Lord, I Love Your Commands – Psalm 118 (119)Title: Lord, I love your commands Text: Psalm 118 (119): 57, 75, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: SATB and piano Product medium: PDF score and part Sample:
It’s my apartment and I’ll play if I want toProkofiev and his family moved into a small top floor-apartments in Paris. Prokofiev spent much time practicing a revised version of his second piano concerto (which was to be premiered 8 May 1924). The apartment manager demanded that Prokofiev cease playing. His wife Lina recalled Prokofiev’s response: All right then, you don’t want to hear […]
Air IITitle: Air II Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: Piano Duet Level: Piano I – level 1 (five finger positions, left and right hands) Product medium: PDF score & MP3 accompaniment track (Audio sample of accompaniment track only)
It must be resolvedBach, a master of harmony and counterpoint, would not settle for imperfect sounds, no matter where he was. Johann Reichardt recalled: Johann Sebastian Bach once came into a large company while a musical amateur was sitting and improvising at a harpsichord. The moment the latter became aware of the presence of the great master, he […]
Intermezzo, op. 118, no. 2 (Brahms)Title: Intermezzo, op. 118, no. 2Composer: Johannes BrahmsArranger: Greg SmithInstrumentation: Cello and pianoProduct medium: PDF score and part
My tempo must be followedRavel was very particular about how his works were performed. Ravel always insisted that the tempo for Boléro should be moderate and rigorously maintained throughout. He made a recording of that, too establishing his requirement. Toscanini took it much faster and made an accelerando towards the end. Ravel, who was in the audience, objected. He […]
Artificial by natureBurnett James describes how in the 1920s Ravel was preoccupied with decorating "Le Belvédère" [his house] and in laying out the garden with many small exotic plants and miniature Japanese trees. To see that house and garden today is to experience a feeling of direct contact with Ravel. He deliberately made it an accurate reflection […]
The art of pedallingThe one bee in my bonnet is over-pedalling, and I give my students a hard time about that. It’s the lack of being able to play a true legato with the fingers. People rely on the pedal for that, and the pedal is not there for that. The pedal is for putting the gloss on. […]
Creativity between now and Tuesday“Creativity is a highfalutin word for the work I have to do between now and Tuesday.” – Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s corporation
Baudelaire on inspiration“Inspiration is merely the reward for working every day!” – Charles Baudelaire (French poet). According to Roland-Manuel, Ravel would often recite this phrase. Source: Nichols, Roger (1987) Ravel Remembered. London: Faber & Faber, p. 143.
