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An intermediate level arrangement for euphonium and piano of a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s Valse Sentimentale Opus 51 No.6. ideal as an encor Show More...
An intermediate level arrangement for euphonium and piano of a shortened version of Tchaikovsky’s Valse Sentimentale Opus 51 No.6. ideal as an encore in a performing context. In this version an alternative ending is provided which simplifies Tchaikovsky’s original cadenza like coda. Formally this short version of the movement can be described as in ternary form ABA with a short coda as the closing section. Originally composed as a piano solo and dating from 1882 it is described as salon music intended in its time to be performed as drawing room music rather than in the concert hall. This is music ideally suited to being performed in intimate surrounds. As a movement a waltz needs to have a one in the bar feel to it rather than three beats to the bar. The playback tempo of the realisation is 44 dotted half notes (minim) beats to the minute which the music editor feels on reflection is probably a little on the fast side. The euphonium part is notated in the treble clef. Should players require a bass clef version please advise the PlentyMusic office. What is paramount in a performance is that the music does not stutter in the tempo changing sense during a performance. It is a movement that requires subtle changes of tempo in the tempo rubato sense. The waltz is a dance and as much of Tchaikovsky’s music is associated with ballet, the Valse Sentimental needs to played with an awareness of movement. The music needs to glide or ebb and flow. If played strictly in time the music becomes quite dull. A movement that is excellent for developing an understanding of performance practice in the romantic / late romantic tradition. A perfect movement to understand how to manage tempo in music in the playing sense and to understand how rubato should work and be used in a music performance. There is the suggestion that no two performances could ever be the same simply because of the acoustic and possibly the mood of the soloist. The melody needs to be played legato. Players should be working to improve both the intonation and quality of tone in their playing. Piano accompaniments are available playing at 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46 beats per minute where the beat is a dotted half note or minim. In the cadenza like coda beginning at bar where the music has a more dramatic quality and is marked meno mosso it is more practicable to approach this section with a three in the bar feel to the music. Use of the sustaining pedal is recommended by the piano accompanist but not indicated in the sheet music score apart from the first couple of bars. The music editor’s preference and recommendation is for minimal use the pedal. The bracketed notes are editorial and can be omitted. Tchaikovsky's exceptional gift as a composer apart from writing beautiful melodies and accompaniments is his ability to express a great range of moods from the happiest to the saddest moments in his music probably better than anybody else. Close
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Manchega originates as a concert étude for piano – an etude in music is a study. Such movements are intended to improve and demonstrate technique a Show More...
Manchega originates as a concert étude for piano – an etude in music is a study. Such movements are intended to improve and demonstrate technique and in the context of the original arrangement was intended to demonstrate Gottschalk’s virtuoso playing. The playback tempo in the playback score is 58 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. The movement in ABA (Ternary form) which was very much the standard form during the romantic period. Composers needed to follow the conventions of their time to ensure the patterns of their music were readily recognized by audiences. The A section sounds in F and the B section in Ab. The repeat does not play in the playback, There has been some re-scoring but not re-writing of the original material. This is an excellent piece for developing 3 v 2 playing which is such a characteristic element of Spanish and music based on Spanish models. The music editor suggests practicing the music slowly in the first instance so that all rhythmic shapes and patterns are secure A euphonium part in the treble clef appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. The small ornamental or acciaccaturas (crushed) notes do not sound in the realization and the music editor suggests leaving them out certainly during the learning of the piece. It is then up to the player’s own discretion whether to play them or not in a performance. There is a strong influence of Chopin in the music of Gottschalk particularly in the harmonic writing and figuration. As the repetitive element in the movement is strong there is an opportunity to explore articulations, tonal and dynamic range in a performance. The music editor suggests that this movement along with much of Gottschalk’s music is worth discovering particularly in arrangements where the playing level allows access to the music. Piano accompaniments are also available for download in mp3 format at tempi of Accompaniment (1) 63 Accompaniment (2) 60 and Accompaniment (3) 57 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829 – 1869) was an American composer and pianist born in New Orleans who spent most of his performing career touring and giving concerts. He was often referred to as the greatest pianist from the “New World.” Chopin, Liszt and Alkan were great admirers of his talent. His compositions established him as one of the first identifiable American composers. In his music it is possible to hear a mix of American Creole, African-American and European music traditions. His early works in particularly are imbued with the sounds that he heard in his youth in Louisiana. The syncopated nature of his music anticipates many of the characteristics of later American ragtime and jazz music. Close
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Teresa Carreño 1853 – 1917 was a Venezuelan concert pianist and composer whose career spanned a period of 54 years. Known for her powerful and sp Show More...
Teresa Carreño 1853 – 1917 was a Venezuelan concert pianist and composer whose career spanned a period of 54 years. Known for her powerful and spirited playing she earned the title from her Berlin years as the “Valkyrie of the piano.” She was closely associated with the music of Edward MacDowell, a pupil, premiering several of his works and also the music of Amy Beach. She lived in the USA and Berlin which became her base for her years in Europe. Her schedule of concerts and the longevity of her career suggests that she was very hard working. A superb player of octaves she possessed a powerful tone and great strength. She travelled widely performing in Europe including the Henry Wood Proms, USA and Australia. Henry Wood wrote that "It is difficult to express adequately what all musicians felt about this great woman who looked like a queen among pianists - and played like a goddess.” She must indeed have been a larger than life character because over 100 years after her death her legacy remains strong and there are player piano recordings of her work available. “Mi Teresita” (Little Waltz) composed in 1885 for her daughter Teresita was one of her most popular pieces during her lifetime and often performed as an encore at her own concerts. In this arrangement for euphonium accompanied by the piano the sounding key is Eb. Euphonium players should be aiming for a beautiful legato and focusing on the tonal quality of their playing. The movement should not be played too quickly and there is a captivating closing section. The considerable range of dynamics also needs to be explored in a performance. Rubato is an aspect of the performance that players can consider although it is not a featured of the realization. The melody is reminiscent of something that might feature in a music box and it is a pity that a lilting quality isn’t as well represented in the realization as it might be. A euphonium part appropriately transposed is appended to the full score. Piano accompaniments are also available for download in mp3 format at tempi of Accompaniment (1) 128 Accompaniment (2) 124 and Accompaniment (3) 120 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. Close
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None but the Lonely Heart originates as a song and dates from 1869 coming from the composer’s Opus 6 collection. The poetry was written by the Germa Show More...
None but the Lonely Heart originates as a song and dates from 1869 coming from the composer’s Opus 6 collection. The poetry was written by the German romantic poet Goethe and subsequently translated into Russian. The music editor recommends reading a translation of the text although the clear message in the poem is an expression of loneliness. Although only 54 bars long the piece has great emotional and musical range making it an ideal assessment and audition piece. The repeating elements add unity to the song which has strong rhythmic and melodic shapes. Whilst there is a clearly evident phrase structure there are some overlapping phrases and the occasionally musical link which players need to take into consideration during a performance. Musically the falling minor 7th in the melody is characteristic as is the chromatic harmony which features a number of half-diminished 7th chords. Euphonium players should be aiming for a legato in their playing ensuring that they feature contrasting dynamics in a performance. There is a considerable amount of score detail and it is an excellent piece for developing control and quality of tone in solo playing. The suggested phrasing is determined by the shape of the melody and the punctuation of the poetry. Accompanists will need to make use of the sustaining pedal whilst the off-beat or syncopated chords in the accompaniment add to the intensity of the music. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 92 quarter notes or crotchet beats to the minute. There are accompaniments available playing at (1) 92 (2) 88 (3) 84 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute from the PlentyMusic website. A euphonium part notated in the treble clef and appropriately transposed is appended to the sheet music score. Close
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This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and at times it could be suggested culture. This improver level ar Show More...
This is a very popular piece of music that in many respects transcends idiom, style and at times it could be suggested culture. This improver level arrangement for euphonium and piano sounding in Eb is in common time whilst some of the accompanying chords and rhythmic shapes have been updated to give a more contemporary rock style. There are so many interpretations that it is almost impossible to decide how it should be sung, played and performed. This familiar spiritual gained popularity during the 1960’s with the Civil Rights movement and since 1988 it has become associated with the English rugby team. The realisation plays back at a tempo of 100 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar whilst the repeat is not played. As players become familiar with the content and chordal structure there is opportunity to develop the melodic material through improvisation in an additional repeat especially if it is possible to recruit a percussion player. A euphonium part notated in the bass clef is appended to the full score. Close
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Composed in 1849, this movement could be described as a song without words having a restless haunting quality which needs to be communicated in a perf Show More...
Composed in 1849, this movement could be described as a song without words having a restless haunting quality which needs to be communicated in a performance. The score is marked “Zart und mit Ausdruck” which translates as “Tender with expression.” What is challenging is that the piece can be satisfactorily performed at quite a number of different tempi from 80 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute to ones in excess 100+. Tempo matters however always need to be always under control - slight speeding ups and slowing downs (tempo rubato) are quite appropriate for the style of the movement but players need to prevent the music from running away with itself which can so easily happen encouraged particularly by the triplet figuration. In this realisation the tempo is 90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute. It is an excellent ensemble piece and particular good one for a player to learn about how to perform music. There are many performances available to listen to in the media featuring a variety of different instruments. There is a considerable amount of score detail to absorb, including the triplet figuration and not all the piano pedal markings are indicated in the score. The accompanist should also avoid playing too loudly. Like many pieces from the romantic period in the music is in ABA (ternary) form and is quite chromatic. A euphonium part notated in the bass and tenor clef is appended to the full score. Three piano accompaniments are available for this score. Accompaniment 1 plays at 80 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 84 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 3 at 88 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute. Close
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Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) was a French composer and this beautiful movement is from The Carnival of the Animals of 1886. The melody needs to be Show More...
Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) was a French composer and this beautiful movement is from The Carnival of the Animals of 1886. The melody needs to be delivered with a legato tone and because of this and the melodic range it is an excellent piece for developing the tonal aspects of playing a musical instrument. Whilst the movement is particularly associated with the cello it is suited to being played by a number of different instruments and instrument combinations. The time signature indicates that there are 6 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar and these should be played as two groups of three. The harmonic language is very French in character sharing a subtlety that is also found in the music of his friend and pupil, the French composer Fauré. Pedalling in the piano part has not been indicated in the scores but does need to be used and generally this is governed by the harmonic rhythm of the movement. Like many French composers Saint-Saens was a very fine organist and music commentators suggest that his music is deserving of more attention because of its quality and variety. A euphonium part notated in the treble clef is appended to the full score. Four accompaniments are also available. Close
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