March 2013

Alan Shulman Violin Quartet

March 25, 2013 19:11

Hello Fellow Violinists-

I just wanted to let you know about a new publication, 3 Canadian Folksongs by Alan Shulman.

It is available at www.gemsmusicpublications.com

Here are the prefrace notes:

This edition of the 3 Canadian Folksongs for Violin Quartet (or multiples thereof) composed by Alan Shulman (b. Baltimore, Maryland, UNITED STATES 4 June 1915; d. Hudson, New York, UNITED STATES 10 July 2002) is based upon the composer’s handwritten manuscript provided as courtesy by Jay Shulman (b. 1949), son of Alan Shulman, and executor of the Shulman estate.
This work was written shortly after having spent the summer teaching at the University of Maine (Orono) where he had given performances of numerous cello ensemble works, which probably inspired him to write these works for Violin Quartet. Shulman had written a few works for cello ensemble (his instrument) before he had written this work, including: Suite Miniature for Cello Octet (1956), Pastorale for Cello Quartet (1964), Two Pair for Cello Quartet (1964), Elegy (for Felix Salmond) for Cello Octet (1971), and Bach/Shulman Sarabande from English Suite #3 for Cello Quartet (1974). Before writing the Violin Quartet, he first completed Two Pieces for Viola Quartet (Night and Ancora); “Night” was completed September 1, 1978, and “Ancora” was completed on September 18, 1978.
The Three Folksongs are: Ah! Qui me passera le bois? (completed October 20, 1978), Ah! Toi, belle Hirondelle, (completed October 24, 1978) and L’Âne de p’tit Jean (completed November 23, 1978). These are three traditional Quebecois songs, perhaps Shulman had been exposed to them being so close to the Canadian border in his summer in Maine. We do know from program notes he had written for his Laurentian Overture (1951) that he possessed a fascination for Canada as he stated “The country of our neighbors to the North has always held a fascination for me—therefore the title ‘A Laurentian Overture.’
Other works for violin by Alan Shulman include: Waltz for Violin and Piano (1939), Suite based on American Folksongs for Violin and Piano (1944), and Pastoral and Dance for Violin and Orchestra (1944).

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March 2013

Alan Shulman Violin Quartet

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