Edvard Grieg was born in Bergen, Norway in 1843. He studied piano from the age of six, and by his late teens he had enrolled in the Conservatory at Leipzig. His music was a synthesis of traditional German harmonic theory, and Norwegian elements, such as modal melodies and Hardinger Fiddle. He died in 1907. Grieg’s… Read more »
Posts Tagged: My Compositions/Arrangements
Theory III Listening Assignment – Schumann’s Dichterliebe
Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau, Saxony on June 8th, 1810. From age 7, he studied piano and composition. However, due to a worsening weakness in his right hand, he gave up piano and focused on composition and music criticism. In 1840 he married concert pianist Clara Wieck and had eight children. Two years before… Read more »
Theory III Listening Assignment – Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique
The French composer Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was one of the earliest composers following Beethoven to typify the romantic era. As a young man, he played several instruments and wanted to be a composer. However, his parents insisted that he study medicine. He hated medical school and eventually left it… Read more »
Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted
A four part harmonization of Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted for organ. The gaps between the bass and tenor are frequently too large to play on piano, although you can transpose some notes up an octave to compensate. Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted – Finale recording of organ Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted.mus – Finale 2010 Source Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted – PDF of… Read more »
Here I Am, Lord
I wrote this for the Salem Lutheran Church 2010 Women’s Enrichment Weekend where it was used as the theme hymn. It is arranged for piano and congregation. It has an introduction in C major, but modulates to G major for the vocal section. Here I am, Lord – full – Finale’s playback on a virtual Steinway Here… Read more »
Carol of the Bells – Piano arrangement
This is an arrangement of Carol of the Bells for piano. It is relatively simple although it does have some tricky jumps and rhythms. This piece was arranged mostly to play with Finale 2010 which I had just purchased. Carol of the Bells – Finale recording using virtual Steinway Carol of the Bells.mus – Finale 2010 Source Carol of… Read more »
Veni, Veni Emmanuel
I wrote this piece as part of the 2009 MYS Summer Composition workshop. It is an arrangement of Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel for a chamber orchestra. The actual orchestration was determined by what instruments the other participants played. It is scored for Violin I and II, Viola, Cello I and II, Guitar (which should… Read more »
Music History II Term Paper – Mozart’s Requiem
An unfinished masterpiece Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. His musical talent was noticed very early. His father, Leopold Mozart, taught him music theory, keyboard technique, and the violin. (Cormican 5) He toured Europe with his father, playing for many royal families. (Cormican 8) On this tour, he absorbed the… Read more »
Theory II Listening Assignment – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. His works are traditionally divided into three periods. In his early period, he focused on imitating classical style, although his personal characteristics of darker pieces, motivic development, and larger forms are already evident or foreshadowed. In his middle period, he is beginning to go deaf,… Read more »
Theory II Listening Assignment – Mozart’s 40th Symphony
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. His musical talent was noticed very early, and his father, Leopold Mozart, taught him music theory and how to play the keyboard and violin. He toured Europe with his father, playing for many royal families. On this tour, he absorbed many national styles of music… Read more »