Down the centuries brass instruments have been the poor relation to strings and woodwind when it comes to ensemble music. Whilst there is a vast repertoire of chamber music for strings, and a fair amount that includes woodwind or is for woodwind specifically, many composers ignored the possibility of writing for brass ensemble, partly because for a long time brass instruments were plagued by technical limitations.
Despite this there are a handful of truly great ensemble works that were written for brass, or for precursors of modern brass instruments. Here are some of our favourites.
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Chopin’s funeral march (‘Marche funèbre’) forms the second part of his Piano Sonata No.2 in B♭minor, published in 1840. Though it is one of the most important works in the piano literature, it is also one of the most controversial— Robert Schumann describing it as ‘four of [the] maddest children under the same roof.’ Here is the story of what some consider to be Chopin’s most uneven masterpiece.
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Few pieces of classical music are as instantly recognisable as Johann Strauss II’s dazzling Blue Danube Waltz. Its mysterious shimmering opening and elegant main melody take us effortlessly into the carefree world of Viennese balls, where dazzlingly clad and carefree couples move gracefully over the dance floor.
The story behind this graceful waltz is not, however, as straightforward as its sparkling surface might suggest—the piece was actually written as a response to the horror of war and military defeat and, despite the familiarity of the orchestral version of this piece, it was originally conceived as a choral work.
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Chamber music is the most intimate of art forms. Ensembles are, by design, small enough to fit into a room (or ‘chamber’) making it suitable for smaller gatherings or simply a form of entertainment between musical friends.
Whilst much chamber music focuses on strings, the clarinet has also been a popular chamber music instrument since its invention in the early 18th century. It’s both mellow enough to blend in, but distinct enough to add to the overall colour of an ensemble.
Here are our picks of some of the greatest chamber works that include clarinet, some of which may be surprisingly familiar. You’ll also find some exclusive arrangements of these works, so you won’t need to form your own chamber ensemble to play them!
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The French horn is one of the loveliest, most noble of instruments—Robert Schumann called it ‘the soul of the orchestra’, Hector Berlioz, said that it ‘is the voice of the hero, the poet, and the lover.’ It’s no surprise then to find that composers have chosen to write solo work for this marvellous instrument. Here are our picks of the absolute best. Follow the links to find copies of the sheet music.
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There have been many films about the lives of great composers, including about Igor Stravinsky (Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky, 2010), Chopin (Impromptu, 1991); Beethoven (Immortal Beloved, 1994); and Tchaikovsky (The Music Lovers, 1970).
None, however, has quite matched ‘Amadeus’ (1984), Miloš Forman’s brilliant account of the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Told through the eyes of Mozart’s rival Antono Salieri, it paints a vivid, if not always accurate, picture of the composer’s life, accompanied by vibrant scenes of court and everyday life in Hapsburg Vienna.
Most gloriously of all, it is chock-full of music by Mozart. You will find most of this available here on 8notes and, using our exclusive arrangements, you can learn to play it on your own instrument (if you can’t find a version for your instrument, subscribers can request new versions at any time).
Here then is the ultimate guide to the music from this great film.
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Colonel Bogey is a name that conjures up images of a stern and moustachioed military figure, strong of bearing, leading his troops crisply on parade. But did such a figure provide the inspiration for Kenneth J. Alford's famous march? The answer is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’—like all good legends the truth is more complicated, and a lot more interesting…
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The guitar has got to be one of the most adaptable of instruments. Hooked to an amplifier it is capable of knocking out power chords and filling a stadium with sound. In its classical acoustic form, on the other hand, it is one of the most intimate and soothingly sweet of instruments. Here are some of the most essential classical works for guitar, offering a glimpse into its more personal and lyrical side.
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The air-clearing, mood-setting purpose of overtures, not to mention the fact that they are often choc-full of the best tunes of the works they introduce, makes them among the most musically arresting works in the repertoire. So it’s no surprise that they are hugely popular as standalone concert works and amongst discerning 8notes members.
Here is our definitive list of the absolute best of them, together with links to sheet music, so you can try them out for yourself. If you can’t find a version for your instrument, remember that members can request new versions at any time.
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Dvořák wrote his Symphony No.9, ‘From the New World’ whilst director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City from 1892 to 1895. The title refers to the continent of America not merely as the expression of the composer’s novelty at being in a new land, but as an acknowledgement that the work is deeply inspired by the music and culture of the United States.
The symphony was an instant success, remaining to this day one of the most popular in the repertoire—themes from it, above all the gorgeous Largo that forms the second movement, are amongst our most popular pieces here on 8notes.
Here’s the full story of Dvořák's most iconic, epic and most American of works.
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