Images Book 1 by Debussy

Images Book 1 by composer Claude Debussy is one of his most beautiful and intricate piano works. Each movement tells its own story of light, color and life. Click to read more.

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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Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

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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“Elastic Harmonic” by Donnacha Dennehy

Today I want to share a contemporary piece entitled Elastic Harmonic by Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy:

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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Melody, Op. 47 No. 3 by Grieg

Melody by Edvard Grieg represents time.

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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“Le Onde” by Ludovico Einaudi

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”):

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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The Story Behind “Lead, Kindly Light”

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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Holberg Suite by Edvard Grieg

The Holberg Suite by Edvarg Grieg is one of his most famous works. Click to listen and read a brief analysis!

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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Important Minimalist Composers: Classical Music of the 21st Century Part 2

Minimalism is an important musical genre. Click to read about some famous composers who helped shape the minimalist musical movement!

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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“Nuvole Bianche” by Ludovico Einaudi

Nuvole Bianche by Ludovico Einaudi

*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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Ola Gjeilo: Sunrise Mass

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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