Alexander Street: Music

Free Download of the Week: Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, K. 447

All of Mozart's Horn concertos were written for an old Salzburg friend, Joseph Leutgeb. The cordial nature of the relationship between the two is obvious from the light tone of the works and the gentle teasing of some of Mozart's comments in the manuscripts.

Leutgeb would have played a natural horn, much closer to an old hunting horn than the modern orchestral instrument. Because the natural horn has no valves, it can only sound a limited range of notes and is difficult to play. All the concertos thus share a similar sound world, though Mozart is able to infuse each one with its own individuality.

The date of composition for the Concerto No. 3 K. 447 is a source of conjecture, late 1783 to early 1784 seems most likely for the Romanze, though the outer movements may have been written later.

Download this work now through June 5th, 2008.

Faber Music licensed for Classical Scores Library

Alexander Street has just signed an agreement with Faber Music, an independent British publisher specializing in 20th century compositions.  We now have the rights to approximately 2,200 pages of compositions, which will be promptly added to Classical Scores Library.

Included in the first round of licensing are several notable, contemporary British composers including Thomas Ades, Malcolm Arnold, Colin Matthews, Nicholas Maw, Peter Sculthorpe, George Benjamin, and Jonathan Harvey.

Dunedin Public Library wins free subscription

Congratulations to Dunedin Public Library in Florida, winners of our Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries drawing at the Public Library Association National Conference in March.

Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries is a virtual encyclopedia of the world's musical and aural traditions.  It is part of Alexander Street's Music Online package of listening and reference collections.

Download of the Week: Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 in A, op. 90 'Italian'

In May 1830, having just turned down the chair of music at the Universtiy of Berlin, Mendelssohn took up Goethe's suggestion and began a trip to Italy. Still only 21, the youthful composer found much to inspire him and began work on the Italian Symphony when he reached Rome in October. Trips to Naples, where Mendelssohn was greatly moved by the poverty of the Neapolitans, Florence, and Milan followed, before returning to Germany via Switzerland. He completed the Symphony in Berlin and first performed it on March 13th 1833 in London.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Stefan Sanderling, conductor.

Download this work now through May 22nd, 2008.

MLA and Alexander Street Announce Agreement

Alexander Street Press and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) today announced an agreement as part of the MLA’s Reference Online programme for English public libraries. The agreement will give participating libraries access for their users to Alexander Street’s acclaimed  Music Online: Listening, and Music Online: Reference at discounted rates.

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council works with the nine regional agencies in the MLA Partnership to improve people’s lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future. For more information, visit www.mla.gov.uk.

Please email Hayley Harris (hharris@alexanderstreet.com), Alexander Street’s Sales Director for the UK and Ireland, if you would like additional information about Alexander Street’s Music Online products.

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