Among Henry Purcell's keyboard music (in his day the main instruments were Harpsichord or Organ) are a number of "Grounds". A Ground is a repeating bass line which serves as the basis for a set of variations. Here is his quirky Ground in C minor with its idiosyncratic syncopation - including sheet music, video, midi & mp3 files. More...
Charles-Louis Hanon was a French composer and pianist who devised the well-known and influential Hanon Exercises. On mfiles we present the "preparatory exercises" (1-20) with videos for 1-5:
Alessandro Scarlatti was an Italian composer, the father of Domenico Scarlatti and a famous composer of operas and oratorios. However, here is one of his keyboard works based on the chord sequence known as "La Folia" or "Spanish Folies":
Quietude is Alistair Penman's latest album, and it is all about peace and relaxation. Featuring a mix of classical arrangements and original works, it is beautifully recorded on Penman's substantial range of Saxophone and Clarinet instruments. More....
Telemann's set of 12 Fantasias for Viola da Gamba Solo were thought lost until 2015 when they and other works by the composer were uncovered. Even in Telemann's day the Viola da Gamba had been largely replaced by modern string instruments. Now the Violist Michał Bryła has transcribed and recorded these works on a modern Viola. More...
Claude Debussy's Children's Corner is a suite for piano dedicated to his daughter. The final movement Cakewalk is already on mfiles and here we present the first "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum". We include the original for piano solo, and two arrangements for a variety of instruments with piano accompaniment, all with sheet music (score/parts), video and audio files:
One of Dvorak's most famous works is his Humoresque No.7 from a set of 8 Humoresques Op.101 in different keys, all of which have a light, whimsical nature. No.7 is in G-flat major though there are simpler versions in G major, and arrangements for many different instruments. On mfiles we have 3 versions with sheet music, parts and audio files:
Infinite Stories is the first solo album of saxophonist Gillian Blair. Though very much a personal project, the music selection is instantly accessible and shows off the instrument's considerable stylistic range in the hands of an expert player. The album is highly recommended. More...
Jules Massenet (1842–1912) was a French composer most famous for his operas. One of his operas called "Thaïs" has an instrumental movement called "Méditation" which is popular, and frequently heard on its own in concerts and on albums. Here are 3 different versions of this work:
In his article Zemlinsky's The Dwarf, John Caps reappraises the reputation of Alexander Zemlinsky and his work, with a particular focus on the Opera called "Der Zwerg" or "The Dwarf", based on a story by Oscar Wilde which seemed to hold a special meaning for the composer. More...
"Plaisir d'Amour" is a Love Song written in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini with words from a poem by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian. We present the original Song with Lyrics, and 4 arrangements with videos, sheet music & parts, midi & mp3 files:
Here are some arrangements of baroque works, originally composed for solo instrument plus orchestra. These include versions of Bach's Badinerie from the Orchestral Suite no.2 and Vivaldi's Largo from Winter of the Four Seasons, complete with videos, audio files, sheet music scores & parts:
Mainly known as a film composer, Danny Elfman has written quite a lot of concert music lately. His latest such album includes a Percussion Concerto performed by Colin Currie, the 3 movement work "Wunderkammer" and "Are You Lost?". More...
The Prelude (1st movement) from Bach's 1st Cello Suite in G major is one of the most famous works for solo Cello. On mfiles we present 3 versions with sheet music, videos, mp3 and midi files:
Domenico Scarlatti was a contemporary of Bach and Handel and an excellent harpsichordist. He is famous as the composer of 555 sonatas, mostly for keyboard, and here is a small selection of sonatas and arrangements - with sheet music, videos and audio files:
Christian Petzold was a contemporary of Bach, and like him was an organist and composer. A linked pair of Minuets from the composer's Harpsichord Suite found their way into the famous "Bach Notebook". Here they are with sheet music, video and audio files:
Bach composed several stand-alone fugues for Organ, and this one in G minor (sometimes called the "Little" Gm Fugue) is the most famous. Here we present 4 versions of the fugue, all with sheet music, parts, video and audio files:
Soar is a classical album featuring the talents of saxophonist Alastair Penman and pianist Jonathan Pease. The album brings together an interesting collection of music, and includes some dazzling displays of virtuoso sax playing. More....
In total Brahms composed 4 Symphonies, and the theme from the 3rd movement of his Symphony No.3 in F has captured the imagination of other composers and songwriters. Here are 3 arrangements of that theme, with sheet music (score & parts), video and audio files:
C. P. E. Bach was the 2nd surviving son of J. S. Bach, a gifted composer who helped bridge from the Baroque to the Classical Era. He was particularly famous for his keyboard music, and here we present some keyboard works with sheet music and audio files:
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