
Our Composer Timelines article has infographics mapping the main composers for the Baroque, Classical and Romantic Periods. The images can be viewed on screen, but with sufficient detail to allow printing as wall posters. More...
Best known for his Royal Music, Handel composed a wealth of music used frequently in church services and on television and film. Here is new sheet music (and audio files) for Handel's Largo and his famous keyboard Sarabande:
"The Carnival of the Animals" is one of the most famous pieces by the composer Camille Saint-Saens. It is a fun suite mostly depicting various members of the animal kingdom, and here we present 2 contrasting movements: the graceful Swan and the lumbering Elephant (midi, mp3 and all parts included). More...
A Nocturne is music inspired by night-time, often relaxed and poetic. Frederic Chopin published 18 during his lifetime, and we present his Nocturne No.20 in C# minor which was published after his death. See and hear this amazing work in these formats:
Mozart's genius is apparent in his symphonies, concertos, masses and operas, but it also shows in his chamber music. He learned to play keyboards from an early age, and his piano sonatas seem to spring from an endless supply of musical inspiration:
Henry Purcell wrote music for royal occasions, including the funeral of Queen Mary II. In a cruel irony Purcell himself died the next year and his music was also used on that occasion. Here is the March from the Funeral Music in 2 arrangements:
Isaac Albeniz composed many piano works based on evocative Spanish folk music and dances. His Tango from the suite España (Op.165 No.2) is one of many such pieces. Here it is in a number of formats and arrangements:
Mozart's Clarinet Concerto is one of the most famous wind concertos, and it has been used in numerous films most notably in "Out of Africa". Here is the serene slow movement in two formats, including all sheet music parts, midi and mp3 files:
The Toccata and Fugue in D minor is Bach's most famous Organ work. We are improving our Sheet Music using the latest version of Sibelius, and using better software to record our mp3 files at a higher quality. The Toccata and Fugue are now available in the following versions:
The composer Edvard Grieg had a house built for him near Bergen in Norway. Though this is now a museum dedicated to Grieg, he and his family lived there for many years and they called the house "Troldhaugen" which means "Troll's Hill". Among his "Lyric Pieces" for piano there is a popular piece called "Wedding Day at Troldhaugen" whose happy mood seems to suggest the Grieg family enjoyed life to the full in this house. At mfiles we now have 3 Lyric Pieces and one arrangement available as sheet music and audio files:
In total Beethoven composed 32 Piano Sonatas, and there is a wealth of good music among them. Some are difficult to play but others are more approachable by the piano student. Here is sheet music, midi and mp3 files for some famous examples and arrangements:
In Manuscripts, Pens & Composers, Jeffrey Dane introduces some iconic moments in the annals of Classical Music. Illustrated with original manuscripts and other documents, his article illuminates the history and offers insight into the minds of the great composers. More...
The composer Edward Elgar is often seen as a typical Edwardian gentleman, but he struggled to find acceptance in society and was largely self-taught. He is now regarded as the first in a new wave of English composers.
In our latest article we look at some key milestones in the development of music notation, with many examples showing different systems of notation, how music evolved in the hands of the Church, how it is adapted for different instruments, and how everything has changed using computers. More...
Of all the wonderful music in Mozart's Piano Concertos, the slow movement from Concerto No.21 in C is so well-known, from its use in films (Elvira Madigan) and on TV. Download sheet music score & parts for the original music, and our new arrangement for solo piano with midi & mp3 files:
The Lullaby by Johannes Brahms is one of his best known songs. It also makes an ideal instrumental piece so we have included sheet music to suit a variety of different instruments. Here is the Lullaby and other works by Brahms:
One of Handel's most popular works is the Water Music composed for a Royal event on the Thames. We have sheet music scores and parts below for three versions of the famous "Hornpipe" from the Water Music, and remember you can hire live classical musicians.
Take a look at the lighter side of music with our latest article about Humour in Music. From classical and stage to film and television, the article is richly illustrated with lots of examples. More...
Schubert's Trout Quintet is a Piano Quintet in 5 movements. The 4th movement is a set of variations on the melody from "The Trout", one of his songs where the piano plays a delightful rippling accompaniment like water in a stream. Here is the sheet music of the Quintet's Trout Variations with the score and all the parts, plus midi and mp3 files.
Three new scores by Antonio Vivaldi have recently been found. To celebrate we have released 3 versions of "Autumn" from "The Four Seasons": the original for violin and string orchestra, an arrangement for Violin and Piano and an arrangement for Piano Solo. more...
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet is a favourite at Christmas Time. The Sugar Plum Fairy is often heard on TV, its tinkling sound suggesting toys, magic, children and fantasy. If you play the piano try this piano arrangement of the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Jeffrey Dane looks at the life and work of the composer Gabriel Fauré. Illustrated with photos, this article looks at the composer's life and loves, his problems finding a sympathetic publisher, his influence as an educator, and the rightful recognition that he found later in life. More...
This album is a modern recording using the latest techniques, though the performances were laid down a century ago! The Grieg Piano Concerto was recorded by Percy Grainger in 1921 on piano rolls which have been used to play a steinway concert grand and recreate the historic performance. Also included on the album are similar recordings of a number of solo piano works made by Edvard Grieg himself in 1906, and his Violin Sonata No.3 in Cm. It is remarkable to hear historic recordings with such clarity and definition More...