Der Freischütz Overture – Carl Maria von Weber

Given that fugue is rightly considered to be the most complex contrapuntal form, it is really amazing that it became a German composer Carl Maria von Weber's form of choice when he was only eleven or twelve years old. This and that he had never composed anything before must've been already a good reason for people surrounding him to realize von Weber's name will without a doubt create a stir in music. And so that happened.

I have no evidence whether young Carl was surprised with success of his opera Die Macht der Liebe und des Weins, which was composed when he was 14 – what is important is that he had kept the momentum ever since. Of everything that was written by von Weber particularly interesting is Der Freischütz, a cornerstone of German romantic opera. Find a score of an overture here: Der Freischütz. Ouvertüre, J.277 Op.77.

A Vucchella – Paolo Tosti

Originally Italian, Francesco Paolo Tosti in his life had managed to gain exceptional success abroad: soon after visiting the United Kingdom he became the most popular composer of songs in the country, not to mention that he had got a high position – of singing master to the Royal family, – and was knighted a few decades later. Indeed all of this wouldn't have been possible if Tosti's music wasn't outstanding, but it was: his works have been firmly established in the repertoire of some of the greatest opera singers (particulary tenors), including Enrico Caruso. Download one of the most famous Tosti's compositions here: A Vucchella (for Voice and Piano), – and watch it sung by a great Italian tenor below:

Abschiedslied der Zugvögel, Op.63 No.2 by F.Mendelssohn

Despite what one may think, Abschiedslied der Zugvögel is rather a title of a composition by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy than a tongue-twister. It can with big success be considered the one, though – I think that to hear it pronounced right from a non-native German, the latter should at least be given a Speak & Spell device. Jokes aside, it is a beautiful song – unusually for Mendelssohn, with words this time, – and comforting for anyone saddened that summer has ended – listening to this text about migratory birds, listeners will feel that they are not alone. In this sense, a song is edificatory even – the same as birds in it everyone is free to travel the world, to a place where summer is in full swing... Download it here: Six Songs for Two Voices and Piano, 'Abschiedslied der Zugvögel', Op.63 No.2.

Song Without Words for Cello and Piano, Mendelssohn

Don't judge a book by its cover and a series of piano works by its – in this case, quite undistinguished, – title. No matter what one might think, Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words is anything but yet another collection of instrumental music. Quite the opposite, there definitely is something special about these lyrical pieces: a composer was working in this, invented by himself, genre throughout all his life in attempt to express the inexpressible. For this reason an idea – even though it was his friends', – of setting words to this music was declined. Additionally, this set of pieces inspired such composers as Edward Grieg, Gabriel Fauré, and Anton Rubinstein to compose their own series under the same name.

As I already mentioned, Mendelssohn was writing songs without words exclusively for piano. However, once he made an exception and composed a piece also for cello, and it is as good as you would expect it to be. If you happen to play cello, don't miss this one: Song without Words for Cello and Piano, Op.109.

Gymnopédie No.1 in D Major

True innovator, Eric Satie perhaps didn't even expected that his works would be so important not only for development of classical music, but music in its other instances too, and even in very minor, different to notice, aspects of it. Considered a godfather of minimalism and very likely ambient, Satie is particularly known for giving very intricate and ironic titles to his works. Perhaps if it wasn't for his influence, it would be more uncommon to find an offbeat bandname these days ("...and You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead" is one such), but now there are quite a few. And, acknowledging the truth, neither now nor ever there were many works titled Desiccated embryos in academic (or nearly academic) music. At that, derisive or obscure titles don't make Satie's works less splendid – it is obvious that he was composing from the heart and indeed liked what he was doing. His Gymnopédie No.1 in D Major is one of the most notable piano pieces ever created – enjoy.

Bridal Waltz by Niels Gade

A Folk Tale is a 1854 ballet created by August Bournonville, Niels Gade, and Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann. It isn't any surprising that together they created something as magnificient as it is – of them two (Gade and Bournonville) were sharing the passion at folklore. As a composer, Gade had a primary interest in folk music and wasn't very much concerned about its mythological side, and Bournonville, being an amateur of Hans Christian Andersen and Grimm brothers, pretty much outdone himself writing the plot – A Folk Tale is almost as captivating as works of storytellers he himself was inspired by.

Once I noticed that Camille Saint-Saëns considered Carnival of Animals to be a joke – talking about a given ballet, Niels Gade was thinking the same about a piece he composed for the final scene. Nevertheless, now this composition (called Bridal Waltz) accompanies almost every Danish wedding and is a favorite among both newlyweds and amateurs of classical music. Download a piece here: Waltz from Ballet 'Et Folkesagn'.

On the Beautiful Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II

In a recent post I was writing about good lyrics and lack thereof. As far as is known, many classical composers were getting themselves out of the situation by cooperating with great contemporary poets. However, there is another way: if no text is good enough, go all instrumental – unless you are composing operas, this usually works. What is curious, though, is that some works we are used to hear without any words whatsoever were originally featuring voice parts.

One such is The Blue Danube, a waltz written by Johann Strauss II. Chances are, if you would find this piece in a program of a concert you're going to attend, it would be performed in all its symphonic glory yet you wouldn't find any singers (at least on stage, in audience a few occasional ones may make an appearance). At that, lyrics for The Blue Danube were written shortly after the work was completed, and there is even an alternate text available. Find an arrangement for choir and piano here: On the Beautiful Blue Danube, and those of you who are used to what you are used to – watch a classic instrumental version below:

Christmas Sheet Music

There are certain moments in our lives when we get amused by how fast time passes by. For me, it happened today – I understood that it's been only a day after this year's thanksgiving celebration (and hey, I still remember the previous year's one!). Thinking about that, I realized that soon are coming Christmas and New Year's Eve too. In relation to classical music Christmas is perhaps a holiday like no other – a number of carols and hymns never fails to impress, and even nowadays this wonderful holiday still inspires songwriters and composers from all over the world.

What is so special and hard to define yet easy to feel about Christmas is well, its "spirit." Spirit of the Christmas is what makes us look at the things differently – more positive, if you like, – and also what literally clears away any despair and boredom. From my experience, music does almost exactly the same, and when it Christmas music, it truly is an antidote to melancholy. Considering the transience of time, it's never too early to replenish your collection of Christmas classics – enjoy this amazing archive of christmas sheet music.

Les nuits d’été – Hector Berlioz

There is an obvious problem with lyrics in the modern music – not only anyone searching for deep observations and irony in context of philosophical topics won't likely find those in it, but overall it isn't particularly diverse, mostly dealing with cobwebs of romantic love or other random empty gibberish. A common workaround to avoid that was setting someone's poem to music - poets deal with words on a regular basis and quite obviously their texts are of higher quality.

These days we don't have a whole lot of poets hence the problem. However, in times when classical music was composed it was simpler: take for example Berlioz's Les nuits d'été – it is a setting of poems by Théophile Gautier. Written in French, they indeed sound very beautiful and are anything but meaningless. I sincerely recommend L'île inconnue included in this song cycle – download it here: Les nuits d’été, Op.7 H 81 No.6.

Into a New Life – Josef Suk

I thought the time has come to write about another piece, and why don't we talk about really strange things today? I mean, yes, it says the man who periodically comes up with facts like J.S. Bach sentenced to prison or Anton Bruckner opening the door naked (wait, or I didn't mention this on the pages of the blog? If so, it was an inexcusable omission! Well, at least now you all know more about an Austrian composer's habits).

So, what I'm going to talk about today is Art Competitions at the 1932 Summer Olympics. Yes, you got it right: at that date not only freerunners and biathlonists could participate in Olympics, composers, painters, sculptors, and architects were eligible too. As if it isn't strange enough already on its own, there is a documentary evidence that Czech composer Josef Suk took second place silver medal in music – and no one was awarded gold and bronze, at that! Why didn't they give him gold then, you may ask. The answer is...I don't know. (I already mentioned this post is all about strangeness, didn't I?..)

If you are interested to hear a piece that brought him fame – and who isn't? – it is available by the link below:

V nový život (Toward a New Life) Sokol March, Op.35c.

Enjoy!

Wagner – Die Frist Ist Um

One of the most original composers ever living, Richard Wagner found his unique style perhaps while working on Flying Dutchman, his opera inspired by natural phenomenon of storm (and not of looming, as one may think; looming is an atmospheric refraction effect which, strictly talking, initiated the legend of a ghost ship, to which the piece owes its title). Sea related scenes inspired not only Wagner – think of Aivazovsky's paintings or Moby-Dick, – and all these works are brilliant. To every rule there is an exception, but not this time: Flying Dutchman is a genuine masterwork. Find sheet music for Die Frist ist um here: The Flying Dutchman. Die Frist ist um, for Voice and Piano.

Ebben? Ne andrò lontana (Aria from La Wally)

As far as I know, there are not many people named after works of classical – or, well, modern or film, – composers. Well, someone may have a different experience, but among my acquaintances certainly one can't find Carmen or say, Attila or Ariadne. Besides that, it is usually inanimate objects bear real person's names, with Apple Lisa, the first computer of the company named after Steve Jobs' daughter being the obvious example. Still, to every rule there is an exception, and having been impressed with Alfredo Catalani's opera, Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini decided to give his daughter a name of Wally – a very good-sounding one, if you ask for my opinion. I can't help but join Toscanini in his appreciation of this work – it is nothing less than amazing. Download the score of the first act's aria here: La Wally. Air Wally 'Ebben? Ne andrò lontana' Act I.

The Rage Over the Lost Penny – Beethoven

The Rage Over the Lost Penny might as well be a title to win in the "Attention span" nomination among classical pieces, however, composed by one of the music's masterminds and most important figures whatsoever, it also makes one wonder: why did Beethoven need to excel with naming? Upon listening things become even more unclear: if this work had been substantially imperfect, there would be neccessity to cover it up via distracting title; no matter what, the Rage Over the Lost Penny is among the most refined pieces written by Beethoven. But the truth is, it wasn't him who was overly creative in this situation, actually who are responsible for the title are third parties and its origin runs back to the great composer's haibt of accusing his households in stealing... Download it here: The Rage Over the Lost Penny. Rondo a Capriccio in G Major, Op.129.

Edward German – Rolling Down to Rio

Rolling Down to Rio is quite a life-asserting song which, from my experience, succeeds in lifting the mood much. Featuring lyrics by Rudyard Kipling, it was written by Edward German, a composer of English nationality. (It would be fun if he had been born in Germany – "Edward German, German composer" sounds very nice, – but what didn't happen didn't happen.) German himself at the certain period of life needed something to lift his mood. It seems like he had a plenty reasons not to be cast down – he was the first composer to score a British movie and was among those first to conduct their own works for recording, – but what truly dismayed him is that his orchestral works didn't get much recognition. These are indeed very nice and I sincerely recommend checking them and other works of German out. For now, here is his Rolling Down to Rio, enjoy.

Busoni's Arlecchino – An Opera Extraordinaire

Despite being rare, it is still an exceptional pleasure to learn about people whose actions or projects make you think nothing but "What?" in all the capital letters. It's OK that Ferrucio Busoni's piano concerto is the largest of them all or that it is written for almost the largest orchestra possible, but when I found out about the male voice choir that joins in the last movement, being hidden behind the curtain... I went through a whole range of emotions on it!

Shortly after I found myself thinking "Whoa, Busoni appears to be a composer I'd like to get myself acquainted with!" The thing is, if we take, for example, Eric Satie, he, with all his extravagant pranks, still remains an author of many genuinely fine works. Having a sense of humor doesn't mean that a composer doesn't take his work seriously, otherwise – as for me, it adds up a feeling of personality to his works and sometimes cheers us up (which is what music is supposed in the first instance).

Talking about Busoni's pieces that can boost our internal optimism, Harlequin is a definite highlight. Feeling of this opera is inexpressible – you just have to experience it on your own, preferrably in the concert hall. Harlequin, or The Windows, BV 270 Op.50 – here you can find sheet music of Arlecchino's closing speech, and below is the orchestersuite. Overall arrangement of the piece is so full of resource and life that it is impossible not to like it; first-grade masterpiece is what Arlecchino really is.

Cantata No.29 by J.S. Bach

I’ve always been collecting the curiosities and facts not many are aware of about composers, especially about those who belong to the Classical and Romantic periods. Indeed, we see a lot of weirdoes around us – be they town freaks or TV hosts – and learning about the strange situations that grey-haired men in frock-coats were sometimes involved in is always fun: insomuch it doesn’t fit in with their image of respectable gentlemen.

Here is a recent yet one of the most stunning facts I have ever stumbled on: even though his name is easily recognized by literally anyone, not many know that Johann Sebastian Bach was once sentenced to prison! Inapprehensible as it is, it is still the part of his biography – this happened to Bach for his strong desire to change job; as a consequence for being too persistent, he was arrested. On expiration of one month the Duke of Saxeweimar freed him, though, and gave a freedom to work wherever he wants. After moving to Köthen Bach was mainly composing cantatas – one of the most popular is available for download here: Cantata No.29 Overture (Arrangement for Piano), BWV 29.

Jerusalem by Hubert Parry

OK, with a piece I want to share today things seem complicated: my life for it, hardly one of a hundred musicologists would know what I mean, presenting the fact that one famous stamp-collector, a few of whose findings can be found under the bulletproof glass, once said this song is a better national anthem than the one already established in his country. As all of this resembles rather a convoluted plot of a film like Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia than something to intrigue a rapt pianist or vocalist, I will say differently: a piece I’m talking about is Jerusalem by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry and that stamp-collector is no one other than George V who was a King of the United Kingdom back in days.

With lyrics taken from William Blake’s poem, Jerusalem is a very special song – it has been unofficial hymn of England for decades. Download it here: Jerusalem (And did Those Feet in Ancient Time).

Schubert's Ave Maria sheet music

Ellens dritter Gesang – such is the original title of Schubert’s piece commonly known as Ave Maria. Intrinsically, there are many other works named so, which isn’t any surprising: Ave Maria or Hail Mary is a well-known Catholic prayer, and almost any composer who had ever touched upon sacred music composed an aria of the same name. Among them are the most famous nowadays dynast of Bachs – Johann Sebastian, – virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt, and other salient composers, such as Giuseppe Verdi, Johannes Brahms, Camille Saint-Saëns and others.

Back to Franz Schubert, today is the day of exceptionally good news for everyone reading this: sheet music of Schubert’s Ave Maria in high quality is now available here: Ave Maria, D.839, Op.52. Nice addition to the score are a yearly license for an unlimited number of performances and a backing track – whether you are a pianist or a singer, you can play along orchestral arrangement. Below is one of the finest renditions of the piece, enjoy:

Neckens Polska, Op.11 by J.E. Röntgen

When we were young, I think each of us at least once had caught himself thinking: “Why go to school? What’s the point?” Indeed, why – Julius Engelbert Röntgen didn’t and we remember him as a fine pianist and admirable Romantic composer nevertheless.

Leipzig native, Röntgen had been studying not only music but other disciplines as well privately before he sprung into fame. His legacy includes piano, violin, cello, and other concerts as well as a lot of symphonic, chamber, vocal, and piano works.

Toward the end of his life Röntgen started composing more unconventional works, abandoning the tonality, but most of them can be referred to as examples of exceptionally good absolute music. Here is one of his pieces for solo piano, Neckens Polska, Op.11. Enjoy!

Suite in A Major for Violin Solo – Von Westhoff

Due to its unique, rich in harmonics, timbre, violin takes especial place in the classical repertoire – it is one of the main solo instruments, together with piano. If we were to mention jazz, saxophone also takes its place on pedestal, but even so, there are only a few instruments which are as versatile as to come to the fore on stage. Now it sounds as a common truth and pretty much it is, but long time ago there were not many people to give violin its due.

Not that there is something unusual in this – it is pretty much how the world works. For example, quite a vast amount of modern music is written on a computer, but before Max Matthews programmed a few sound-generating applications in the 60s, no one associated a PC with anything melodious. If it weren’t for some individuals, history might have taken a different path – some things we take as granted weren’t so until someone pointed out at what context they can be used in.

Name of Johann Paul von Westhoff might not be universally recognized, however it was no one other than him who wrote earliest pieces for solo violinю If it weren’t for Von Westhoff's efforts, we perhaps wouldn’t hear this beautiful instrument in the concert halls this often. Additionally, he was a pioneer in writing a multi-movement violin suite. Download a piece by this distinguished German composer here: Suite in A Major for Violin Solo.

Fauré – Ave Maria, Op.67 No.2

Composing almost in all music genres of his time, Gabriel Fauré is known to have written quite a big amount of chamber, piano, orchestral, vocal and choral music. Talking about the latter, it is especially demanded among listeners, as Fauré, a long time choirmaster, had certainly obtained better understanding of how to compose for voice during all the time spent in various Catholic churches. Curiously, he didn’t linger long at any of them, having even faced distrust for his religious views at the Church of Saint-Sauveur. Still Fauré’s impermanence doesn’t mean shortage of choice as concerns his sacred oeuvre. Here is Ave Maria (A Flat Major), Op.67 No.2. Enjoy!

Andante Cantabile from First String Quartet, Op.17

First String Quartet is not Tchaikovsky’s first work – to be exact, it is his 17th opus, – but it is a significant piece in terms of bringing him a worldwide fame, one of the first praised by critics from abroad (Germany and France foremost). Anyone who has heard a piece won’t have to think much about what caused panegyrics from persons like Hans von Bülow and Camille Benoit – sonically it is impeccable: gift of outstanding melodist was clearly expressed even in earlier works of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with String Quartet No.1 being no exception. A special mention deserves harmony and overall mood: First String Quartet is among those pieces that can bring you in tears with their sophisticated beauty. Here is the second movement of a piece, arranged for piano by Karl Klindworth: Andante Cantabile from String Quartet, Op.11.

Le Tasse by Benjamin Godard

Certainly, not every composer’s oeuvre counts hundreds of works. In some cases, it is good: everybody works in their own unique way and differently perceives rhythm of life, depending on where they live. A composer in a village would less likely write in a hurry – pastoral idyll doesn’t encourage such an attitude. A composer in a megalopolis, otherwise, would… Well, wait, it was a wrong example: composing in a megalopolis is just impossible.

Without respect to what I'm saying, even in such a big city French violinist and composer Benjamin Godard was able to write a huge amount of works – perhaps because no cars’ klaxons disturbed him (in his lifetime – 1849-1895 – automobiles weren’t invented). Godard’s works are known to be unequal in terms of noteworthiness, however I handpicked one of these you should certainly like. Download one of his most distinctive works here: Le Tasse. Danse des Bohémiens (Arrangement for Piano), Op.39.

Etudes for Guitar, Op.60 – Matteo Carcassi

Electric guitar is immensely popular these days, and average guitarist with more chance is aware about virtuosi of the twentieth century than those who played this instrument in its more unplugged version, way before electricity was discovered. This is the situation, and I, without being too presumptuous, don’t think it is possible to change everything with a wave of the hand. However, I still write about all musicians and composers who, to my mind, deserve a little more recognition.

Matteo Carcassi was a Romantic composer and guitarist from Italy. What I like about him most, except his music, is that he provided shelter for a family of mice. It is so touching that I would repeat his princely gesture myself, but circumstances don’t let me do it: due to being solid-body, my guitar is less of a gnawer’s harborage than Carcassi’s was. As for his music, it’s a rare combination of true virtuosity and unadulterated lyricism. Here is his Etudes for Guitar, Op.60 Nos.8-9, enjoy.

Alban Berg's Violin Concerto

Contemporary classical music has always been a bone of contention for classical music lovers. What’s not to love? Well, technically it is classical, however as it breaks with centuries-old tradition, many turn away from it. No matter what, the devil is not so black as he is painted: one just needs to start with less fine-spun pieces to get used to contemporary music – this will make adaptation less painful and soon it will be possible to enjoy the 20th century repertoire.

To my view, works of Alban Berg may be a good start: this Austrian composer is known for altering the face of music together with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern. Unlike them, he didn’t shy away from Romanticism hence his music – adroit interlacement of tradition and hankering to open up new horizons of expression, – is more accessible without losing its novelty. Here is Berg’s Violin Concerto 'To the Memory of an Angel' – enjoy.

Daniel Steibelt – Aubade

Daniel Steibelt was very capable and skilful pianist as well as original and prolific composer. His works were quite popular among the public, and if it weren't for one incident, he could have gone in history as an unsurpassed musician. Of course, there were quite a few other virtuosi in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but it is hard to tell outright who of them was the best – in such situations contest is the only way to know.

Owing to Steilbelt's own overconfidence and moxie, he participated in one such; however, overall idea to measure swords with Beethoven was a primordial fizzle: the latter worsted Steibelt with little to no effort having played a few bars off his piece with one finger while managing to sight-read sheet music from an upturned paper. Thanks Heaven, this incident didn’t impact Steibelt insomuch as to put the kibosh on a music career (he didn't go further refusal to play in the presence of Ludvig van), and we can’t help but rejoice. Here is one of Steibelt's umpteen pieces, called Aubade. Enjoy!

Toccata, Op.108 – Kalkbrenner

No doubt that it was Andy Warhol who invented pop art; however it doesn’t mean that he was a pioneer in everything. Take his Factory – a home, or rather rookery, for a lot of ostensibly gifted persons, – well, a similar facility existed in the nineteenth century in Paris already. The Factory for Aspiring Virtuosos was run by Friedrich Kalkbrenner and as such was essential in making its owner enormously wealthy. Nevertheless Kalkbenner’s activity was not limited to counting money – this prominent pianist and composer was the first to play fast-moving octaves with both hands. If you’re in search for a challenging piece to diversify the repertoire, you absolutely shouldn’t come by his Toccata, Op.108 – for showcasing one’s mastery it is a very good choice.

Duet No.2 for Two Cellos – Offenbach

Jacques Offenbach is deservedly considered one of the most talented composers of the nineteenth century, and not only composers – as a cellist he too was notably skillful: after listening to his playing Luigi Cherubini (a person also highly regarded as a composer – Beethoven mentioned him as the greatest composer of his time) started giving him lessons despite it was deprecated (Foreigners couldn't apply to the Paris Conservatoire, and Offenbach was born in Germany). Offenbach played with Franz Liszt, Anton Rubinstein, and Felix Mendelssohn and is especially known for his operettas – a form he was one of the originators of. No matter what, he also composed in other genres, and many are not familiar with his smaller works. Here is his Duet No.2 for Two Cellos (Parts), Op.51. Watch amazing performance of a piece below:

Eduard Franck's music

Even though Eduard Franck looks a bit like Pierre Richard, his music is neither gimmick nor joke. It’s not that humor is under a ban in classical music – comic operas have been around for a while – but this genre wasn’t Franck’s favorite; he was focused on chamber and orchestral music mainly. As a pianist, Franck also was keeping a stiff upper lip: he played as well as his contemporaries in the person of Schumann and Mendelssohn. His music was critically-acclaimed in due time but he was unable to gain notoriety of other Romantic composers. Still anyone with interest towards era should like Franck’s music. Download one of his pieces here: Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op.42.

Berwald's Piano Quintet

If you were to ask me to remind any asteroids named after well-earned composers, I would name but a few. With concert halls it is much harder, and it is cuddlesome to realize that Franz Berwald has one in his native town – this Swedish composer was unable to make two ends meet during his life, but at least in 1976, after construction of Berwaldhallen began, justice was done. We all know that great minds do many things at once – among composers there were chemists and ornithologists (Alexander Borodin and Olivier Messiaen respectively), let us say. Berwald, in turn, was an expert and innovator in the field of orthopedic surgery. Nevertheless, the main love of his life was music, and it is really noticeable. Find a score of one of Berwald's pieces here: Piano Quintet No.2 in A Major, Op.6.

Music of Komitas Vardapet

One of the most influential figures in Armenian classical music, Komitas Vardapet was a composer, choir singer, pianist, flutist, and musicologist. He was immensely gifted – let us say, he was chosen by a local priest to be sent to study at the seminary after singing a hymn without knowing the Armenian language (it was deprecated in Kütahya, his native town, back then). One of his performances made Claude Debussy deeply flurried – French composer said to Vardapet he adores his music genius. Among other admirers were also Gabriel Faure and Camille Saint-Saëns. Unfortunately, Vardapet is a victim of the Armenian Genocide and died in a psychiatric clinic, broken-down and desolated by inhumanity he had seen. Many of his manuscripts were destroyed and lost, but those that left are integral part of classical music. Here is Dances for Piano.

Melody in F Major by Anton Rubinstein

Anton Rubinstein was a very interesting and versatile person: he had lots of energy and hence managed to perform, compose, give lessons and many more – Rubinstein is the founder of the first Saint Petersburg Conservatory, let us say. Also he had Tchaikovsky among his pupils and in some period was friends with The Five – a group of composers who initially considered Rubinstein to be a reactionary. However, there were also those who otherwise thought he is too progressive – mixed opinions prove that his works are rather unique and all-sufficient. Melody in F Major is his well-known piece and a good introduction to his legacy. Download it here: Melody in F Major, Op.3.

Etude No.6 by Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst

Back in days tours were different: this is now an artist plays no more than one concert in a town, probably because it brings the greatest revenue. In this modern world people don’t want to see the same performance twice, and nothing can be done about it. However, in the nineteenth century things seemed to be different, and young Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst, a Czech-Jewish composer, violinist, and Paganini’s stalker, at short notice managed to attend nearly dozen concerts of his idol without ever leaving Vienna. Paganini was a source of inspiration for him, and Ernst even rented rooms next to him just to hear his idol rehearsing. And, believe it or not, it paid off: Ernst is now known as one of the finest composers of polyphonic music, and I believe that any violinist should get acquainted with his works. Download his Etude No.6 here: 'The Last Rose of Summer'.

Carmen Overture by G. Bizet

Predicting the all-time fame of Carmen, Pyotr Tchaikovsky was at least ten years ahead of his time – initially this opera of Bizet didn’t have much success. It was first staged in 1874 in Paris, and reviews were devastating – history that will repeat itself in 1913 with premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, which will indignant Parisians even more. As for Bizet, he died in his mid-thirties, unaware that his four-movement piece will soon return to stage and won’t ever leave neither French nor world repertoire… You may find a full score of overture here: Carmen. Overture – a perfect complement to the collection of any opera lover!

Trio in B Flat Major by Reinecke

A German composer and conductor, Carl Reinecke was a shy type of person: he played piano really well, but despite his Europe tours he wasn’t a household name and didn’t appear in gossip columns. However, Reinecke was more than companionable when it came to the music: he was familiar with Schumann, Brahms, and Mendelssohn, and was a prominent pedagogue who had Edvard Grieg, Leoš Janáček, Isaac Albéniz, and other well-known composers among his pupils. His legacy counts almost three hundred pieces, and some of them are easy to find while others are not so – take Trio in B Flat Major for Clarinet, French Horn and Piano: it was impossible to find the score on the Net until recently. Luckily, it became available not so long ago, and what is especially great – with alternative transcription for violin and viola. Download it here: Trio in B Flat Major for Clarinet (or Violin), French Horn (or Viola) and Piano, Op.274.

Violin Concerto No. 1 by Max Bruch

Max Bruch may have been not the most progressive composer of his time (namely, the 19th century, he was born in 1838), not lastly due to everybody talking about works of his compatriots Wagner and Liszt. As you may know, in his latter works Liszt abandoned the conventional compositional techniques, and overall he was a hard nut to crack – that’s why Bruch just did what he could without trying to overshadow anybody. In his case it worked very well: no matter what, Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 is now one of the most popular works of Romantic era. Without pretending to cause the end of the world (exactly what Scriabin tried to accomplish in his Mysterium) or overthrow academic norms, Max Bruch leisurely composed one of the finest orchestral works, and now you can find it here, for your playing pleasure: Violin Concerto No.1 in G Minor, Op.26.

Kaleidoscope. Orientale by César Cui

Author of such books as Essay on the Efficient Determination of Data on Garrison Fortresses, Textbook of Fortification for Infantry Cadet Schools, and, of course, The Size of Fortresses and the Modification of Their Form Depending on the Expansion of the Strength of Armies, César Cui had interest not only in composing – he also served army officer. If you think that he was duty-bound to hammer out such long names, you’re wrong: the titles of his fortification-unrelated books and articles are also ridiculously long and, well, ridiculous - Cui was giving Concise Directions on How to Become a Modern Composer of Genius without Being a Musician, let us say. A member of The Five, Cui composed music specifically Russian by nature, impeccable, important, and impossible to ignore. Download his opus number 50 here: Kaleidoscope. Orientale, Op.50 No.9.

Ottorino Respighi - Fontane di Roma

Fontane di Roma (or Fountains of Rome in English) is a symphonic poem by Ottorino Respighi, Italian composer, conductor, and musicologist. Heartfelt works of Respighi suggest that he was a supporter of impressionist tradition, and indeed he was: this sentimental and sensitive man had never remained indifferent to the beauty of environment, and his visits to Brazil and Italy led to composing of two compositions – Brazilian Impressions and the one we're talking about accordingly. Inspired by Rome's fountains, his most famous piece can be downloaded here: Fontane di Roma. Symphonic Poem (full score).

Telemann's Viola Concerto in G Major

George Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was a German composer of Baroque epoch. Not having musical education he taught himself to play chalumeau, thoroughbass, viola da gamba, zither, and other instruments with euphonious and not so names. His music (numerous operas, cantatas, oratorios, concertos, passions etc.) was front-rank and complex, with extensive use of counterpoint. During his life Telemann was more famous than Johann Sebastian Bach and his music makes a transition between Baroque and Classical styles in the same manner as Beethoven’s links the Classical and Romantic.

Full score of Telemann’s Viola Concerto (parts for harpsichord, violin, cello, and viola) is available here: Viola Concerto in G Major, TWV 51:G9.

Sigismond Thalberg's Fantasias

Anyone who had ever held a music magazine in their hands knows how much do critics like comparing anything they review to music it allegedly resembles (“…a bit of early Chopin with distinct influence of the Second Viennese School,” let us say), but in case with Sigismond Thalberg they were nonplussed: there was no one else like Swiss composer, neither before nor – I venture to suggest, – after.

Also virtuoso pianist, Thalberg was maybe the most praised musician ever, spellbinding attendees in Europe's finest concert halls with his playing. The only virtuoso of the same scale was Franz Liszt, who, being Thalberg’s contemporary, had heebie-jeebies because of the latter’s popularity…

Sheet music of several Thalberg’s pieces can be found here: Three Fantasias for Piano, Op.72, 20, 42. Enjoy!

Chopin and Czechs: Is There a Connection?

In these latter days I pay much attention to Czech composers: exclusive of Janáček (about whom I wrote yesterday), I also turn to heritage of Antonín Dvořák and Jan Dismas Zelenka. Today I decided to write about Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu, saying to myself that it will be something that doesn't have anything to do with the second most peaceful country in Europe. But no, as it turned out, the first Chopin’s piano tutor was no other than Wojciech Żywny (Czech? check) and the first impromptu ever was composed by Jan Václav Voříšek, in turn. (Who, among other things, lived for twelve years in Vienna - thus, even undercover capital of classical music bears Czech imprint.)

What’s most important concerning the subject of this post is that version of Fantaisie-Impromptu by Czech pianist Antonín Kubálek is one of the best I have heard. (It is present on his CD titled My Gift to You: Piano Encores, but sadly not on YouTube, otherwise I would embed it.) Sheet music of Chopin’s prominent piece is available here: Fantaisie-Impromptu for Piano, Op.66.

String Quartet No.2 "Intimate Letters" by Janáček

“Intimate Letters” is the second string quartet of Czech composer Leoš Janáček, written in 1928. It was inspired by Janáček’s relationships with Kamila Stösslová, who by some criterions was no match to him: she was forty years younger, married, and last but not least – she didn’t reciprocate his ardent feelings. However, he wrote more than 700 letters to her and even wanted to publish his multipage declaration of love. Ironically, the same man who brought Kafka worldwide fame (Max Brod) reasoned him out of doing that. In some sense it's understandable: with cliché lines like “Her eyes were like two deep wells” (taken from his Diary of One Who Disappeared) Janáček wouldn’t measure swords with likes of Nabokov or de Sade. It wasn't required from him, anyway - it's enough that he went down in history as one of the greatest composers.

Sheet music of “Intimate Letters” can be found here: String Quartet No.2, JW 7/13. I hope that you will like this very personal and unique piece as much as I do. Enjoy!

The Bee by Schubert

Popularity of pieces named after humming insects is inexplicably curious: The Flight of the Bumblebee was played on any instrument you can imagine and has so catching motif that even bumblebees themselves croon the composition all the time. The Bee at the same time may be the most recognizable piece of Schubert. I know that there was a story when Britons mistook cheese balls for a composer during the survey (they were asked do they know such composer as Bocconcini, and they answered in the affirmative), and in this regard Schubert achieved much: even while there is a composer with sound-alike surname (Schumann), people still remember who is who.

Sheet music of the piece is available here: The Bee.

String Sextets of Brahms

When you accidentally stumble across something like a nearly hour-long performance of Brahms on YouTube, it definitely makes your day. My last – and quite recent, – great finding was The Art of Piano – a documentary about the greatest pianists of the 20th century, and now I encounter another inimitable video, which I can’t help but share.

String Sextet No. 2 was composed in 1866 and has four movements. Brahms often participated in performances of his own chamber music, and it would be great to catch him playing the piece if it wasn’t impossible. However, I think he would approve a SummerFest version of his opus - even if it was played without him, musicians did their best. And if you like Brahms’ sextets but don’t play stringed instrument yourself, you may download his first one, arranged for piano by Robert Keller: String Sextet No.1 in B Flat Major (Arrangement for Piano), Op.18.

Bagatelles by Johann Nepomuk Hummel

Johann Nepomuk Hummel was an Austrian composer and, for some period, Haydn’s deputy – he replaced the latter on a kapellmeister position sometimes. Haydn was also his teacher, as well as Mozart, who discerned perspective pianist in him and wasn’t wrong – now we remember Hummel as virtuoso. He didn’t always play, however, and started touring again only after his wife told him to do so – at other times he was composing and giving lessons. Hummel had a lot of talented pupils – among them are Czerny and Mendelssohn. You can download his sheet music here: Bagatelles, Op.107. Watch a performance of one of the pieces below:

Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 1 by Berg

Alban Berg was an Austrian composer-expressionist. Born in 1885, he started studying music in the beginning of the 20th century - the time, when period of Romantic music was coming to an end. Hence his decision to use new music forms instead of moribund ones. His Piano Sonata, Op. 1, composed only a few years later after Berg started studying music disciplines with Arnold Schoenberg, is mature and wondrous work, admittedly one of the best debuts in history of classical music. The piece is available for download here: Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op.1.

Piano Concerto in E Flat Major, Op.36

Felix Draeseke, born in 1835, is a German composer, who, to my view, sounds unusually modern for his time. It is easy to explain why: he was playing the same game as Franz Liszt, Joachim Raff, Peter Cornelius, and others, who called themselves no other than musicians of the future. Draeseke’s innovative music was praised by contemporaries: aforementioned Liszt even considered his Sonata Quasi Fantasia the greatest work in the genre since Beethoven. Draeseke’s filigreed piano works deserve a close look; I especially like his Piano Concerto, which is available for download here: Piano Concerto in E Flat Major, Op.36

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Claude Debussy

If a piece was inspired by probably best French poem ever written (Mallarmé’s L'après-midi d'un faune) and was liked by King of Pop (yeah, Michael Jackson mentioned Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun as his favorite song!), you just can’t overlook it.

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun is Debussy’s symphonic poem. Debussy had intended to complete Prelude with two more movements (Interlude and Final Paraphrase), but that never happened. If he had completed the suite, it would become event of universal significance, because even its third part was venturesome enough to influence modern music.

Sheet music of one of the most famous Debussy’s works is available here: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.

Pavane for a Dead Princess sheet music

Pavane for a Dead Princess is a piano piece by Maurice Ravel, French impressionist composer. Originally for solo piano, it was written by him in 1899. First performance was held three years later, and in 1910 Ravel arranged it for orchestra, probably unsatisfied with sluggishness of pianists who played it way too slow, as if they were anesthetized. Beauty of Pavane for a Dead Princess was proved by Marcel Proust, who chose it to be played at his funeral. Symphonic arrangement of this touching piece is available here: Pavane for a Dead Princess.

Peer Gynt. Morning Mood by Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg's Morning Mood is one of the most beautiful pieces ever. Portraying time when almost everybody light-heartedly sleeps, it helps even veteran-slugabed to feel awakening of nature in a predawn time. Morning Mood is a part of Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, op.46, which was originally written for Ibsen’s play. Grieg had a hard time composing it, because he had to follow guidelines of a playwright, and it was new to him. Howbeit, no one can say now it wasn't worth it - Grieg's first suite is all-time masterpiece.

Score of this triumphant and sublime composition is available here:
Peer Gynt. Morning Mood sheet music.

Sicilienne by Gabriel Fauré

Gabriel Fauré is no doubt one of the most prominent and foremost French composers. He composed orchestral, vocal, chamber, and piano music. Depending on period, his solo piano works range from unhurried and intimate to fast-paced and daedal. Fauré’s opuses served as inspiration for impressionists, were melodically expressional, and built a bridge between Romantic and modern music. His chamber music is beyond praise: it’s nearly impossible to left untouched by stirring cello in Sicilienne, his melancholic masterpiece. Download sheet music of this composition here: Sicilienne.

The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns

To each his own: Schoenberg played tennis and Webern collected crystals; Gustav Holst was inspired by astrology while Camille Saint-Saëns prefered representatives of fauna to heavenly bodies. The Carnival of the Animals is his famous fourteen-movement suite. Thinking it might damage his reputation, being not quite serious, Saint-Saëns deprecated to perform and publish the suite while he was alive. Who are we to blame a composer for having good sense of humor, though? Saint-Saëns may have been self-critical – and there’s nothing that wrong in it – but this piece is a superlative of composer's talent, so say listeners, period.

The Carnival of the Animals is especially liked by music teachers because children usually prefer lion’s roars spread in the zoo to morning wails of string quartets, and it is a perfect compromise in that sense. Joyous and lively, it’s one of the finest pieces ever written, and even most accomplished musicians can’t resist the temptation of having it in their repertoire - a video proof, featuring Sir Roger Moore, Julian Rachlin, and Mischa Maisky, is below.

Full score of the suite is available here: The Carnival of the Animals.

Symphonie Fantastique piano sheet music

We all know that drugs are dangerous and nothing good, but history is inflexible: opium played important part in Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Smoking opium was pretty common in the 19th century, and historians suggest that this work was partly drug-influenced. It’s not a big deal, though: Colridge wrote Kubla Khan, his masterpiece poem, under similar circumstances. What really matters is how significant this symphony is: an early example of program music, Romantic period classical, favorite piece among listeners and performers worldwide…

Symphonie Fantastique was transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt in 1833. A brilliant performance of the piece is below. Sheet music of Liszt's arrangement, demanded and liked by pianists, is available here: Fantastic Symphony (Piano Transcription), H 48 Op.14

The Planets sheet music in high quality

The Planets is incomparably epic orchestral suite by Gustav Holst. It consists of seven movements, named after the planets of Solar System, and sounds just out of this world – rather intergalactic than earthen. Holst was introduced to astrology in 1913 and felt so inspired that completed The Planets three years later. Pluto was discovered soon, but Holst refused to compose another movement – a smart and prophetic move given that Pluto was demoted from the rank of planets recently.

Check out movement IV of the piece below – it looks (and sounds, of course!) impressive overall, but conductor's effort is especially admirable. Full score is available here: Planets, Op. 32.

Franz Liszt. 200-Year Anniversary

Virtuoso to the core, Franz Liszt is highly respected and prolific composer and pianist, known both for his works and performances. His contemporaries were always highly impressed by Liszt’s phenomenal skill, precision and expressivity. Face of composer always reflected feeling of pieces he was playing; Liszt was always passionate towards his music even though he travelled – and giving concerts, consequently – a lot.

Liszt was also a piano accompanist and teacher. No less than forty people were fortunate enough to become his students. Liszt helped them to reveal their own creativity, not having an intention of making them sound like him. Even though it is already something you can’t help but appreciate, there is more to come: Liszt never charged for his lessons! He was altruistic type of person and had good sense of humor.

The greatest pianist of the 19th century and creator of new genres, such as symphonic poem and rhapsody, Liszt proposed to fuse music with architecture, painting and literature. Talking about literature, it wasn’t alien to him: he wrote a book about Chopin and had numerous publications; living up to the hilt, he participated in whatever seemed interesting to him.

In 2011 we celebrate Liszt’s jubilee – he was born 200 years ago. Sadly there were no camcorders in the 19th century – otherwise we could’ve seen how brilliant his concerts were. Being a pianist myself, I want to wish you to see Liszt performing live at least at your dream – on waking up your spirits will be raised and you will have inspiration for years to come. To have a higher chance for this to happen make sure you play Liszt's compositions quite often. Franz Liszt sheet music will help you with this – use smart filter to choose instrumentation, genre, or key or just browse more than 1000 scores of an epoch-making composer!..

Lascia Ch'io Pianga sheet music in high quality

George Frideric Handel was born in 1685 – the same year as Scarlatti. But not only this fact makes them related – they both could be lawyers: Handel thought about it himself and in Scarlatti’s case it was his father’s idea. I have no clue if Handel and Scarlatti have neighbouring immobility at Mercury, but two craters of the planet are named after them.

What else can be said of Handel? Well, he began composing in the age of 9 and taught himself to play organ. Originally German, he lived in London a bigger part of his life. Handel tried to make opera more dramatic and created the new type of oratorio – musically democratic and monumental.

Lascia ch'io pianga is his touching soprano aria, present at many modern films and deservedly popular among artists. Its sheet music is available here: Lascia Ch'io Pianga from Opera Rinaldo in high quality.

Il dolce suono sheet music in high quality

Gaetano Donizetti was one of leading composers of bel canto opera. He was born in 1797 in Italy. Despite his parents weren’t musicians, he quickly became professional composer. After signing a contract with a theatre manager who was impressed by his opera, Donizetti moved to Naples.

Donizetti composed mainly operas, but symphonies, oratorios, sonatas and cantatas weren’t alien to him as well as string quartets and duets. The world of classical music wouldn’t be that rich as it is nowadays if he would become an architect or lawyer as he intended in his youth. Donizetti was quick at composing but it didn’t affect neither his chamber pieces nor songs – they sound majestic and dramatic.

It's hard to forget the concert in The Fifth Element : the aria that Diva Plavalaguna is performing in Besson's film is written by Donizetti. Enjoy this fine music score: Scena and Aria Il dolce suono from Lucia di Lammermoor sheet music.

Chopin-Czerny. Polonaise Brillante Op.3

Composer since the age of seven, Chopin needs no introduction. A genius pianist, he forcedly lived in Paris for most of his life, but his compositions always have indelible Polish feel, influenced by folk motifs of his Motherland.

Chopin’s masterful piano miniatures are dramatically romantic, sincere and spiritual. Never before him was music that expressive. If it wasn’t for Chopin, polonaise and mazurka wouldn’t sound that poetic, there would be no such genre as a piano ballad and one of the craters on Mercury would stay nameless.

Introduction and Polonaise Brillante in C major, Op.3 is initially a composition for cello and piano. Luminously arranged by Carl Czerny for piano, it is available here:

Introduction and Polonaise Brillante in C major (Piano Arrangement), Op.3

Alkan Piano Sheet Music

Charles-Valentine Alkan is a French virtuoso pianist. Besides composing, he taught Chopin’s students after death of a Polish composer and translated Bible (as a whole!) to French. Unluckily, his translation didn’t live till our days. And what’s even sadder, several of his works were lost, too. First composition of Alkan dates 1828 and most of them are written for solo piano.

Friends of Alkan thought of him as of lively, warm and humorous person. Even the title of his "Funeral march on the death of a parrot" warrants his ironic nature, noticeable in his works, musically-challenging yet written by a deeply sensitive and open man.

During the 20th century, music of Alkan wasn’t frequently heard in the concert halls, but now more and more pianists turn to his worthy and innovative works.

Alkan piano sheet music is available here.

Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky

Pictures at an Exhibition is one of the most deservedly staged and re-arranged suites of Mussorgsky. Subheading of this work (A Remembrance of Victor Hartmann) is self-explanatory – it is dedicated to a composer’s close friend, an architect and painter, who died early from an aneurism. Mussorgsky himself outlived Hartmann by three years, dying in the age of 42, but his contribution is huge: Pictures at an Exhibition was re-arranged even for such instruments as glockenspiel, xylophone and marimba. There were so many of those who want to adapt suite for themselves that we can easily find two bands starting from “Tangerine” among them – Tangerine Dream and Tangerine Trees, respectively.

In 1991-1992 Arkadi Troitsky transcripted Mussorgsky's suite for a string orchestra. Troitsky is a composer, arranger, and conductor with a great experience. Download the high quality sheet music here: Pictures at an Exhibition, arranged by Arkadi Troitsky – who knows, maybe it will inspire you to play its parts on sitar or theremin!..

Video of another version of arrangement, by Ravel, is below:

Music Self-Publishing

World never stops moving. Neither the world of music does. The pace of its changes and development doesn’t cease to surprise contemporary composers. To be successful in this highly competitive environment they need to adjust, to learn and to develop themselves.

Every way to composer’s success begins with such basic steps as, first of all, motivation and, second of all, getting music scores PUBLISHED so that they were acknowledged by the public. Unlike the first task, the second one may require some comprehensive informational research before a composer finally chooses the way to follow.

That is exactly the purpose of the article “Music Self-Publishing” – to provide a talented but probably overlooked composer with all the data regarding the options he’s got. All-mighty publishers or means of self-publication – that is the question. The overview, comparative analysis and the choice of solution – all inside. Have a look Music Self-Publishing