Guitar Today

In the big concert hall and near the campfire, in the club and at home: guitar is always a guest of honor in any situation of our live and fits into every scenery well. I doubt strongly whether there is any person in the world, who doesn’t love this soft and sincere sound. One of the most wonderful musical instruments had won my heart for ages. Long before I became a pianist I’ve been enchanted with its modulating touching harmony.

Over many centuries the guitar was a faithful companion of human civilization. It changed strongly its size and shape, which may vary greatly, but its purpose is still the same – to amuse the listeners and to give free rein to the performer’s thoughts and feelings. And nowadays it’s really impossible to imagine some musical styles without this instrument: they are recognized as one of the primary instruments in jazz, blues, country and rock music. Guitars, both acoustic and electric, can be played solo and as a part of the instrument background. It should be noted that guitar-concerts enjoy increasingly popularity and a number of guitarists from different genres (classical, rock, jazz and so on) became self-sufficient world-known stars, e.g. Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Ritchie Blackmore and many others.


Download guitar sheet music

As a pianist I can add, that it’s always a great joy for me to play pieces which include the guitar part. Its sound enriches the melody strongly, makes it more vivid and memorable.

Sydney Smith. Fantasia La Traviata for Piano

I'm a big opera fan, you know. And I was so happy, when I’ve found sheet-music by Sydney Smith some time ago! This author has a few fantasies on themes from operas by various composers. I was deeply interested in «La Traviata». I’ve been right looking for music scores my pupils could play at the concert. And I set my choice on this piece. It contains everything what I needed: beautiful music and numerous playing techniques, which can effectively adorn the performance.
The piece’s playing techniques are very diverse. You can work out the chord-playing technique (octaves occur often) by practicing this fantasy. You can demonstrate your skills in playing cantilena (beautiful melodies are enough here). And the musicians, who succeed in fast virtuosic playing, having good fingering techniques, will also enjoy this piece. It has a large number of passages.
So, you can give a very spectacular performance and show all your performing skills due to Fantaisie brillante sur l'opéra de Verdi La Traviata, Op.103, which has everything you may need. And though you have to take some pains in its practicing, believe me, the thing is worth the effort. I recommend it strongly.

Cello and Violin Duo Sheet Music

Metz Ekghern. In the Memory of the Genocide by Hrach'ya Yessayan.

Filled with infinite sorrow this piece shocked me with its acute sharpness and strong emotionality. It involves me into the cruel world, where hate and fear reign, where is no place for love and compassion. While its listening awful images of the ruthless war are raising in my eyes. The anxious strings create a very strained atmosphere that electrifies the listener during the whole piece. Melody interrupted from time to time with knocks gives additionally the feeling of utter despair. It seems to me, that this music is an exact reflection of the inner state of mind of the people from the “lost generation”, these, who lived and grew up just before and right after the World War II: nervous, broken and very sorrowful.

You can listen to the sound sample, download the sheet music for free, and even buy a license to perform or record this striking piece.

And I’m very grateful to the author for this remarkable work, because I think that it’s a very necessary thing – not to go ahead such a terrible fact like genocide – especially nowadays, when people became blind to cruelty and violence happening in the world.

Hans Huber. Eight Pieces for Piano Op.85

The cycle consists of eight piano miniatures. Although pieces are written by the author in the beginning of the XX century, they are composed upon the pattern of romantic music. The titles of pieces, the character of music, rich harmony and used techniques of the musical development testify this.
General feeling of the cycle is joyous and full of optimism: the opening pieces are filled with light and playful images, which gradually lead to a calm, dreamy, melancholy mood.
The composer used various musical tempos (from adagio to vivace), performance techniques (staccato, legato, marcato), registers and rhythmic patterns (along with the even rhythm tied notes, syncopation and polyrhythm are often found here).
Due to this diversity of means of the musical expression the performer has the opportunity to demonstrate his mastery of cantilenas’ technique and his virtuosic playing.

Download sheet music of the Eight Pieces for Piano Op.85

The small size of pieces and the average level of skills allow many performers to include these pieces into their repertoire.

Contemporary Music from Russia

The new music I've recently discovered comes from Russia. Contemporary composer Dmitri Capyrin creates a highly refined and mental music for different instruments.Here I'd like to say a few words about his compositions.

And a Light through Foliage
for Trio (Piano, Flute, Cello)

When I’ve heard this piece for the very first time I was deeply impressed by the excellent mastery of its composer to transmit to the listener such a realistic image of his own impressions. Listening to this music I have dual feelings: on the one hand it is a light inexplicable anxiety, on the other hand it’s a little bit morbid joy that hides in blind corners of the heart, ready to break out at any moment.


House of Cards
for Quartet (Piano, Clarinet, Violin, Cello)

I like this piece very much because of its exceptional fragility and charming lightness. It touches gently the secret chords of my soul, makes me think about how delicate our life is, threatened on every corner of the fatal blow of fate, which invisible hand can destroy it like we destroy the house of cards. With one push. With no regret.

You'd better listen these compositions yourself and download scores of Russian contemporary music, in case you like it.