Gnoissienne No. 1 an intermediate level piano solo dating from 1890 and was composed by Erik Satie one of the most eccentric and individual composers Show More...
Gnoissienne No. 1 an intermediate level piano solo dating from 1890 and was composed by Erik Satie one of the most eccentric and individual composers in the history of music. The movement is frequently associated with images particularly in video documentaries that convey sadness and melancholy. Satie’s sound world is both individual and characteristic. There is a strong repetitive element whilst the timeless element is also an additional feature. Satie was a composer who experimented with form, rhythm and both chordal structures and sounds. A miniaturist his music connects with many because his sound world retains great contemporary appeal. The first 3 Gnoissiennes were published in 1893 and do not have time signatures or bar lines and are described as being in free time. The score available from PlentyMusic has this and an additional appended score which does have the time signature and bar lines in place. Bar lines are so easy on the eye and the music editor suggests should never be totally ignored. The playback tempo is 110 quarter note beats to the minute suggesting a more Moderato tempo than Lento. Understand that music tempi in general have quickened in the last 100 years. The use of the sustaining pedal is recommended but not indicated in the sheet music score. Saties’s Gnoissienne are similar to the Gymnopedie’s in style and concept and musical language. Satie lived in Paris and there are some fascinating commentaries about his daily life and work routines which involved walking from his apartment in Accueil to Paris particularly to Montmartre and after WW1 to Montparnasse. They are well worth exploring particularly as they give insight to his approach to life and composition. When he died much of his music was rediscovered simply because it was buried in a piano below a piano. Work this one if you can or research more. He is a quite extraordinary composer who more than 100 years after his death remains even more extraordinary and certainly suggests he lived well before his time. Possibly in more recent times he would be described as being somebody with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) although that is a diagnosis for a psychologist rather than a music editor. Satie’s music translates well into other idioms such as jazz. He remains a composer who whose music should be explored by all musicians. Close
This is music worthy of attention and an excellent movement for a keyboard player keen to make progress. The music editor often plays it at weddings. Show More...
This is music worthy of attention and an excellent movement for a keyboard player keen to make progress. The music editor often plays it at weddings. The repeating section has been written out simply for clarity as far as reading the music is concerned. In some editions there is a repeat of the opening 12 bar section but in performance this does rather spoil the symmetry of the movement. The music is presented in a plain score format with minimal score detail. Rameau was a leading French composer of both opera and harpsichord music and also known as a music theorist publishing a Treatise on Harmony in 1722. His music was largely out of fashion by the end of the 18th but there is a renewed interest in his music with recent performances and recordings. Interestingly he didn’t start composing opera until he was in his 50’s. He was one of the masters of 18th century French school of harpsichordists, publishing collections in 1706, 1724 and 1727. This particular movement comes from one of the suites from the 1724 collection. Whilst his keyboard music was intended for the harpsichord in more recent times it is frequently performed on the piano and there are transcriptions of movements available for the organ. The music editions available do generally relate to performances on the harpsichord and these generally have ornaments played in both hands which is something not so common in piano music. The rondeau is a form derived from early French poetry which was shared with the chanson (song form) in the medieval and Renaissance times. It features a repeating refrain (or chorus) and something in time that was adopted in both dance and instrumental forms. The form of this particular movement can be represented as ABACADA with A representing the repeating refrain or chorus. The fact that there are different numbers of bars in each of the phrases is most likely a connection to the poetry structure of earlier times. In the organ version which plays back at 96 dotted quarter notes to the minute the repeating refrain section is played on one manual whilst the sections described as episodes are played on a second manual or at least with a different registration. It is suggested that the pedal notes be played on a 16’ stop. Close
This is music worthy of attention and an excellent movement for a keyboard player keen to make progress. The repeating section has been written out si Show More...
This is music worthy of attention and an excellent movement for a keyboard player keen to make progress. The repeating section has been written out simply for clarity as far as reading the music is concerned. In some editions there is a repeat of the opening 12 bar section but in performance this does rather spoil the symmetry of the movement. The music is presented in a plain score format with minimal score detail. Rameau was a leading French composer of both opera and harpsichord music and also known as a music theorist publishing a Treatise on Harmony in 1722. His music was largely out of fashion by the end of the 18th but there is a renewed interest in his music with recent performances and recordings. Interestingly he didn’t start composing opera until he was in his 50’s. He was one of the masters of 18th century French school of harpsichordists, publishing collections in 1706, 1724 and 1727. This particular movement comes from one of the suites from the 1724 collection. Whilst his keyboard music was intended for the harpsichord in more recent times it is frequently performed on the piano and there are transcriptions of movements available for the organ. The music editions available do generally relate to performances on the harpsichord and these generally have ornaments played in both hands which is something not so common in piano music. The rondeau is a form derived from early French poetry which was shared with the chanson (song form) in the medieval and Renaissance times. It features a repeating refrain (or chorus) and something in time that was adopted in both dance and instrumental forms. The form of this particular movement can be represented as ABACADA with A representing the repeating refrain. The fact that there are different numbers of bars in each of the phrases is most likely a connection to the poetry structure of earlier times. The piano version plays back at 96 dotted quarter notes to the minute. There are many recordings of this movement including one or two which are quite free in their interpretation particularly of the repeating refrain section turning it almost into an improvisation. Close
In a performance context the Gigue en rondeau No.1 would be followed by Gigue en rondeau No.2. The two Gigue en rondeau from Rameau’s Suite in E min Show More...
In a performance context the Gigue en rondeau No.1 would be followed by Gigue en rondeau No.2. The two Gigue en rondeau from Rameau’s Suite in E minor from his 1724 collection are excellent movements for a keyboard player to explore. The repeating sections have been written out simply for clarity as far as reading the music is concerned. In some editions there is a repeat of the opening 8 bar section but in a performance this does rather spoils the symmetry of the movement. The music is presented in a plain score format with minimal score detail and ornamentation has been deliberately omitted. Rameau was a leading French composer of both opera and harpsichord music and also known as a music theorist publishing a Treatise on Harmony in 1722. His music was largely out of fashion by the end of the 18th but there is a renewed interest in his music with recent performances and recordings. Interestingly he didn’t start composing opera until he was in his 50’s. He was one of the masters of 18th century French school of harpsichordists, publishing collections in 1706, 1724 and 1727. Whilst his keyboard music was intended for the harpsichord in more recent times it is frequently performed on the piano and there are transcriptions of many movements available for the organ. The music editions available do generally relate to performances on the harpsichord and these generally have ornaments played in both hands which is not something so common in piano music. The rondeau is a form derived from early French poetry which was shared with the chanson (song form) in the medieval and Renaissance times. It features a repeating refrain (or chorus) and something in time that was adopted in both dance and instrumental forms. The form of this particular movement can be represented as ABACA with A representing the repeating refrain or chorus. The organ version plays back at 84 dotted quarter notes to the minute. Close
In a performance context the Gigue en rondeau No.1 would be followed by Gigue en rondeau No.2. The two Gigue en rondeau from Rameau’s Suite in E min Show More...
In a performance context the Gigue en rondeau No.1 would be followed by Gigue en rondeau No.2. The two Gigue en rondeau from Rameau’s Suite in E minor from his 1724 collection are excellent movements for a keyboard player to explore. The repeating sections have been written out simply for clarity as far as reading the music is concerned. In some editions there is a repeat of the opening 8 bar section but in a performance this does rather spoils the symmetry of the movement. The music is presented in a plain score format with minimal score detail and ornamentation has been deliberately omitted. Rameau was a leading French composer of both opera and harpsichord music and also known as a music theorist publishing a Treatise on Harmony in 1722. His music was largely out of fashion by the end of the 18th but there is a renewed interest in his music with recent performances and recordings. Interestingly he didn’t start composing opera until he was in his 50’s. He was one of the masters of 18th century French school of harpsichordists, publishing collections in 1706, 1724 and 1727. Whilst his keyboard music was intended for the harpsichord in more recent times it is frequently performed on the piano and there are transcriptions of many movements available for the organ. The music editions available do generally relate to performances on the harpsichord and these generally have ornaments played in both hands which is not something so common in piano music. The rondeau is a form derived from early French poetry which was shared with the chanson (song form) in the medieval and Renaissance times. It features a repeating refrain (or chorus) and something in time that was adopted in both dance and instrumental forms. The form of this particular movement can be represented as ABACA with A representing the repeating refrain or chorus. The piano version plays back at 84 dotted quarter notes to the minute. Close
Composed in the key In the key A minor this movement in ABA ternary form has a haunting beautiful quality. Debussy has created an arrangement which h Show More...
Composed in the key In the key A minor this movement in ABA ternary form has a haunting beautiful quality. Debussy has created an arrangement which has beauty, shape and a sense of space. Debussy probably better than any other communicates the elements of the canonic study in his two piano arrangement of this movement creating the space and texture to communicate the details of the canon. Some of the detail of the scoring is different to Schumann’s original version for pedal piano. It is very interesting that other composers have re-visited Schumann’s Studies in Canon Opus 56 namely Bizet and Debussy. Tempo rubato is a musical element that could be explored in a performance although it has not been used in the realisation. The accompaniment downloads available enable players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing either the Piano I or Piano II parts. The Piano I part sounds on the one channel of the stereo signal and Piano II on the other. Accompaniment 1 plays at 69 dotted quarter (crotchet) note beats to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 66 dotted quarter (crotchet) note beats to the minute, Accompaniment 3 at 63 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute and Accompaniment 4 at 60 quarter note beats to the minute. There is a two bar count in with the sound of a woodblock. As the music is in 12/8 time the music editor suggests that players should familiarise themeselves with this. In a performance situation printing two pages of music onto one side of A4 offers a practical solution for players. Close
Mi-a-ou is the second movement of the Dolly Suite Opus 56 which was originally published as a piano duet. The realisation score plays back at a tempo Show More...
Mi-a-ou is the second movement of the Dolly Suite Opus 56 which was originally published as a piano duet. The realisation score plays back at a tempo of 72 dotted half beats (minim) beats to the minute although there is a slower section towards the end of the movement. The tempo needs to be brisk but controlled. Some use of the sustaining pedal to communicate the range of the harmonic colour is recommended in one or two sections but is not indicated in the sheet music score. The writing is very pianistic in the sense that there are not too many technical difficulties and the chords fall nicely for the fingers. Rehearsal markings are in place in the score. Duettists will need to play with a lightness in the hands and there needs to be clarity in the articulation of the melodic ideas. Fauré as a composer is capable of writing music that has great appeal for both player and audience. The rhythmic detail is always interesting and the combination of a chromatic harmony with the add reference to the modal past gives the music a modern context. There are many recordings from both recent times and the recording archive which are worth exploring. The two piano parts Primo and Secondo can be downloaded as mp3 accompaniments enabling players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing either the Primo or Secondo part The Primo part sounds on the right channel of the stereo signal and the Secondo part sounds on the left channel. Accompaniment 1 plays at 76 dotted half notes to the minute beats (crotchet) to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 3 at 69 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute. There is a 4 bar click beat before the music starts playing to give a clear pulse to players. The accompaniments have been recorded at a bit rate 256 kbps. When performing printing two pages of music on to one side of A4 offers a practical solution for players. The accompaniments will be uploaded in the next few days. Close
Kitty-Valse is the fourth movement of the Dolly Suite Opus 56 originally published as a piano duet. The music needs to be played with a light one in a Show More...
Kitty-Valse is the fourth movement of the Dolly Suite Opus 56 originally published as a piano duet. The music needs to be played with a light one in a bar feel. Fauré as a composer is capable of writing music that has great appeal for both player and audience. The rhythmic detail is always interesting and the combination of a chromatic harmony with the added reference to the modal past gives the music a modern context. There are many recordings from both recent times and the recording archive which are worth exploring. The video score plays back at a tempo of 69 dotted half beats is the fourth movement of the (minim) beats to the minute. Some use of the sustaining pedal to communicate the range of the harmonic colour is recommended but is not indicated in the sheet music score. The realisation is possibly lacking in a lightness of touch that the music editor suggests is needed. Duettists will need to play with a lightness in the hands which is not altogether suggested in the playback of the video score. Additionally, there is probably a context for tempo rubato when playing this movement. The two piano parts primo and secondo can be downloaded as accompaniments enabling players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing either the primo or secondo part The primo part sounds on one side of the stereo signal and the secondo part sounds on the other. Accompaniment 1 plays at 69 dotted half notes (minim) beats to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 66 dotted half note (minim) beats to the minute Accompaniment 3 at 63 dotted half note beats (mimim) to the minute and Accompaniment 4 at 60 dotted minim beats. There is a 4 bar click beat before the music starts playing to give a clear pulse to players. The accompaniments have been recorded at a bit rate 256 kbps. When performing printing two pages of music on to one side of A4 offers a practical solution for players. Close
A charming and quite beautiful piece which has been arranged for many different instrument combinations although its origins are as a piano duet. A be Show More...
A charming and quite beautiful piece which has been arranged for many different instrument combinations although its origins are as a piano duet. A berceuse is a lullaby or cradle song so a gentle lilting approach is a required with nothing happening abruptly. The realisation plays at 69 quarter note beats to the minute. When performing this music there is an opportunity to slow down at the ends of phrases and then return to tempo at the start of the next phrase. Markings to indicate this are not included in the score. Pedalling has been indicated in the score. The sustaining pedal is put down as the first sound at the beginning of the bar is being played and lifted on the second beat of the bar. Additional pedalling can be added even though it might not be indicated on the score but it should never muddy the texture and lines of the music. The modal element that features in much of Faure’s music is also evident. The accompaniment downloads available enable players to enjoy an ensemble music experience playing either the Primo or Secondo parts. The Primo part sounds on the one channel of the stereo signal and the Secondo part sounds on the other. Accompaniment 1 plays at 76 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 3 at 68 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute. There is a four bar count in with the sound of a woodblock. When performing printing two pages of music onto one side of A4 offers a very practical solution for players. Close
Erik Satie was a French composer and whilst he was considered to be something of an eccentric composed some very appealing and atmospheric miniatures. Show More...
Erik Satie was a French composer and whilst he was considered to be something of an eccentric composed some very appealing and atmospheric miniatures. His Gymnopedie No. 1 is an attractive melodic piece which was subsequently orchestrated by Debussy. Satie's writings and works influenced many of the avant-garde movements established in Paris in the early 20th century. This resource has TAB and chord diagrams. Close
