Product Description
For clarinet and band (piano reduction). ... Read more

Product Description
A five movement suite originally written fot Tenor Saxophone and Orchestra, this alternate version is for Bassoon with Piano reduction. A terrific piece to show whatÕs new in 20th Century composers. ... Read more

Product Description
Premiered by Donald Peck, principal flutist of the Chicago Symphony, with Sir Georg Solti conducting the orchestra on April 18, 1985. This piece encompasses many moods and textures in its four movements, from martial attitudes through impressionist calm to metrically irregular blue-note harmonies. For flute and orchestra (piano reduction). ... Read more

Product Description
At the Piano - Book 2 ... Read more

Product Description
Commissioned for the Pittsburgh Youth Orchestra, this piece for orchestra depicts a chance meeting between The Jogger and the Dinosaur, and is playable by and for young people. The full score includes staging suggestions and the "rap" text to be spoken by the narrator (Rappel). Parts available on rental. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Venice Audiograph for Double Orchestra and Brass Choirs
I had the great fortune to hear "Venice" performed by the Rochester Philharmonic conducted by Morton Gould back in 1972. (Unfortunately, I don't remember who the second orchestra was, although it may have been from either Ithaca or Cornell. I think the extra brass players were students of the Eastman School of Music.)

In 2007, my wife and I traveled to Italy and of course, we spent time in Venice. We had the chance to ride down the Grand Canal, walk through St. Mark's Square and sit in the evening at one of the many cafés in the Square, listening to a really nice jazz quartet.

The concert's theme was Italian music by both Italian and non-Italian composers with this piece performed as the single piece after the intermission. (A necessity since they had to completely redo the stage to fit two full orchestras along with the additional brass section on the large stage of the Eastman Theater.) The work was a commission by the Seattle Symphony which gave both the world premier and the only recording of the piece. It's genesis was a summer trip which Gould made with his family to Europe in 1966 which included a extended stay in Venice.

To say the least, I was totally blown away by what I heard that night. This is not your typical Morton Gould (as is "Vivaldi Gallery" on the second side of the album). The audio imagery was very modern (even by today's standards), sometimes dissident, but very lyrical. In short, it captured the spirit and many moods of this incredible place.

After hearing it, I was able to locate a copy of this album recorded by Milton Katims and the Seattle Symphony. (For the album, they used the "magic" of multi-channel recording, having the orchestra do the Orchestra I part on the first four tracks of a eight track tape, then the Orchestra II part on the other four tracks while maestro Katims listened to the first tracks over headphones while conducting. To say the least it was a masterful job considering the forces at work.

I can't say which of the five movements is my favorite, except to say that the three which really pop out at me are "St. Mark's Square," "Pigeons" and "Café Music." St. Mark's Square with its huge bell tower to the right of the Basilica, seems to be full of people almost round the clock. The famous (or infamous depending on who you talk to) pigeons, seen to own the place. At night, as you can walk around the Square, music seems to come from all corners.

It is a shame that RCA never re-released this album on CD. While these pieces are not as well known as Gould's other work, they stand as some of his best. If you can get a hold of a copy of this album, or get the opportunity to hear either of these pieces live, do so. More so if you have been to Italy and Venice.
... Read more