Celebrating the Year
“JANUS”
“Keeper of the Gate”
Why just celebrate July, or November, and December? Do we keep playing Christmas carol arrangements in January? Sure, why not. But why not also celebrate Janus, the ancient god with two faces, one looking back and the other looking forward? He is the one who gave the name to the first month of the year: January and, after all, we are his imitators once a year, looking back and looking forward. Why not then, celebrate ourselves?
And what about the weather? January and cold weather go together; as once the English poet Edgar Fawcett (1847-1904) said:
“January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,
A frost-mailed warrior
Striding a shadowy steed of snow”
Take a look at the composer’s rendering of these two characters; the back and forward looks of Janus and the frosty warrior wreaking havoc with our moods. You’d be surprised by the musical situations encountered that tell the story. It is a fun piece to play and one that audiences will delight in each time they hear it.
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_01--JANUS--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_01.mp3
The titles of the other 11 pieces will give you an idea of their contents; use the links to sample pages of the scores and complete audio recordings of each piece.
2) Contemplating “Februa” (February) “When the Sun is Hidden”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_02--FEBRUA--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_02.mp3
3) Pondering “Martius” (March) “A Quiet Prelude”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_03--MARTIUS--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_03.mp3
4) Ode to “Aprillis (April) “In Praise of New Life”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_04--APRILLIS--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_04.mp3
5) In Praise of “Maia” (May) “The Bringer of Flowers”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_05--MAIA--MUSIC--PAGE-1--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_05.mp3
6) Pondering “Juno” (June) “Summer Is I Cumen in”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_06--JUNO--MUSICPAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_07.mp3
7) Celebrating “Julius” (July) “A Festal Flourish” (America)
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_07--JULIUS--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_06.mp3
8) Pondering “Augustus” (August) “Serenade for a Summer Night”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_08--AUGUST--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_08.mp3
9) Interlude for “September” “A musical landscape”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_09--SEPTEMBER--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_09.mp3
10) Ode to “October” “Yearnings”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_10--OCTOBER--MUSIC--PAGE--2--IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_10.mp3
11) Pondering “November” Ostinato on: “Now Thank We All Our God”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_11--NOVEMBER_--MUSIC--PAGE--2--MUSIC.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_11.mp3
12) Pondering “December” Paraphrase “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_12--DECEMBER--MUSIC--_PAGE--2-IMG_20190601_0001.pdf
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/CELEBRATING_THE_YEAR_-_12.mp3
Look, Listen, Buy.
http://www.guinaldopublications.com/Compositions.html
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Guinaldo Publications
