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Reich on modernism and tonality
American composer Steve Reich on Schoenberg and his compositional style: Schönberg is the beginning of the death of German Romanticism. …
The silent bass clarinet
During a rehearsal of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony: Stokowski had inserted a gratuitous part for bass clarinet. “It so happens,” wrote …
There’s a crack in everything
There is a crack, a crack in everythingThat’s how the light gets in. Leonard Cohen, “Anthem Related: “There is a …
Dance of the Knights (Prokofiev)
Title: “Dance of the Knights” from Romeo and Juliet (op. 64) Composer: Sergei Prokofiev Arranger: Greg Smith Instrumentation: Cello and …
Never use a score
I never use a score when conducting my orchestra. Does a lion tamer enter a cage with a book on …
Pablo Casals’ obligation
“I am a very simple man. I am a man first, an artist second. My first obligation is to the …
A task no longer
“Set me a task in which I can put something of my very self, and it is a task no …
The effect of audience reception on Stravinsky’s compositional process
Stravinksy on the public not particularly liking his music: Their attitude certainly cannot make me deviate from my path. I …
Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies
Title: Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies (silent film score) Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: Piano Product medium: PDF score Related products: – …
Creativity
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” — Mary Lou Cook, American community …
The addictive nature of song writing
“You know it’s sort of addictive because there is all this gold just floating in the ether around you. The …
A Tear Hangs There (Tchaikovsky)
Composer: Pytor Il’yich Tchaikovsky (arr. Greg Smith) Title: A Tear Hangs There (Слеза дрожит), Op. 6. No. 4 Instrumentation: Cello …
My tempo must be followed
Ravel was very particular about how his works were performed. Ravel always insisted that the tempo for Boléro should be …
Berlioz on editorial license
“You musicians, you poets, prose-writers, actors, pianists, conductors, whether of third or second or even first rank, you do not …
Mastery
“Mastery passes often for egotism.” — Johanne Goethe, German author Johanne Goethe (1906) The Maxisms and Relfections. Translated by Bailey …

Arrangements and orchestrations

Composition

Music transcription

Arrangements and orchestrations

Composition

Music transcription

By Greg