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Over the years directing the Oregon State University Guitar Ensemble, I've arranged dozens of works for guitar ensemble. Some of those are now available, with performance samples, at SheetMusicPlus
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Another free download for everyone, the product of a full Saturday's work. What a lovely Strauss song. Works well 1/2 step down from the original key of Eb major. Use a capo if you need.
Recently perusing Hoppstock's mighty contribution of Schubert arrangements to the vocal/guitar repertoire inspired me to make my own. This, Im Frühling (In Spring), is one of my favorites. Level is pretty advanced, but there are still a few months left before Spring..a favorite performance, below.
Ric Burns' epic New York documentary stoked my interested in Irish Americans. Programming starts far in advance of concerts, and as I've been asked to include some Irish music on a concert in March, I made this brief transcription of the chorus. See also a bit from the documentary below.
Each term at Oregon State University I arrange new music for my Guitar Ensemble course. I liked how these two turned out enough to record them myself. Please enjoy.
This has always been one of my favorite arias from the St. John Passion of J.S. Bach (for biased reasons--the obligato lute accompaniment also works as a prelude à la BWV 999), and all I've done here is consolidate the grand staff of the lute part into guitar notation. The only change I've made to the part is the transposition of one bass note, which is noted in the score. A wonderful performance of the work can be seen here
Betrachte, meine Seel, mit ängstlichem Vergnügen, Mit bittrer Lust und halb beklemmtem Herzen Dein höchstes Gut in Jesu Schmerzen, Wie dir auf Dornen, so ihn stechen, Die Himmelsschlüsselblumen blühn! Du kannst viel süße Frucht von seiner Wermut brechen Drum sieh ohn Unterlass auf ihn! Contemplate, my soul, with anxious pleasure, with bitter joy and half-constricted heart, your highest Good in Jesus' suffering, how for you, out of the thorns that pierce Him, the tiny 'keys of Heaven' bloom! You can pluck much sweet fruit from his wormwood; therefore gaze without pause upon Him! “Don’t look for too many unmentionable motivations in the Album Sonata. I promised it to a young woman who was very kind to me, in return for a beautiful sofa cushion that she gave me as a present.”
So wrote Richard Wagner, nearly twenty-five years after he composed the work in question (2). The little mention which the composer made to this sonata is exclusively dedicated to downplaying its significance; Wagner knew he would be remembered as a composer of dramatic works, not of ‘absolute’ instrumental ones. Aside from Wagner’s relationship with the work’s dedicatee, does this sonata, all but ignored in Wagner studies, offer any insight into a composer for whom so much insight has already been offered up? Feburary: New publications courtesy of LACG Editions:
Mozart (Adagio for Glass Harmonica) J.S. Bach (Prelude no. 24 from Book 2 of The Well-Tempered Clavier) |
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