Debussy’s Images Book 1 (usually pronounced the French way: im-AHJ) is a gorgeous French Impressionist work for solo piano. It is the first set in a series of six solo piano pieces composed between 1901 and 1907: Background Debussy (1862-1918) was – and still is – known for his innovative music. During his life, the Romantic Era […]
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As I’ve been doing some research and score study for a new composition, I came across Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). After listening to it on repeat this week, I thought I’d share it with you! Background Composed in 1910, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (also known as […]
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Today I want to share a contemporary piece entitled Elastic Harmonic by Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy (b. 1970): Elastic Harmonic and Dennehy’s Style Elastic Harmonic is not Einaudi. There isn’t a singable melody or anything really familiar about this piece. While Dennehy uses minimalism as a compositional technique, his works do not follow the “modern-classical-music” style. And after […]
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Here is Grieg’s Melody, Op. 47 No. 3, a small gem of a piano piece hidden amongst his huge collection of Lyric Pieces: History One of the Romantic era’s leading musicians, Norwegian pianist and composer Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) helped shape the face of classical music. His use of Norwegian folk styling and themes in his […]
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Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi has written many beautiful piano pieces. What I love about his music is that each composition tells a story. This is no different with his work Le Onde (“The Waves”): *If you like my cover, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel for more! Background of Le Onde Einaudi’s first big hit, Le […]
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Lead, Kindly Light is a prayer in the form of a hymn that seeks comfort and guidance from God. I personally love this hymn, so I wrote my own piano arrangement and researched the history of the music: *If you like my piano arrangement, download the free sheet music here! History of Lead, Kindly Light […]
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Today I want to share with you one of my most favorite pieces of music: the Holberg Suite (more properly known as From Holberg’s Time) by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg (1843-1907). Grieg wrote the Holberg Suite in 1884 to celebrate the 200th birthday of the Danish poet and playwright Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754). Composed of five movements, the suite calls […]
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Last week we discussed how minimalism became a musical movement in the mid-1900s. After decades of experimental music and a shift away from traditional melodic and harmonic ideas, a group of American composers aimed to return to the simple and – as a result – created minimalism. Today, let’s take a look at some* of […]
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*By the way, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost more for you! Perhaps one of the most well-known pieces by contemporary composer Ludovico Einaudi, Nuvole Bianche is a gorgeous (and heartbreaking) piano-solo-turned-song that connects with listeners around the world. Like the sheet music? Get it here! *Fun fact: “nuvole bianche” is […]
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Remember earlier this week when I posted about O Magnum Mysterium, a 16th century motet taken from Catholic Mass? Well, today I want to share another Mass with you – but this one is from the 21st century. Called Sunrise Mass, Norwegian composer Olja Gjeilo (b. 1978) created this 30-minute work for choir and strings with four […]
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