Music theory and composition, music history, (ethno)musicology, aesthetic philosophy, and much much more, presented in a readily accessible manner.
19 Oct 2020 6 minute read 1 comment PhilipDaniel
Known for its warm and reverberant timbre, the viola d'amore ("viol of love") occupies the tenor tessitura of the viol family. Ordinarily, the instrument's bowed strings number seven, although this may vary, with six strings being nearly as common. A...
19 Oct 2020 2 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
The considerable oeuvre of the 16th-century English composer John Sheppard hardly deserves its current obscurity, though it may pale in comparison with the sumptuous and timeless sacred music of his better-known older contemporary Thomas Tallis. Admi...
![Notes on the composer John Sheppard [Shepherd] (c.1520-c.1560)](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-1a28b7514bf8ace87eebaf6108877dae5d5679aa2484d4a8225bd743aff914d4.png)
14 Oct 2020 9 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
An Aequale for French Horn duet in the form of a two-part invention, an homage to the soberly "neoclassical" counterpoint of twentieth-century master composer Paul Hindemith. The archaic (though now partly revived a...
![Aequale "Bicinium in the Hindemithian Idiom" [Philip Daniel; 2020]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-55ac35cf59b6b1a1d3fccf6c96ed6e4063480667268d8896cb53b4189937f3b9.png)
28 Jul 2020 1 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
A lyrical yet uncanny Aequale for Horn in A, Mellophone, Tenor Trombone, and B♭ Bass Ophicleide. In ternary form, the work is suffused with a moody melodicism throughout. Below you will find the "conductor's score": Some n...
![Aequale "Romanza senza parole" [Philip Daniel; 2020]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-c17899d65ca819152ff1c3ad2cb3fc2430af593ea0b6e7c838b7b9811298db63.png)
28 Jul 2020 2 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
A motet-like Aequale for E♭ Cornet, B♭ Cornet, F Alto Horn, and Baritone Horn, inspired by the text of Psalm 137 ("By the rivers of Babylon..."). Semi-imitative, developmental counterpoint grows in intensity until it gives way to (modally...
![Aequale "supra Psalm 137" [Philip Daniel; 2020]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-5905b3bed2419cfe8dd212ed7a4e4bc925d83b06e23707df59db92a566d53748.png)
28 Jul 2020 1 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
A dramatically intense, harmonically luxuriant Aequale for two B♭ Trumpets, two Tenor Trombones, and one F Tuba. The title, Italian for "in the manner of a spiritual madrigal", defies literal interpretation, as the approach to melody, harmon...
![Aequale "alla maniera di madrigale spirituale" [Philip Daniel; 2020] [SCROLLING SCORE]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-c4c62655964af55919bd155ee001810605d143a4e5aab2bd58abe70928b4b137.png)
26 Jul 2020 1 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
ECLOGUE That vine, imagine, that drooping vine,As if 'twere a swan's lithe neck,Or supple wave 'pon flinty shores,(Which wistful grayish clouds pour on,Through the mist's pale veil, Amidst rough gale,Till coastal strand, deluged, is sated,And atoll...
![ECLOGUE [Philip Daniel; 2020]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-ec9954e51d6708c9e5b4a765bb9f6dec6bca236dc8d879d8c1545675e42d2cc4.jpeg)
25 Jul 2020 1 minute read 3 comments PhilipDaniel
A tenebrous, harmonically labyrinthine Aequale for two bass trombones and one contrabass trombone, in a ternary form over which lingers the shadow of sonata-allegro form. Many thanks to my friend, gifted composer and trombonist Gregory Bor...
![Aequale "quasi una Fantasia" [Philip Daniel; 2020] [SCROLLING SCORE]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-6bdc7d07357395b267bd53753f020a74bcdc32981c18fd5737b6bad77bdd9bf4.png)
25 Jul 2020 1 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
An Aequale for two C Trumpets and one F Horn, composed in memory of the late Sir Roger Scruton, a great philosopher of aesthetics. Within its brief span, this Aequale develops the incipit (opening motif) of the pensive Lutheran hymn tune "Ke...
![Aequale "in memoriam Sir Roger Scruton" [Philip Daniel; 2020] [SCROLLING SCORE]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-fd54a3070708d1c228d04caa7cad85b883921a69b91937b136c05ccd4c51c647.png)
25 Jul 2020 1 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel
AMOR'S LABYRINTH Idle warmth,Whence thought metaphysic does rise, betray our pledges.So gone forthHave we,To hunt worthWorthwhile.Once trod north,That sod swarth,Below sky, beguileOur spirits, our souls trapped 'mongst hedgesOf yew,Signs true.Winds b...
![AMOR'S LABYRINTH [Philip Daniel; 2020]](https://cdn.publish0x.com/prod/fs/cachedimages/1830583310-9249437ebb6ea3476812ab98d13dfa5d6ac86fcfd66f1eb88ca476212838f0ec.jpeg)
