This arrangement for classical guitar quartet of Rheinberger’s Cantilene from his Organ Sonata No.11 is scored for 4 classical guitars. Instrumental Show More...
This arrangement for classical guitar quartet of Rheinberger’s Cantilene from his Organ Sonata No.11 is scored for 4 classical guitars. Instrumental parts for individual players are appended to the full score. Accompaniments are also available allowing the guitar 1 player to enjoy ensemble practice in context. There is a one bar eighth note (quaver) click track before the 3 guitars start to sound. They play back at 80, 84 and 88 eighth (quaver) notes to the minute. Rheinberger was a prolific composer and made a significant contribution to the organ music repertoire. Born in Liechtenstein he spent most of his life in Germany. He was also a distinguished teacher from the years he spent in Munich and Richard Strauss was just one of many distinguished pupils. J.G. Rheinberger is a name familiar to organists but like many church composers his music is not widely known outside the music world in which he worked. The Cantilena is the second movement of Rheinberger’s Organ Sonata No. 11 in D minor published as his Opus 148. The work was composed in 1888. Rheinberger was particularly influenced by J.S. Bach, F. Mendelssohn, R. Schumann and J. Brahms in his compositional approach. While the piece is reminiscent of Bach’s Arioso style the strong chromatic element in the writing belongs very much to its time identified as the late romantic period in music history. A beautifully crafted score this is really a late 19th century manifestation of a Bach chorale harmonisation with the influence of the chromatic harmony of Brahms. In this arrangement the music has been transposed up a tone from the key of F to the key of G. Apart from the beauty of the melody the counterpoint, particularly in the inner parts of the accompaniment, is a joy to explore. There are few dynamic markings in the score which is actually very untypical of music scores of the time. The realisation plays back at 84 eighth note beats to the minute. Guitarists should play with an awareness of an eighth note or quaver pulse. Performers would be wise to study the harmonic outline and examine the voice leading in the individual parts. Careful attention needs to be paid to the accidentals and tied notes in the score. The music scores available are often contradictory particularly in respect to the tied notes in the inner parts. Cantilena is an Italian/Latin word suggesting both lullaby and song. A movement that is intended to be played in a quiet and sustained manner.The melody needs to be played with a legato whilst the bass line is played with a detached or staccato touch. The melody explores several rhythmic motifs often with tied notes. Much of the writing features off-beat rhythms related to the resolving of the dissonances in the inner parts. The influence of the Bach 4 part chorale harmonisation is paramount together with the chromatic harmony that suggests the influence of J. Brahms. There are several arrangements available from the PlentyMusic website for both ensembles and solo instruments with piano accompaniment. Close
An intermediatelevel arrangement from PlentyMusic for classical guitar trio of the second movement Siciliana from the String Trio Opus 17 No. 1 by Fel Show More...
An intermediatelevel arrangement from PlentyMusic for classical guitar trio of the second movement Siciliana from the String Trio Opus 17 No. 1 by Felice Giardini transcribed to the key of A. Giardini’s string trio’s music are beautifully crafted works and need to be re-discovered and played. The tempo marking in the sheet music score is Adagio whilst the video score plays back at 44 dotted quarter (crotchet) notes to the minute. Trills begin on the note and have been notated in full in the video score which can be viewed on our YouTube channel. This area of performance practice is one that encourages debate and if instrumentalists have an alternative please do send the PlentyMusic Office an mp3 recording of a performance or rehearsal or even a notated version. The siciliana, siciliano or sicilienne is a slow dance with a lilting rhythm in three time which can be described as a slow jig and features quite strongly in baroque music and in many works since. Such music is often in the minor key, pastoral in character with dotted rhythms frequently prevailing. Its origins are possibly Sicilian because of its association with the Sicilian born Alessandro Scarlatti but more likely to the madrigals of the Italian renaissance. Giardini’s music is familiar to those who sing hymns as the tune Moscow was composed by him. Giardini 1716 – 1796 Italian by birth, was a violinist and composer, who toured widely in Europe settling in England and becoming an orchestra leader of the Italian Opera in London and director of the orchestra at the London Pantheon. He worked closely with his friend and colleague J. C. Bach, familiarly referred to as the the London Bach. For a 15 year period from the mid 1750’s Giardini was considered to be one of the very best performing artists of his time. As a composer his chamber music, particularly his string trios, are best known and his compositional style combines style galant with the classicism of J. C. Bach and the Mannheim school associated with Stamitz. This so called pre-classical period in music is a fascinating period to study because of the great diversity in music across the main cities of Europe. After leaving England in 1784 for Naples his career faltered due mainly to changes in secure financial circumstances. Close
Handel’s Lascia ch’io pianga (Let me cry) from the opera Rinaldo in an improver level instrumental arrangement for classical guitar quartet with g Show More...
Handel’s Lascia ch’io pianga (Let me cry) from the opera Rinaldo in an improver level instrumental arrangement for classical guitar quartet with guitar 4 having its 6th string tuned down to D. Instrument parts are attached to the full score which is available from PlentyMusic as a pdf download. If circumstances arise then there the music could be performed by a guitar ensemble with each part played by more than one instrument. The aria or song is taken from the opera Rinaldo which first appeared in 1711 and was subsequently revised in 1733. It is in ABA form and based on the sarabande rhythm which has the stress on the second beat of the three beats in a bar. When sung the Da Capo section would be an opportunity for the soloist to improvise and ornament the melody and this is an option available for the top line players in this instrumental arrangement. The music editor suggests that it appropriate to keep to the style of the period in the first instance but it is also a piece in which the stylistic element can be explored. Those who enjoy improvising can always record their work can send it as an mp3 to the PlentyMusic office for feedback. The score has been notated in 3|2 time keeping to the conventions of the original notation but could quite readily be notated in 3|4 time. The trill in bar has been written out in the video score which is available to view on the PlentyMusic YouTube channel. This is music that is very appropriate music for a solemn processional in a social context context. It is usual to present baroque scores with minimal score detail although in this score there is some indication of appropriate dynamics. The arrangement is in the original key of F major although the tempo for the quartet is more Larghetto than Largo which was the tempo indication in the opera. The music in the video score plays back at a tempo of 66 half note or minim beats to the minute. The music editor observes that instrumental arrangements of a vocal piece are invariably played at a faster tempo. This is an opportunity for an improver level musician to be playing what is a great piece of music. It is what the music editor identifies as being a potential “stepping stone” for many instrument players. There is an interesting story as to the origins of the sarabande rhythm for those who enjoy researching the history of forms and rhythmic patterns particularly those associated with dances. Close
Los Tres Golpes (The Three Knocks) by the Cuban composer Ignacio Cervantes is a movement that explores the habanera pattern. This arrangement for guit Show More...
Los Tres Golpes (The Three Knocks) by the Cuban composer Ignacio Cervantes is a movement that explores the habanera pattern. This arrangement for guitar quartet is a great performance pieces enabling guitarists to explore many aspects of their playing particularly regarding tone, the articulation of notes and dynamic range. The realisation has a repeat played which is common when Cervantes music is performed. The tempo of the realisation is 84 bpm. The sheet music scores is also presented with a repeat in place although this is editorial. The music has been transposed from the original key of E minor to A minor. The movement can be played at a variety of tempo. The music editor suggests that it is easier to decide when the movement is being played too slowly rather than too quickly! The choice of tempo is dependent on the instrument combination, the performance context and the acoustic of the recording or performance venue. There is scope to explore tempo rubato in a performance. These miniatures provide excellent playing material for players because they provide so many of the musical elements that feature in Cuban music whether in an art music, folk or popular music context. Cervantes was a composer and musician who assimilated the music elements of his home country in all his work. As he studied music formally in Cuba and in Europe his music is generally presented in a way that lends itself to being arranged in the traditions of the Western music tradition. The contrapuntal element in his music is very strong and whereas formally Cervantes always has clear melodic and harmonic direction musical ideas are presented in a sectional context which are generally repeated. The suggestion is a very quick and inventive mind particularly in his use of the habanera pattern. The melodic line in its original form for piano has a broad range (more than 3 octaves) and for many of the arrangements it is necessary to utilise octave transpositions to enable the most appropriate range of the featured solo instrument to be explored. For those interested in the voicing of the composer’s original score download the piano version which is available as a free score. The original PlentyMusic context for this movement was in the Ragtime and Relations Area of Study in which the focus was exploring syncopated rhythms including the habanera pattern. In 2021, the scores have been reviewed and a number of additional arrangements have been added to the PlentyMusic website. The arrangement would be best played with either 4 nylon strung guitars or 4 steel strung guitars. A mandolin can also be substituted for Acoustic Guitar 1. 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 too abruptly. The realisation plays at 66 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. The modal element that features in much of Faure's music is also evident in this arrangement. Guitar players may like to explore the octave options, the use of harmonics and the voicing of the final chord. Individual guitar parts are also appended to the full score. An acoustic guitar duet accompaniment is available. Accompaniment 1 plays at 64 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute, Accompaniment 2 at 68 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute and Accompaniment 3 at 72 quarter note beats (crotchet) to the minute. Close
A tempo in the range of 84-90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended for this sunny ensemble piece arranged for flute and two guit Show More...
A tempo in the range of 84-90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended for this sunny ensemble piece arranged for flute and two guitars. The formal pattern used by the composer can be represented by the letters ABACA whilst the repeat signs have been retained in the realisation. Nazareth was an exceptionally gifted pianist and whilst the pianistic influence is understandably strong in his compositions his music which transfers well to other instruments particularly those of the plucked variety. The clarity of line in his musical textures is a strong feature of his compositional style. Escovado was composed in 1905 and dedicated to the composer's younger brother. The title is a common slang term which means smart or cunning and the composition became one of the composer's best known works. Close
A tempo in the range of 84-90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended for this sunny ensemble piece. The formal pattern used by the Show More...
A tempo in the range of 84-90 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended for this sunny ensemble piece. The formal pattern used by the composer can be represented by the letters ABACA whilst the repeat signs have been retained in the realisation. Nazareth was an exceptionally gifted pianist and whilst the pianistic influence is understandably strong in his compositions his music which transfers well to other instruments particularly those of the plucked variety. The clarity of line in his musical textures is a strong feature of his compositional style. Escovado was composed in 1905 and dedicated to the composer's younger brother. The title is a common slang term which means smart or cunning and the composition became one of the composers best known works. Close
In this duo arrangement for mandolin and acoustic guitar, without TAB, a tempo of around 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended Show More...
In this duo arrangement for mandolin and acoustic guitar, without TAB, a tempo of around 72 quarter note (crotchet) beats to the minute is recommended. Scott Joplin's The Entertainer which he described as A Rag Time Two Step was composed in 1902. The music is instantly recognisable, which is a disadvantage to any instrumentalist because as a consequence it needs to played both accurately and musically. Ragtime is the first readily identifiable modern popular music in that it has elements and links with popular music that succeeded it. Unfortunately, much ragtime music is played very badly and frequently at too fast a tempo so I would suggest listening to Scott Joplin's own remastered piano rolls to obtain an understanding of the performance style. Ragtime music is also quite deceptive in that it sounds easy on the ear but is actually quite a challenge for the fingers to play. Close
