Music 547: The Holly and the Ivy

Today is the birthday of a person of little significance. To celebrate here’s a traditional Christmas carol I arranged for oboe, Bb clarinet, and piano.

Feel free to get out your oboe and play along!

The Holly and the Ivy – audio HERE; sheet music HERE

Music 417: Telling Secrets

Here is a piece of music for String Orchestra.

Telling Secrets (for String Orchestra) – audio HERE, sheet music HERE.

(Incidentally, the numbering of the music postings has got a bit out of sync so today’s number, although out of kilter, should put the counting back to right!)

Music 418-24: In the Mode

For piano

Most will be familiar (at least in name) with Major and Minor Scales. But there are lots of other scales besides those. Some are called Modes, but are basically the same thing as a scale. Modal Music was the music of the Ancient Greeks and of the Early Church.

Here are seven pieces for piano each based on a different mode. The pieces are named after the names of each mode used.

The fourth piece here – called after the Locrian Mode – is one that some advise never to use as it’s very dissonant. I couldn’t resist, but “cheated” a tiny bit by adding a few non-modal notes!

1. Dorian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
2. Ionian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
3. Lydian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
4. Locrian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
5. Mixolydian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
6. Aeolian: The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.
7. Phrygian The audio HERE, and the sheet music HERE.

Music 414-416: Three Whimsies for Piano

Here are three short pieces for piano.

Squaddle Doddle: Audio HERE, sheet music HERE.
Snicker Doodle: Audio HERE, sheet music HERE.
Slither Slather: Audio HERE, sheet music HERE.

Music 409-13: Serenade for String Orchestra

Here is a Serenade for String Orchestra. It is in five movements.

I: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
II: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
III: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
IV: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
V: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE

Music 405-8: Suite for Piano

Here is a Suite for Piano made up of four pieces. It is based on serial music which for those who don’t know (and are possibly not the slightest bit interested!) has all 12 notes played in a fairly rigorous set order – in a series – hence “Serial Music”. Please don’t feel obliged to listen if Serial Music is not your thing!

I – Trapped by a Chord: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
2 – Ragged Notes: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
3 – Toccata: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
4 – Summersaults: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.

Music 402-4: Three Rondos for Wind Quartet

Here are 3 rondos for flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, and bassoon.

Rondo I: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
Rondo II: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.
Rondo III: The audio can he heard HERE, and the sheet music can be downloaded HERE.

In the unlikely event of them getting performed I could provide the individual music for each instrument.

Music 401: Little Red Riding Hood

Here is a piece of Dance Theatre – possibly for Christmas but not necessarily. It has 19 dances that tell the (fairly) traditional story of Little Red Riding Hood. In all probability it will never get done as these days the plot is regarded by some as sexist. However I present it in the hope that it might get performed in a less enlightened age.

The work has elements that rile many a purist. For example, there are bits of Ballet, bits of Contemporary Dance, bits of Ballroom Dance, bits of Folk Dance, and bits of Pantomime.

At present the music score is for piano only. I thought initially I would orchestrate it, but it is time consuming for something that may never be performed. So if anyone wants it orchestrated they can ask me or do it themselves! My music composing software is so old and the notation so small by the time I put all the instruments of an orchestra on a page that I can’t see it any more!

This posting is simply a link to a separate webpage that gives the plot, and audios and sheet music of the 19 dances. I’m not expecting people to listen to all 19! A performance would take about 3/4s of an hour.

Thanks! Here is the link: HERE!

Music 400: Kamala holds a press conference

I apologize in advance to those who think otherwise: I am not enamoured of Kamala Harris.

Kamala holds a press conference (for bagpipe chanter and piano) – audio HERE, sheet music HERE.

Music 396: Fantails

Here is a piece of music called “Fantails”. It is for oboe and piano. See yesterday’s blog story for further details!

Fantails (for oboe and piano) – audio HERE, sheet music HERE.