Music 162-176: First Little Suite in Fifteen Sketches

46 Replies

Hi Everyone
This is to “advertise” my “First Little Suite in Fifteen Sketches” for the piano.
As for all eleven Little Suites (coming up eventually!) the first and last sketch are the same!
Click on a title in the first list to listen, and click on a title in the second list to download the written music.
Thanks
Click on a title to listen
1. Opening curtains
2. Columbine’s pirouette
3. Daisy chains
4. Starlight
5. Old cowboy yarns
6. Hornets’ nest
7. Snake in the grass
8. Zanni’s grand entrance
9. Grasshoppers
10. Dahlias
11. Walking on eggshells
12. Hurdles race
13. His first waltz
14. Pierrot takes a bow
15. Closing curtains

Click on a title to download the written music
1. Opening curtains
2. Columbine’s pirouette
3. Daisy chains
4. Starlight
5. Old cowboy yarns
6. Hornets’ nest
7. Snake in the grass
8. Zanni’s grand entrance
9. Grasshoppers
10. Dahlias
11. Walking on eggshells
12. Hurdles race
13. His first waltz
14. Pierrot takes a bow
15. Closing curtains

46 thoughts on “Music 162-176: First Little Suite in Fifteen Sketches”

        1. Bruce Goodman Post author

          I enjoyed writing those little notes – inspired in part by some of Erik Satie’s music directions… ! And then the whole Suite was inspired (encouraged) by the French composer Jacques Ibert’s “Petite Suite en quinze images”.

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  4. exiledprospero

    Daisy reminds me of Charles Ives, but there’s Bartok throughout. Some baroque and neoclassical too.

    Hornet, Eggshells: hyper dissonance = Rautavaara.
    I like the dynamics on Hurdle.

    Incidentally, I’m a big Keith Jarrett fan. Do you know the Sun Bear concerts?

    Brilliant, Maestro Bruce. More please.

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      I am thrilled at the Charles Ives reference, as I’ve always been a big fan. I also like the fact that he had lots of money (something else I’ve aspired to without success).

      I think you’ve just introduced me to Rautavaara – I didn’t know him and at first thought you were encouraging me to listen to some Fijian Indian sitar player. I was instantly struck by his music but currently have to get up at 4 am to download his stuff (as I have a limited daytime downloading allotment). Regarding Keith Jarrett, you’re the second one in these comments to mention him. I see what is meant. I feel like a small boy asking Leonardo di Vinci to sharpen his pencil.

      Thanks for your comments – you have enthused me. Now I won’t shut up.

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  5. Sally Ember, Ed.D.

    I appreciate your commitment to your creativity and the variety of pieces you composed.

    As a lifelong pianist, I also appreciate that many levels were represented, here, from about II.5 – advanced, which is great for anyone teaching a variety of students.

    Making “Opening Curtain” and “Closing Curtain” thematically similar worked well, and I especially liked “His Last Waltz,” except for the second-to-last note and chord in the theme: didn’t “go” with the rest, IMO.

    Some I didn’t like at all and didn’t finish listening to. So it goes.

    Keep going!

    Best to you,

    Sally

    PS I heard elements of: classical, especially Chopin and Mozart; Christian hymns; Keith Garret and other modern improvisors; choral madrigals and middle European musicales; and, insect-themed pieces (“Flight of the Bumblebee,” e.g.).. super!

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      Thanks Sally for your full and much appreciated comments. The second to last chord in “His First Waltz” has been a problem for me all week! I’m keeping it there because it’s such a lovely, ordinary, and sad chord! (although misplaced). The challenge to a pianist would be to make something of it perhaps? rather than to hide it.
      I’m delighted that you heard an assortment of other composers’ elements making appearances here and there. The curtain opening is really Handel’s beautiful Largo terribly messed up – a mixture of wrong notes and amateur performance.
      Thanks again for listening.

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  7. arlingwoman

    Oooh, these are great, Bruce! I do love modern music. I will download the pdfs, too now that I know there are extra notes in them. I just used the links at the bottom to listen. I’ll see if I can’t play these on the violin (treble clef only, obviously!).

    Liked by 2 people

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        1. Bruce Goodman Post author

          I too (on the piano) can play just about anything but a) I need the music, and b) I have to practice!! I’m glad you think they’re dissonances and not “wrong notes” – I was trying to be kind to some who might not be exposed to such clashes!

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  8. Yvonne

    Holy Moses, you really are a musician, and look at the musicians you brought out of their hiding places, in the comments.

    I expected something quite different in Snake in the Grass, you fooled me. My cat and I tripped the light sort of fantastic to His first waltz.

    Re: painting, just go for it, never mind the mess. A piece of advice someone gave me, get the best materials you can afford, you can’t expect to get good results with inferior media. Start with just a few colours, you can mix some beautiful tones with them. good luck!

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      I shall tell you “shortly” of my one foray into watercolours – I created a masterpiece of an old lady selling potatoes – and (oh well- I shall tell you the punch line now) – I put it in a frame and a visiting woman looked at it and said “OI have seen the original of this in an art gallery in Holland”. Bow before oh you Plebs!

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  10. chrisnelson61

    I knew you’d be back!
    I really enjoyed these, Bruce. For me the, at times, somewhat dischordant element works perfectly adding intrigue and tension, and lends the overall piece a disturbing undertone, especially with both your opening and closing pieces which sugest that all is not as it appears.
    I can hear elements of Satie, but also your style reminds me a little of your compatriot Tim Finn – full of passion driven from the heart.
    Superb!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Bruce Goodman Post author

      Thanks Chris for your lovely and very welcome comments. Two yeses: yes, I couldn’t shutup as you had predicted; and yes, there are certainly hints of underlying things! Your Tim Finn echo has given me much delight!

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      1. inesephoto

        Oh they sure will. I think it is their kind of music. 🙂 I am going to find … ‘similar’ pieces on Youtube and give them a lesson on creativity and sense of humor. They started music classes at the age of five, and make a good progress. Thank you again, Bruce. You are amazing 🙂

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