduction of the automobile, racing is already moving to the forefront.
2008-07-09 - July 2008 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 279 -
show additions -
show updates
Print & Play pieces - 26
"Countries" is the theme of this month's release and includes references to
countries and cultures past and present; some real and some fantasy.
ADDITIONS
- "Sesame" is the Print and Play piece.
- "Arabia" - no exotic sounds here. Nice contrapuntal interplay between melody in Trombone - Euphonium and embellished countermelody in upper voices.
- "Chant de Espana" - expressive song style music.
- "Garry Owen March" - one of the great standards by James M. Fulton, on an Irish melody.
- "Ithaca March" - excellent 6/8 march with call and response in the trio.
- "Mad Major" - a perennial favorite by Kenneth J. Alford, a pseudonym for Frederick J. Rickets.
- "Mexicana" - based on themes from the 1906 musical, "Mexicana" including: Wizard of Wall Street, Major Margery and I Was Just Supposing.
- "Persian March" - use of chromatic harmonies lend a touch of the exotic to this march.
- "The Marquis" - subtitled "March Japonaise," the march was dedicated to a Japanese statesman. The composer's name seems to be a pseudonym and a pun.
Non-theme pieces include:
"George Landers",
"Happy Hobo",
"Prince of Decorah", and
"Ye Ancient Vets".
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Music from the Cooley-Selland Collection is integrated with Nettrower music
from this point on. F Horn parts included with some of the titles are a gift of
a friend of the Library.
BandMusic PDF Library continues to present colorful vintage music worth exploring.
2008-06-21 - mid-June 2008 update: SPECIAL EDITION
Number of pieces in the library - 263 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 25
SPECIAL EDITION
Introducing the Collection of Ed Ballenger
Ed Ballenger - educator, performer, circus music enthusiast and member of
Windjammers is a long time collector of band music. He is fun to be around, a
great friend and advisor to BandMusic PDF Library. Preserving our band music
heritage is a passion that inspired him to fill many filing cabinets with
perfectly organized sheet music. Find out more about Ed Ballenger on the
history page.
Ed has generously donated everything in his music catalog to BandMusic PDF,
where select public domain pieces will be made available to bands around the
world. The music will be posted as the "Ed Ballenger Collection". There's
enough sheet music for several years of posting and many years of
performing.
This SPECIAL EDITION is our way of introducing this fine collection to the
world and thanking Ed for his generosity.
Three marches, 3 galops and 3 trombone smears, reflecting significant aspects
of Ed's interests are included in this edition.
MARCHES
- Abe Lincoln - written to observe the centennial of the birth of this great president.<.li>
- Alamo - an easier work by Henry Fillmore, using the pen name "Will Huff".
- New Friendship March - Composed by Fred Jewell, this easier work is accessible by many bands, including fine middle and high schools.
GALOPS
- Zip Boom - by the great composer of "Bravura", Charles Duble, from Ed's home town.
- Midnight Fire Alarm - This galop couldn't be more colorful, descriptive and exciting. This is the Print & Play selection for this edition.
- Under White Tents - (circus tents, naturally) - It's a wild ride at the circus.
TROMBONE SMEARS (one of E.B.'s great passions)
- Razzazza Mazzazza - Famed composer, Arthur Pryor, wrote this. It's been described as a big trombone sneeze.
- Slick Slide - composer Fred Huffer shows a great sense of humor in his choice of subtitle "A Trombone Tone Poem" (it isn't) and the tempo marking "Tempo di draggioso"
- That Laughing Trombone - The title gives it away. Have fun!
Not to be too concerned about performing music that's filled with humor.
Many of the most serious composers, from Haydn to the present have expressed
humor in their music.
Our regular July 1, 2008 release will continue with music from the Chester
Nettrower and Cooley-Selland Collections.
2008-05-31 - June 2008 update
Number of pieces in the library - 255 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 24
Several important historic periods are represented in this month's patriotic
selections:
"Cradle of Liberty" (Colonial/Revolutionary),
"Wood Up" (Civil War era),
and "Keep the Home Fires Burning" (WWI).
Strong patriotic statements are
also made by "National Defense" (pre-WWI),
"American Stride",
and "Official U.S. American Guard March".
Three of the selections from this month are recognized among their composers'
best works:
J.C. Heed's "In Storm and Sunshine" a long-time circus favorite;
Lampe's "National Defense"
and Vandercook's "American Stride",
characterized by
memorable melodies, decorative running woodwind parts and strong
countermelodies.
Non-theme pieces include:
"Happy Days" - arranged for street or concert
performance,
"Marcelene" (Dance of the Clowns),
"Rag Town Guards" - ragtime
influence and
"Le Secret" - an intermezzo featuring woodwinds on a familiar
melody, while brasses play a supporting role.
Two Print and Play pieces this month are
"National Defense",
from the
Nettrower Collection and
"Invercargill",
from the new Cooley-Selland series.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
New on the Resources Page - "Keep it Legal, a Music Copyright Law Guide
[in the USA]", is posted with kind permission of Music Publishers'
Association of the United States. It's a concise presentation of "What You
Can Do", "What You Can't Do", and "Getting Permission"
when it comes to sheet music. An especially helpful feature is "Getting
Permission, # 5" - "Know the Law", as it spells out basics of
public domain for the USA.
It's Here! - This month we begin posting a brand new collection from the
Cooley-Selland Library. Find out more about Vernon Cooley and James Selland on
the History Page.
COOLEY-SELLAND MUSIC
BandMusic PDF Library continues to present colorful vintage music worth exploring.
2008-05-04
Added a new feature where you can filter search
results by the date the piece was released and/or updated.
2008-04-20 - May 2008 update
Number of pieces in the library - 239 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 21
Theme for this month is animals and other fun stuff. The musical menagerie
includes: gazelle, bee, tiger, rooster and mare.
"Chanticleer",
(the rooster) one of Albert Gumble's best ragtime pieces, was
wildly popular during its time... part of America's love affair with ragtime
during the early decades of the 20th century. Ragtime and modern bands... a
perfect fit.
Two pieces for an old-fashioned sing-along include
"Hail, Hail the Gang's All
Here",
and "The Old Grey Mare". Both are set as marches and period dance
music.
Little is known about "
Manisot March"
but we did find a link to a 1901
recording. http://www.dismuke.org/how/prev12-04.html
The widely varied pieces in this month's release include Albert Schuh's
"Sasarida".
This Mexican Intermezzo begins with a free flowing, lightly scored
opening followed by a Mexican dance. This elegant music calls for delicate
playing. Since Sousa found it interesting enough to perform, maybe you will
too.
BandMusic PDF Library gives us all an opportunity to dig deep into our
musical roots and expand our horizons beyond the comfortable, familiar styles of
present day music.
Patriotic music is featured in the next release from some of the heavy-
hitters of the day, including Hale Vandercook, J.C. Heed, J.B. Lampe and Al
Hayes (not his REAL name. Look it up in the "Composers Info" under Resources
Menu.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
For those wishing to produce scores from BMPDF original parts, see "BMPDF
Style Sheet for Scores, (2 pages)" and "Some Ideas for Creating Modern Voicings in
Finale" under "How to Help".
Coming soon - a brand new collection from the Cooley-Selland Library.
2008-04-05 - April 2008 update
BandMusic PDF Library is pleased to announce a significant addition to the
library. The Cooley-Selland Collection will begin being posted soon. This
collection of public domain music which includes marches, concert works and
solos with band is being made available through the generosity of a major
collector and Friend of the Library, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Number of pieces in the library - 227 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 20
Theme for this month is military music. Sousa's stirring "Semper Fidelis" sets
the pace for all that follow. But not to overlook some of the less well known
composers from the era whose music played a prominent role in playlists of the
day.
"Battle" and
"Adjutant Keeler's March" are some of the other treats in this
category.
Here are some points of interest:
"Gem of the Ocean" has melodies in the
opening strain in the style of a bugle call and the trio is based on
"Taps". Semper Fidelis is a famous example of melody based on
bugling. Instrumentation for the Sousa march includes a part for Regimental
Trumpets and Drums.
"Comrades", by George Barnard is in the style of a "patrol." As with
all patrols, it begins quietly, grows in intensity to a climactic point, then
fades to the end. (Think "American Patrol" for a model.) It's a
metaphor for a parade. Make this a better piece by fixing an error that's been
there since 1891. The drum part needs to start at a dynamic level no more than
"p" and grow from there. And the ending needs to fade to
"p" before the loud tag at the end.
Whether featuring a concert of military or patriotic music, there's plenty
here to select from.
"Under Fire" by Walter Hearn is the "Print and Play" selection and is
especially appealing for Hearn's strong melodic writing and interesting
countermelodies. Instrument parts all present and accounted for . . . Note that
there are 2 completely different marches titled "Under Fire" in this
month's update.
Other prizes include Karl King's "Royal Emblem Overture"
and "Mandator March" by
Hale VanderCook, founder of VanderCook College of Music.
Looking for something a little more exotic? Be sure to check out Chauncey
Haines' "Three Little Maids".
Or give your woodwinds the lead in 2 miniatures by
Schumann and Schubert, "Abendlied"
and "Moment Musical".
Next month's releases feature the theme of "Animals" and include
such titles as "Busy Bee",
"Chanticleer" (Rooster),
"Falcon March"
and "Gazelle" .
2008-03-01 - March 2008 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 215 -
show additions -
show updates
Print & Play pieces - 20
Theme for this month is regions and includes such titles as Lackawana Band, West
Park, Southern Blossoms, Cotton, and Berlin Echoes. Lackawana Band March is the
Print and Play piece, with modern parts added. Use the Bb Bass for Bass
Clarinet and you'll have all the instrumentation needed.
Mendelssohn's "Ich Harrete des Herrn" is based on the trio from the
"Song of Praise" from his Second Symphony. It's a simple chorale with
the masterful Mendelssohn touch.
"Grandfather's Clock" is a light piece, especially suited to a
children's concert. Chock full of clock sounds, the piece is fun, descriptive
music.
Four additional pieces just waiting to be discovered complete the set.
Next month's update features "Military Marches" and includes such composers as Karl King and Sousa.
2008-01-30 - February 2008 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 204 -
show additions -
show updates
Print & Play pieces - 18
HAPPY 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO BANDMUSIC PDF LIBRARY!
Yes, it's been a whole year that the free library has been online at
bmpdf.org. Thanks to our dedicated staff for preparing content, and to our good
friend and benefactor, Graham Nasby for his magnificent job of keeping the
website up and running 24 hours a day.
New cover pages, plus Marcus Neiman's program notes are some recent popular
additions.
Looking ahead, an enormous amount of music, from individual replacement pages
to whole collections, has been donated to the library over the course of the
past year. It's going to take a while to prepare and post this wealth of
vintage band music. We are so grateful to our donors for assuring a bright
future in our goal of preserving this music.
Theme for this month is "dedications", including works dedicated to friends
or historic figures.
"Neddermeyer Triumphal"
is the Print & Play feature this month. Composer
Karl L. King dedicated it to his friend, Fred Neddermeyer and it's as sparkling
fresh and musical today as when it was first performed (about 1911).
Neddermeyer was a band director in Columbus, Ohio.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Print & Play UPGRADES
To celebrate, we've upgraded the Print & Play list to include Sousa's
"The Thunderer"
(our most popular piece on the site). Modern horn
parts have been added and a Thunderer score as well.
Modern parts and a score have been added to
"Miss Trombone",
the
historic piece that Henry Fillmore published as his first "trombone
smear". The sound was so popular that he followed up with a whole family
of these feature
pieces. Fillmore became known as the father of the "trombone smear".
Next month's focus is "Regions".
2007-12-27 - January 2008 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 192 -
show additions -
show updates
Print & Play pieces - 15 -
Theme for this month is newspapers. All the newspaper marches in this set
were founded in the 1800s and all are still major publications in their
localities today. Besides the papers, also remembered here are newsboys and the
journalists.
"Washington Times March"
is the Print & Play featured this month.
It's a skillfully written musical piece by a less well known composer, George W.
Barnard. The 6/8 march is well scored and easy to play. Clarinets need a good
high register.
"Alice Where Art Thou" is a Civil War era drawing room ballad set for
Solo Cornet. The work can also be performed as a vocal solo and lyrics are
provided. An online search of the
Sheet Music Consortium will provide printable music for
vocalists.
If you like Sousa, your sure to like his
"The Gladiator March",
posted this month. First published in 1886, the march eventually reached a
circulation of over 1 million sold.
There is a major update to the initial posting of 52 pieces. A new title
page, designed to provide more info at a glance, plus program notes by Marcus
Neiman are included. There are now 80 program notes included on the website.
There is a scarcity of available information on some of the composers and their
works. Your additions would be much appreciated. More to follow soon.
Looking ahead, BandMusic PDF Library will be celebrating 1 year online next
month. Theme for February is "dedications," with music dedicated to or
remembering people ranging from influential historic figures to friends.
2007-12-08 - December 2007 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 181 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 14
Theme for this month is "Military Music," including a march dedicated to
Teddy Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders".
The march was written by James W.
Casey within months after the Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill. There are
2 marches on Civil War themes, plus 1 dedicated to the 1st U.S. Cavalry and 1
Sailors March. The Print & Play piece is "Vashti" by Henry Fillmore.
Of particular interest to American Civil War buffs will be 2 companion
marches featuring tunes that were so popular during that historic period.
George D. Barnard took melodies by composer/songwriters Geo. F. Root, Dan Emmet
and others plus a popular anthem by William Steffe, with words by poet Julia
Ward Howe, and crafted them into marches honoring the aging warriors, 30 years
after the war.
Program notes, including composer/arranger biographies, researched by Marcus
Neiman, (www.soundsofsousa.com)
are being continued with this update. Some
notes are very sparse because information is not readily available. If anyone
has information to help expand on these notes, we'd appreciate any contribution
you can make.
Theme for next month is Newspapers.
2007-11-19
We realized we released pieces 170-181 early, but without PDFs, by mistake!
We have removed pieces 170-181 - they will be re-released shortly.
2007-11-13 - November 2007 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 181 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 14
Theme for this month is "Places", a diverse category including
pieces on Broadway, an old region in China, a city in Oregon, (or Minnesota, or
Tennessee) and waterfalls. The Print & Play piece is "Cottage Grove"
by Edgar G. Allen.
Another cornet feature is included in this month's offerings, "The Great
Beyond" by John Carrington. It's another little gem that might be programmed as
an encore piece.
NEW!!! This month, in with the PDF files, we are initiating program notes
and composer/arranger biographies, researched by Marcus Neiman,
(www.soundsofsousa.com).
Some notes are very sparse because information is not
readily available. If anyone has information to help expand on these notes,
we'd appreciate any contribution you can make.
Theme for next month is Military music.
Two companion pieces by George D. Barnard:
"The Old Warrior" and
"The Old Veteran".
DATABASE UPGRADE
New sorting options for the "Browse" and "Search" pages added
You can now sort by "Print and Play" to list all the "Print and Play" pieces first
You can now sort by "libDateReleased" to list the most recent additions first
2007-10-01 - October 2007 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 159 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 12
TWO SOLO GEMS
There are two little gems on BMPDF that are not to be overlooked. Both are
for soloists with band. The great virtuoso cornet player, Herbert L. Clarke
arranged "Ah! Cupid", a song by Victor Herbert.
The piece was performed and
recorded by Clarke with the Sousa Band.
The other is Victor Herbert's
"Roses of Piccardy", a very popular song from
the Great War era, arranged by Haydn Wood. This is the featured Print & Play
piece this month. It's flexible in that the band can showcase several different
instruments on the solo part.
Both the above are feature or encore material.
BONUS PIECES
"Glory of Jamestown"
2007 marks the 300th anniversary of the settlement
of Jamestown. It's fitting that we honor the occasion this fall or anytime in
the next year or so. James W. Casey wrote the march and Herbert L. Clarke
arranged it. Well written, the piece is especially striking due to strong
melodic and harmonic writing and the ornamental woodwind flourishes. This piece
has been reposted as a bonus Print & Play.
Arthur Pryor was an enthusiastic proponent of ragtime music for band.
"Frozen Bill" is an early example of his skills.
Henry Fillmore is noted as the "Father of the Trombone Smear." But others
have produced outstanding works in this style too. "Sliding Sid," by Abe Losch,
is just one example written to showcase the trombone section.
FRIENDS OF BandMusicPDF
So many people have been contributing music to the website that we've added a
new collection category for music donated by Friends of BandMusic PDF. This
month there are 2 (the ragtime and smear, above,) and we expect that number to
grow in the future.
Theme for next month's posting will be "Regions," and will include Broadway,
Tonkin, Cascade, Cottage Grove and The Great Beyond.
2007-09-01 - September 2007 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 143 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 11
Added ""Marches: Rehearsal Techniques and Performance Practices" -
a new paper by Robert
Jorgensen and Gene Milford, University of Akron, presents a wealth of ideas that
every band director will find of benefit. The paper was part of a presentation
at the 60th Annual Midwest Clinic. This authoritative paper is posted on
BandMusic PDF Library by permission of the authors. Jorgensen and Milford
retain copyright of the work.
2007-08-02 - August 2007 Update
Number of pieces in the library - 129 -
show additions
Print & Play pieces - 9
Released 29 more pieces, we now have 129 pieces in the library (9 pieces are
"print & play". We now have 9 Print & Play titles online.
Ranging from Patriotic/Military to Circus styles, a Funeral March, 1 Novelty and
1 march dedicated to "Old Faithful", there's certain to be one to
spark up your next performance.
"Under the Double Eagle" has been updated with 2 new pages to
replace damaged Euphonium and Tuba Parts. - Thanks Andrew!
The next update focuses on
"Countries," with songs from Scotland; marches, "Turkish Imperial
Guards," "Hungariana" and more.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
BandMusicPDF Associate Membership is now available
All pieces now have a field "libDateReleased" which says what date the piece was released on the website.
A new "libReleaseNotes" also contains a note about the release. Pieces are generally released in groupings about once a month.
2007-07-01
-website database upgrade completed: there are now 102 pieces now on the website
2007-07-01
- Collections of transposed parts will soon be available at a
nominal cost for all posted pieces. Contact us for more information.
Be assured that downloading from the BandMusic PDF Library will remain free of charge.
2007-07-01
- Added April pieces: themes are "Places" and
"Military Music," including, For Liberty, Let Me Like a Soldier Fall plus 'Print
& Play' selection, Trumpets of Victory, a little known march gem by Fred Jewell.
Most of the 10 April additions relate to the 2 themes, with a few
uncategorized selections added.
2007-07-01
- Print & Play feature for March 07 is Lobster's Promenade,
described as "an underwater humoresque". Don't overlook this fun,
well written piece.
2007-07-01
- Added the March 2007 Additions: pieces with the theme "Animals", including
"Lobster's Promenade" and "Kangaroo Parade".
2007-01-29
- Modern parts added for "Belfords Carnival March" and "Men of Valor"
PRINT & PLAY BONUS - Modern parts have been included with "Men
of Valor" and "Belford's Carnival March". The Db Piccolo parts
have been transposed to C Piccolo. The Eb Horn parts have been transposed to F
Horn. They are ready to download and play with your band.
2007-01-28
- 10 more pieces to be added in March 2007
Each month we will release 10 additional pieces to the Band Music
PDF Library. The March theme will be "Animals" and will include
"Lobster's Promenade" and "Kangaroo Parade."
2007-01-28
- Official launch of the website.
- We now have 51 pieces available in the library
2006-11-25
- Paper on Sousa Marches by Dr. Kenneth Thompson posted
2006-11-05
- Website enters the testing phase (prior to launch)
2006-10-31
- BandMusic PDF Library, Inc. is set up as a non-profit corporation
|
