Mozart’s last composition, his Requiem Mass K.626, is not just celebrated for being a work of profound genius, it is also forms the centre-piece of one of music’s greatest mysteries. Commissioned by the dark emissary of an anonymous figure, Mozart died before he could complete it. Miraculously, after his death the finished work, apparently entirely by Mozart, was presented to the public. Involving an eccentric count, a suspected murder and a deceitful wife, the story of how this was achieved is very strange indeed...
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Faure’s Pavane of 1887 is a short orchestral work based on a Spanish courtly dance of the same name. Its unforgettable main melody has made it one of the composer’s most popular pieces, a status it certainly enjoys here on 8notes (we have more than 70 versions of the Pavane to choose from so you should be able to find the sheet music for your instrument or ensemble). Here's the full story, including the hidden meaning of this elegant classic of nineteenth century French music.
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Nowadays Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake stands as one of the most beloved and performed works in the ballet repertoire. It’s certainly popular amongst our members, with movements from it being amongst the most visited pages here on 8notes (see below for a list of some the best parts with links to sheet music). Its start was, however, a rocky one, with a difficult premiere and a stuttering first run before a triumphant revival after the composer’s death. Here is the full story.
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If you’re a clarinetist then, well, congratulations! You've chosen one of the the most versatile and beautiful instruments in the orchestra (or wind band, jazz band, chamber group—it certainly gets around). It is also an instrument with a boatload of great repertoire, from classical through to jazz and klezmer. At the pinnacle of this repertoire lies the concerto, solo works with orchestra designed to highlight the instrument’s best characteristics and the technical abilities of their players. The clarinet has some great ones to choose from—here are our best five.
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If you are looking for one of the most rousing pieces of all time, a good place to start is Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture (and we have versions for 30 instruments and ensembles to choose from). Written to celebrate the Russian victory over Napoleon in 1812, it ends in a satisfying blaze of brass, cannon fire and bells. Whilst its effect is undeniable the piece has, however, had its issues and controversies over the years—Tchaikovsky was famously dismissive of it, the first performance was not nearly so rousing as intended and its bombast has made it the subject of both criticism and parody.
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The beating heart of almost all orchestral music, the violin is also the quintessential solo instrument, with many composers down the years writing brilliant concertos for it. Whilst there are a great many to choose from, however, we wondered what the absolute cream of the crop might be. Here, then is our definite list, which links to both the full works and easy extracts from the pieces, allowing players not quite ready for the full concerto experience to enjoy these masterpieces.
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There are so many great choral works, including monumental masterpieces like Handel’s Messiah, Bach's St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (to name only a handful). Unfortunately these works require instrumental resources and performing skills that put them beyond the range of many amateur choirs. Luckily, however, there are also many great easy choral works that are perfect for amateurs and professionals alike. These pieces can also be practised here on 8notes using our exclusive playback feature that allows singers to hear their individual choral lines. Here, in no particular order then, are our ten most beautiful easy choral pieces of all time!
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If you’re looking for the ultimate classical chill-out music, look no further than Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs. In five glorious minutes the composer weaves a melodic spell that seems to transport listeners to a higher emotional plane. Small wonder, then, that is one of our most popular pieces here on 8notes (and we have more than 30 version of it to choose from! ). Despite its popularity however, the piece is also one of the least understood in the repertoire. Few people even know what ‘Thaïs’ is. The full story reveals a piece less saccharine than one might first have imagined....
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A warm summer’s day in London, 1717. King George I, accompanied by a number of lavishly dressed courtiers, has just boarded the royal barge on the Thames at Whitehall. The royal party makes its way serenely upriver, carried on the tide towards their destination at Chelsea. A flotilla of boats accompanies the royal barge, for this is no ordinary expedition—from one of the craft an orchestra of fifty musicians begins to play a new piece by one of the most celebrated composers in Europe...
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Invented by Belgian Adolphe Sax in the 1840s, the saxophone is a relative newcomer in the classical music world. The instruments have also experienced a good deal of prejudice over the years (check out this article here for more on this ). Whilst these factors meant many composers ignored their potential, some great figures did choose to write for these marvellous instruments. Here are the pieces every saxophonist should know!
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