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A Tone Row From Ernst Krenek's "Fifth Sonata for Piano" Opus 121 [PART 1]

20 Oct 2020 12 minute read 0 comments PhilipDaniel

Ernst Krenek's 1950 "Fifth Piano Sonata", Opus 121, presents challenges to layman and musician alike that, rather than diminishing its appeal, affirms its timeless worth. To those at the avant-garde of artistic inspiration and creation, the unprecede...

An Introduction to the Viola d'Amore

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...

Notes on the composer John Sheppard [Shepherd] (c.1520-c.1560)

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...

Aequale "Bicinium in the Hindemithian Idiom" [Philip Daniel; 2020]

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 "Romanza senza parole" [Philip Daniel; 2020]

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 "supra Psalm 137" [Philip Daniel; 2020]

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 "alla maniera di madrigale spirituale" [Philip Daniel; 2020] [SCROLLING SCORE]

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 "quasi una Fantasia" [Philip Daniel; 2020] [SCROLLING SCORE]

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 "in memoriam Sir Roger Scruton" [Philip Daniel; 2020] [SCROLLING SCORE]

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...

Breaking Music: Orchestra is covering Daft Punk

22 May 2020 1 minute read 1 comment antibiOTTICs

A new look at the French House/Electro legends Daft Punk. The British Kaleidoscope Orchestra has set itself the task of building a bridge between electronic music and classical music. In this case they have done a good job.   Tracklist:0:00 - Robot...