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AUTUMN LEAVES

The iconic tune Autumn Leaves "Les feuilles mortes" by Hungarian-born composer Joseph Kosma hardly requires
AUTUMN LEAVES (LES FEUILLES MORTES)
an introduction to jazz afficionados. The music was originally set to French lyrics by Jacques Prévert, and later English
lyrics by Johnny Mercer. This classic band arrangement by Alfred Reed showcases the rich harmonic language that
for Concert Band Grade 3

underlines the melody with thick, sonorous orchestration. This piece can be the perfect change of pace when placed
among works with quicker tempi or more rigorous demands on the players.
Joseph Kosma
arranged by

Joseph Kosma was born József Kozma on October 22, 1905 in Budapest of Jewish descent. He was related to the Alfred Reed
famous conductor Georg Sol� on his mother’s side. He started to play the piano at age 5, and later took piano lessons. edited by
At the age of 11, he wrote his first opera, Christmas in the Trenches. A�er comple�ng his educa�on at the Gymnasium
Franz-Josef, he a�ended the Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied with Leo Weiner. He also studied with R. Mark Rogers
Béla Bartók at the Liszt Academy, receiving diplomas in composi�on and conduc�ng. In 1933, with the Hungarian
government friendly to the Nazis in Germany, Kosma and his wife emigrated to Paris where he met Jacques Prévert, who
introduced him to Jean Renoir. During World War II and the Nazi occupa�on of France, Kosma was placed under house
arrest and banned from composi�on. However, Prévert managed to arrange for Kosma to contribute music for films,
with other composers fron�ng for him. He was known for wri�ng the standard classical-jazz piece “Les Feuilles Mortes”
(“Autumn Leaves”), with French lyric by Jacques Prévert (and later English lyric by Johnny Mercer), which appeared in

Kosma/Reed/Rogers
Marcel Carné’s film “Les Portes de la nuit.” The English language version of the song was featured in the eponymous
1956 film starring Joan Crawford. Joseph Kosma died in France at age 62 on August 7, 1969.

Alfred Reed (January 21, 1921 - September 17, 2005) was a prolific and frequently performed composer and
arranger, with more than two hundred published works for concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, chorus and
chamber ensemble to his name. He also traveled extensively as a guest conductor, performing in North America, La�n
America, Europe and Asia.
From 1955 to 1966, Alfred Reed was the execu�ve editor of the music publisher Hansen Publica�ons, while also
lending his talents to other publishers. It was during this �me that his arrangement of Joseph Kosma’s “Autumn Leaves”
was wri�en.

R. Mark Rogers began wri�ng for band while in high school, and con�nued with degrees from Texas Tech
University and the University of Texas. Director of Publica�ons for Southern Music Company from 1993 and Managing
Editor of the firm since 2015, Rogers has authored edi�ons of the music of Percy Grainger and John Philip Sousa that
have entered band repertory worldwide. He is also widely published as an arranger and transcriber, with performances
by all five of the Washington, DC service bands. Dr. Rogers is the conductor of the Heart of Texas Concert Band and

MUSIC
serves on the adjunct faculty of San Antonio College, Texas Lutheran University and Trinity University. Prior to coming to
San Antonio, he was on the faculty of the University of South Alabama and a staff member of the University of Texas
Longhorn Band. A bassoonist, he performs with the orchestras of Corpus Chris�, Victoria, Laredo, San Antonio and
Aus�n, as well as the Mid-Texas Symphony. He is ac�ve in church music and occasionally appears in music theater, R

performing numerous roles in the opere�as of Gilbert and Sullivan. Sudie, his wife of forty years, their children and
spouses (and grandchildren), are the joy of his later years.

Concerts in the Park Series


S961CB

U.S. $75.00
R

MUSIC
HL00236109

S961CB
HL00236109 MUSIC
FULL SCORE

Joseph Kosma
AUTUMN LEAVES
(LES FEUILLES MORTES)

E
Arranged for band by Alfred Reed
Edited by R. Mark Rogers

PL
1-FULL SCORE
1-PICCOLO
3-1st FLUTE
3-2nd FLUTE
1-1st OBOE
1-2nd OBOE
1-CLARINET in Eb
INSTRUMENTATION

3-1st TRUMPET in Bb
3-2nd TRUMPET in Bb
3-3rd TRUMPET in Bb
1-1st HORN in F
1-2nd HORN in F
1-3rd HORN in F
1-4th HORN in F
M
4-1st CLARINET in Bb 2-1st TROMBONE
4-2nd CLARINET in Bb 2-2nd TROMBONE
4-3rd CLARINET in Bb 2-3rd TROMBONE
1-ALTO CLARINET in Eb 3-EUPHONIUM in Treble or Bass Clef
2-BASS CLARINET in Bb 4-TUBAS
1-CONTRA ALTO CLARINET in Eb or 1-STRING BASS
CONTRA BASS CLARINET in Bb 5-PERCUSSION:
1-1st BASSOON TIMPANI (four drums needed),
SA

1-2nd BASSOON Chimes, Bells, Vibraphone, Snare


2-1st ALTO SAXOPHONE in Eb & Bass Drum, Crash &
2-2nd ALTO SAXOPHONE in Eb Suspended Cymbal
2-TENOR SAXOPHONE in Bb
1-BARITONE SAXOPHONE in Eb

Grade 3
Duration:
Approx. 4:30 Minutes

Autumn Leaves - English lyric by Johnny Mercer - French lyric by Jacques Prevert - Music by Joseph Kosma
© 1947, 1950 (Renewed) ENOCH ET CIE - This arrangement © 2017 ENOCH ET CIE
Sole Selling Agent for U.S. and Canada: MORLEY MUSIC CO., by agreement with ENOCH ET CIE
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC
Digital and photographic copying of this publication is illegal.
AUTUMN LEAVES
Southern Music Company’s edition of Alfred Reed’s arrangement of “Autumn Leaves,” one of the most enduring of all tunes in the
great body of popular music, is a welcome return to the repertory of the wind band. Few would guess that this well-known melody is the
creation of Joseph Kosma, a relatively obscure Hungarian composer, but such is the case. Appearing in 1945 under the title “Hulló
levelek” (“Falling Leaves”), the tune encapsulates the feelings of despair in war-ravaged Europe, as people struggled to make sense of the
destruction of civilization that had been left to them. With a French lyric by Jacques Prévert, “Les Feuilles Mortes” (“The Dead Leaves”), the
song appeared in the 1946 film “Les Portes de la nuit.” In 1947 when Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyric “Autumn Leaves”, the path to
immortality was secure and innumerable recordings were made. In 1955, pianist Roger Williams recorded a rendition for solo piano which
remains the only piano instrumental to ever reach No. 1 on Billboard’s popular music chart; it sold over two million copies and was awarded a
gold disc.
“Autumn Leaves” is in AABC form. The melody remains popular with jazz musicians as the chord progressions consist almost
entirely of ii-V-i sequences typical in jazz. “Autumn Leaves” is studied in the textbook Tonal Harmony with an introduction to 20 th Century
Music by Stefan Kostka, Dorothy Payne and Almén Byron (2013, 7 th edition, McGraw-Hill, pp. 46, 238).
Long out-of-print, Alfred Reed’s exquisite concert band arrangement of “Autumn Leaves” was originally published with inadequate
rehearsal numbers and an entirely unsatisfactory condensed score. Mark Rogers’ edition of this score preserves all aspects of Kosma’s lovely,
nostalgic tune in a handsome full score that allows conductors to observe the great skill of Alfred Reed’s lush, colorful writing. Ample
opportunities can be found to study style and phrasing from the many available vocal recordings of this melody (in French, English and

E
Japanese!). Famous singers who have recorded “Autumn Leaves” include Yves Montand, Edith Piaf, Jo Stafford (first recording with English
lyric), Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Willie
Nelson, and many, many others. Roger Williams’ solo piano recording is famous for Williams’ descending scales and arpeggios, depicting
the leaves falling from the trees to the ground below. Adult and community bands will welcome this addition to the list of great popular
music available for performance and public school bands will benefit from the opportunity to play this wonderful, lyrical melody.

JOSEPH KOSMA

PL
Joseph Kosma was born József Kozma on October 22, 1905 in Budapest, where his parents taught stenography and typing. He was
of Jewish descent. In addition to a brother, Ákos, he is related to the famous conductor Georg Solti on his mother’s side. He started to play
the piano at age 5, and later took piano lessons. At the age of 11, he wrote his first opera, Christmas in the Trenches. After completing his
education at the Gymnasium Franz-Josef, he attended the Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied with Leo Weiner. He also studied
with Béla Bartók at the Liszt Academy, receiving diplomas in composition and conducting. He won a grant to study in Berlin in 1928, where
he met Lilli Apel, another musician, whom he later married. He also became acquainted with Bertolt Brecht and Helene Weigel. In 1933 with
an Hungarian government friendly to the Nazis in Germany, Kosma and his wife emigrated to Paris where he met Jacques Prévert, who
introduced him to Jean Renoir. During World War II and the Nazi occupation of France, Kosma was placed under house arrest and banned
from composition. However, Prévert managed to arrange for Kosma to contribute music for films, with other composers fronting for him.
Under this arrangement he wrote the “pantomime” of the music for Les Enfants du Paradis (1945), made under the occupation, but released
after the liberation. In addition to a number of other well-regarded film scores, he also wrote for television in Le Testament du docteur
Cordelier (The Doctor’s Horrible Experiment) (1959). He was also known for writing the standard classical-jazz piece “Les Feuilles
Mortes” (“Autumn Leaves”), with French lyrics by Jacques Prévert (and later English lyrics by Johnny Mercer), which appeared in Marcel
Carné’s film “Les Portes de la nuit.” The English language version of the song was featured in the eponymous 1956 film starring Joan
M
Crawford.
Joseph Kosma died in France at age 62 on August 7, 1969.

ALFRED REED
Alfred Reed (January 21, 1921 - September 17, 2005) was a prolific and frequently performed composer and arranger, with more
than two hundred published works for concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, chorus and chamber ensemble to his name. He also traveled
extensively as a guest conductor, performing in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Reed was born in New York and began his formal music training at the age of ten. During World War II, he served in the 529th
SA

Army Air Force Band. Following his military service, he attended the Juilliard School of Music, studying under Vittorio Giannini, after
which he was staff composer and arranger first for NBC, then for ABC. In 1953, he became conductor of the Baylor Symphony Orchestra at
Baylor University, where he received his B.M in 1955 and M.M. in 1956. His master’s thesis, Rhapsody for Viola and Orchestra, was
awarded the Luria Prize in 1959. He was a member of the Beta Tau chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national fraternity for men in
music.
From 1955 to 1966, Alfred Reed was the executive editor of Hansen Publications, a music publisher, also lending his talents to other
publishers. It was during this time that his arrangement of Joseph Kosma’s “Autumn Leaves” was written. He was appointed Professor of
Music at the University of Miami in 1966. He was chairman of the Department of Music Media and Industry and director of the Music
Industry Program at the time of his retirement. He established the very first college-level music business curriculum at the University of
Miami, which led other colleges and universities to follow suit. At the time of his death, he had commissions for compositions that would
have taken him to the age of 115. Many of Reed’s wind band compositions and arrangements were recorded by the Tokyo Kosei Wind
Orchestra under his direction on CDs that are readily available.

R. MARK ROGERS
R. Mark Rogers began writing for band while in high school, and continued with degrees from Texas Tech University and the
University of Texas. Director of Publications for Southern Music Company from 1993 and Managing Editor of the firm since 2015, Rogers
has authored editions of the music of Percy Grainger and John Philip Sousa that have entered band repertory worldwide. He is also widely
published as an arranger and transcriber, with performances by all five of the Washington, DC service bands. Dr. Rogers is the conductor of
the Heart of Texas Concert Band and serves on the adjunct faculty of San Antonio College, Texas Lutheran University and Trinity University,
and prior to coming to San Antonio was on the faculty of the University of South Alabama and a staff member of the University of Texas
Longhorn Band. A bassoonist, he performs with the orchestras of Corpus Christi, Victoria, Laredo, San Antonio and Austin, as well as the
Mid-Texas Symphony. He is active in church music and occasionally appears in music theater, performing numerous roles in the operettas of
Gilbert and Sullivan. Sudie, his wife of forty years, their children and spouses (and grandchildren), are the joy of his later years.
Full Score
S961
AUTUMN LEAVES arranged by Alfred Reed; edited by R. Mark Rogers
Joseph Kosma

Slowly, with much feeling (Œ = 54) Solo (with solo Clar.) bœ œ


b bb 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ Ó Œ
Piccolo & 4
p
(espr.)
œ. œ œ œ3 œ ˙ œ cue: Piccolo
b
& b b 44 œ œ ˙ J ‰ Œ
unis.
Flutes 1 ∑ ∑ Œ J
2
p f p
p
(espr.) j œ3 ˙ œ
Œ œ. œ œ œ
1 b
& b b 44 ∑ ∑ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ ‰ Œ
Oboes
2 ∑ Œ J
f p
Clarinet in E b & 44 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
one Solo (with Picc.)
3 bœ œ
4 œœ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ j
1 &b 4 ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ ˙ œ ‰
œ œ #˙ œ p
p (espr.)
f p œ
44 ˙ . œ œ œ œ
3
j ‰ bœ
B b Clarinets &b œ œ ˙ œ bœ . ˙. j

E
2
bœ ˙ œ
p (espr.) p
3 f p
&b 44 ˙ . œ œ œ œ j ‰ Œ
3 œ œ b˙ œ œ. b˙ . œ œ ˙ œ
j
p (espr.)
f p
4 Œ ‰ Ó j ‰ Œ
E b Alto Clarinet & 4 œ œ ˙ w w # ˙- œ

F π p f p
4 Œ
&b ‰ Ó Œ ‰ Œ
B b Bass Clarinets

B b Contra Bass
Clarinet

Bassoons

E b Alto
Saxophones

B b Tenor
Saxophones
1
2

1
2
&b

&

&b
PL4

44 Œ

? b b 44 Œ
b

44 Œ

44 Œ


œ œ

œ œ
˙
F
œ œ ˙
F
3

3
˙
œœ œ œ n œ ˙

˙
œœ œ œ # œ ˙
F

P
˙
π

π
w
π
w
π
ww

ww

w
Ó

Ó
p -̇

p -̇
b ˙-

p
˙

p
j
b˙ œ œ œ

‰ œ œ œ
J
p
w

w
w

œ
œ

œ
œœ œ œ

œ œ
œœœ
3

œ
F


F
Œ

f
-
n ˙˙

˙˙
f
œ
f-
œ-
œ
p
œ
p

p
j

p
œœj
‰ Œ

œœ ‰ Œ
J

J ‰ Œ

j
œ ‰ Œ
p
M
F π
E b Baritone 4 Œ ‰ Ó Œ j ‰ Œ
& 4 œ œ ˙ w w
Saxophone
p-̇ œ-œ œœ
F π f p
Slowly, with much feeling (Œ = 54) I° Solo -
1 &b 44 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ Ó ˙
B b Trumpets (prepare cup mutes) p
2 &b 44 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
3
(prepare cup mutes)

b 4 Π3 j
1 &b 4 ‰
œœ œ œ # œ ˙˙ ww Ó b˙
˙
w
w
Œ œ œ ‰ Œ
SA

2 n œ- œ
p- F p
Horns in F F π
b 4 3 unis.
3
4
&b 4 Œ ‰
œœ œ œ # œ ˙˙ ww Ó b˙
˙
w
w
Œ
œ- œ
j ‰ Œ
p- F p
F π b ˙- w -
? b b 44 ∑ ∑ Ó ˙ w Œ n œœ œœ ‰ Œ
1
2 b J
Trombones p F p
? b 4 ∑ ∑ Ó Œ j
3 b b 4 w œ- œ ‰ Œ
p-̇ F -̇ p
? b b 44 Œ ‰ œ œ ˙ w Ó Œ .
Euphoniums b ˙ w
F π p- F
? b b 44 Œ ‰ Ó Œ
Tubas b œ œ ˙ w ˙ ..
w
pizz.
F π p -̇ F -̇
? b b 44 Ó ˙ ∑ Ó
arco
Œ
String Bass b w -̇ .
P p-̇ F
? b b 44 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
Timpani b
Percussion ã 44 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
b 4 Chimes
˙
Chimes &b b 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ Œ
œ
1 2 3 4 F 5

Autumn Leaves • English lyric by Johnny Mercer • French lyric by Jacques Prevert • Music by Joseph Kosma
© 1947, 1950 (Renewed) ENOCH ET CIE • This arrangement © 2017 ENOCH ET CIE
Sole Selling Agent for U.S. and Canada: MORLEY MUSIC CO., by agreement with ENOCH ET CIE
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by permission of Hal Leonard LLC
Digital and photographic copying of this publication is illegal.
4
6 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
b œ œ bœ œ œ œ ‰ Œ ∑ ∑ ∑
Picc. &b b 3 3 J
3
3 p
3
b ∑ Ó ‰ œ œ nœ
Soli
œœœœ œ œ j
Flutes 1
2
&b b J œ œ. œ -̇ . œ- ˙ œ ‰ Œ
F dim. p
b j œ œ
Oboes 1 &b b ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ Ó ‰ œJ
2
P
j
E b Cl. & ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ Ó ‰ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ P
œ œ bœ œ œ œ ‰ Œ ∑ ∑ Ó ‰ œJ
all players
œ œ
1 &b 3 J
3 3
3 p P
œœ œ œ n œ œ
B b Clars. 2 &b œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœ œ n ˙ . Œ Ó ‰ œJ œ œ
bœ œ œ ˙. œœ œ ˙ œ œ œ˙ ˙
˙. . P

E
π
&b ∑ Œ j ‰ Œ ‰ j
3
œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ
-̇ . w œ P
p π
& ∑ Ó
Al.Cl.
-̇ œ -̇ . n w- w-
p
Bs.Cls. &b ∑ Ó
œ -̇ . w- w-
CB.Cl.

Bsns.

A.Sxs.

T.Sxs.

B. Sx.
1
2

1
2
&b

? b

&
b b

&b

&
PL ∑


Ó

Œ
Ó

Ó
œ œ ˙˙
P
(espr.) Soli


p-̇

p-̇

œ œ nœ
1st

‰ J
P
œ

œœ

œœœœ œ œ
3
œ œ.
b ˙- .
-
˙.
˙.
-


w-

œ
w

œ -̇ .
˙


œ

Œ
π
w-

œ
˙.

Ó
˙

Soli (espr.)


‰ œj œ œ
P
J

‰ œJ œ
P
œ
Œ
M
w œ œ œ j
1 &b œ ‰ Œ ∑ ∑ ∑
Trpts. (poco.) π
2 &b ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
3
- -
b ∑ Ó œœ œ ˙
1 &b n ˙˙ œ œ œ˙
. ˙ œ œ˙
. ˙ Œ
2
- ˙.
Horns p - p
b
SA

3 &b ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
4

? b ˙˙- œœ ˙˙- .. œ ˙. œ ˙ Œ
1 b b ∑ Ó b w- w-
2
Trbns. p π
? b ∑ Ó
3 b b œ -̇ . w- w-
p-̇ π
? b w œ œ œ ˙ œ
J ‰ Œ Ó ∑ ∑
Euphs. b b
p π
? b
Tubas b b w ˙ œ
w ˙ -̇ b ˙- . w- w-
p (sost.) p π

St.Bs.
? b
b b w ˙ œ b ˙- . w- w-
p π
? b ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
Timp. b b

Perc. ã ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
b w œ ‰ Œ
to Bells
Ó ∑ Ó
Bells
Ó
Chimes &b b J ˙ ˙
> p>
P
Vibes >
˙ >˙
b ∑ ∑ ∑ Ó Ó
Vibes &b b ˙ ˙
S961: Autumn Leaves 6 7 8 9 P 10 p
AUTUMN LEAVES
The iconic tune Autumn Leaves "Les feuilles mortes" by Hungarian-born composer Joseph Kosma hardly requires
AUTUMN LEAVES (LES FEUILLES MORTES)
an introduction to jazz afficionados. The music was originally set to French lyrics by Jacques Prévert, and later English
lyrics by Johnny Mercer. This classic band arrangement by Alfred Reed showcases the rich harmonic language that
for Concert Band Grade 3

underlines the melody with thick, sonorous orchestration. This piece can be the perfect change of pace when placed
among works with quicker tempi or more rigorous demands on the players.
Joseph Kosma
arranged by

Joseph Kosma was born József Kozma on October 22, 1905 in Budapest of Jewish descent. He was related to the Alfred Reed
famous conductor Georg Sol� on his mother’s side. He started to play the piano at age 5, and later took piano lessons. edited by
At the age of 11, he wrote his first opera, Christmas in the Trenches. A�er comple�ng his educa�on at the Gymnasium
Franz-Josef, he a�ended the Academy of Music in Budapest, where he studied with Leo Weiner. He also studied with R. Mark Rogers
Béla Bartók at the Liszt Academy, receiving diplomas in composi�on and conduc�ng. In 1933, with the Hungarian
government friendly to the Nazis in Germany, Kosma and his wife emigrated to Paris where he met Jacques Prévert, who
introduced him to Jean Renoir. During World War II and the Nazi occupa�on of France, Kosma was placed under house
arrest and banned from composi�on. However, Prévert managed to arrange for Kosma to contribute music for films,
with other composers fron�ng for him. He was known for wri�ng the standard classical-jazz piece “Les Feuilles Mortes”
(“Autumn Leaves”), with French lyric by Jacques Prévert (and later English lyric by Johnny Mercer), which appeared in

Kosma/Reed/Rogers
Marcel Carné’s film “Les Portes de la nuit.” The English language version of the song was featured in the eponymous
1956 film starring Joan Crawford. Joseph Kosma died in France at age 62 on August 7, 1969.

Alfred Reed (January 21, 1921 - September 17, 2005) was a prolific and frequently performed composer and
arranger, with more than two hundred published works for concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, chorus and
chamber ensemble to his name. He also traveled extensively as a guest conductor, performing in North America, La�n
America, Europe and Asia.
From 1955 to 1966, Alfred Reed was the execu�ve editor of the music publisher Hansen Publica�ons, while also
lending his talents to other publishers. It was during this �me that his arrangement of Joseph Kosma’s “Autumn Leaves”
was wri�en.

R. Mark Rogers began wri�ng for band while in high school, and con�nued with degrees from Texas Tech
University and the University of Texas. Director of Publica�ons for Southern Music Company from 1993 and Managing
Editor of the firm since 2015, Rogers has authored edi�ons of the music of Percy Grainger and John Philip Sousa that
have entered band repertory worldwide. He is also widely published as an arranger and transcriber, with performances
by all five of the Washington, DC service bands. Dr. Rogers is the conductor of the Heart of Texas Concert Band and

MUSIC
serves on the adjunct faculty of San Antonio College, Texas Lutheran University and Trinity University. Prior to coming to
San Antonio, he was on the faculty of the University of South Alabama and a staff member of the University of Texas
Longhorn Band. A bassoonist, he performs with the orchestras of Corpus Chris�, Victoria, Laredo, San Antonio and
Aus�n, as well as the Mid-Texas Symphony. He is ac�ve in church music and occasionally appears in music theater, R

performing numerous roles in the opere�as of Gilbert and Sullivan. Sudie, his wife of forty years, their children and
spouses (and grandchildren), are the joy of his later years.

Concerts in the Park Series


S961CB

U.S. $75.00
R

MUSIC
HL00236109

S961CB
HL00236109 MUSIC

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