Two composers with a Chopin connection. John Field composed a number of Nocturnes and inspired Chopin to write his own. Carl Filtsch was a young student of Chopin who sadly died at the age of 14. Here are some midi files of music by both composers:
In addition to symphonies and ballets, Tchaikovsky composed many pieces for solo piano. Mostly this was at the request of his publisher seeking sales. Here are midi files of 3 of his piano pieces, in their original form and also in woodwind arrangements:
The Dolly Suite by French composer Gabriel Fauré is one of his best known works. It was originally composed for piano duet, but is frequently played in other arrangements. On mfiles we present midi files of the 1st movement of the Dolly Suite, named Berceuse (or Lullaby), in 3 different arrangements:
Continuing our exploration of early music notation, here is a lively dance tune called "Saltarello 2" from a Medieval Tuscan collection from the late 14th Century. It is the 2nd of 3 Saltarellos in the collection, and the music clearly shows a characteristic jumping figure which gives the dance its name. Here are midi files for two versions of this piece:
Beethoven's 6th Symphony in F is called the Pastoral since it's all about the countryside. The 1st movement sets the scene musically by describing the peace and tranquility after arriving in the countryside. Here is a midi file for the first movement, available to download:
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) is best known as a pianist and composer of piano music, but he was very influential as a composer and musician. Among his solo piano works is a set of 3 Liebestraum of which No.3 is the best known. We now have midi files for No.3 available in 2 versions:
Frederic Chopin is credited with 21 Nocturnes for piano, and many of these are ripe for arranging to suit different instruments and combinations. Here are midi files of his famous Nocturne in E-flat Op.9 No.2, the original for piano and two different arrangements:
Mozart's 4th Horn Concerto is his most famous, particularly the 3rd movement "Rondo" which will remind listeners that today's orchestral french horn was developed from hunting horns. The main theme uses intervals similar to hunting horns while the tempo and rhythm are reminiscent of a gallop. Here are midi files for this 3rd movement in two different versions:
The Largo from Dvorak's New World Symphony has been relaxing people for years, frequently used on TV to accompany homely, rural and nostalgic scenes. Below are midi files of 3 different arrangements of Dvorak's Largo (from his 9th Symphony):
Here are two more piano rags by Scott Joplin the King of Ragtime, including "Peacherine Rag" and "The Cascades which Joplin composed for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Here are the new midi files or check the Ragtime page for more.
Our Midi music for Remembrance Day includes:
Vivaldi's "L'estro armonico" is a set of 12 concertos. We present midi files of the perfectly formed 2nd (slow) movement from the Concerto No.11 in Dm (RV 565), for solo violin and string orchestra, in its original form plus 3 arrangements:
Brahms composed 2 versions of his "Variations on the St. Anthony Chorale" (previously thought to be by Haydn), for Two Pianos and for Orchestra. For the Theme only, we include midi files of these and 2 further versions - for Piano Solo and for Trio (played here on oboe, clarinet & bassoon):
Edvard Grieg composed his Holberg Suite to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ludvig Holberg, a Norwegian writer, and chose the style of his Suite to reflect period music "From Holberg's Time". Although Grieg later arranged the Holberg Suite for string orchestra we present the 3rd movement "Gavotte" from the original version for piano solo. Here is a midi file of the Gavotte which is ready to download:
"Flowers of the Forest" is an old Scottish Folk Song, found in an early 17th Century manuscript. Here we have 4 different Midi files: the original melody (guitar substituting for mandore/lute), a slightly newer version (often played as a Lament) on solo bagpipes, arranged for Piano Solo, and arranged for oboe with piano accompaniment:
Franz Schubert composed more than 600 songs in total, though "Ständchen" (or Serenade) was published after his death as part of a collection called "Swan Song" by the publisher. Here are midi files for the original song and several instrumental arrangements:
Joseph Haydn has 104 numbered symphonies to his name. The Symphony No.88 in G major falls between his "Paris" Symphonies and "London" ones, and one of his better known. Here is a midi file for the first movement, available to download:
Here are some shorter, less well-known works by Bach. From his Lute Suite in E minor BWV996, the Bourrée is very adaptable and can be played on Piano, Guitar or as a Duet. His Little Prelude in C minor BWV999 is not one of his 48 Preludes & Fugues but similar in concept, and well suited to either Piano or Guitar. Here are Midi files for each of these arrangements:
Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian born composer and pianist who later settled in the US. Among his works for piano solo are a total of 24 preludes one in each major and minor key. Here are midi files for two of his most famous preludes:
In total Beethoven composed 32 Piano Sonatas and 10 Violin Sonatas. However his most famous works are often converted into music for other instruments. Here are midi files of some famous piano sonatas arranged for other instruments and also a sample from his first violin sonata:
Here's some new Midi files of Guitar Music including 2 pieces by Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909), often considered to be the "Father of Classical Guitar". The other 2 pieces are by Luis Narváez and "Anonymous" and all the works include midi & mp3 files plus PDF Sheet Music:
Here are two very different funeral marches. Frederic Chopin's Funeral March is perhaps the most famous and comes from his 2nd Piano Concerto. The much earlier Funeral March presented here is from the music composed for the funeral of Queen Mary II by Henry Purcell, the original work being for 3 trumpets and 1 trombone.
