Daily Listening Assignments ~ June 21, 2020

Sunday, June 21, 2020 by Mary O'Connor | OCMS

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major), K. 525, is a 1787 composition for a chamber ensemble by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The German title means "a little serenade", though it is often rendered more literally but less accurately as "a little night music." The work is written for an ensemble of two violins, viola, and cello with optional double bass but is often performed by string orchestras and there are many arrangements for other instruments as we will see below.

Part of a full orchestral score:

Follow the score...

Easy piano sheet music might look like this:

The first movement of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, with a graphical score.

One of my favorites, Barbershop-Style. Eine Kleine Not Musik by the Gas House Gang tells the story of The Magic Flute (from June 19) to the music of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

A piano transcription

For four recorders, all played by the same person

From the Muppets: The Great Gonzo performing Eine Kleine Nachtmusik on bagpipe while sitting on a ten-foot pole!

When my son and I played Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart arranged for 2 pianos November 30, 2014 we were the last people to play in the old Steinway Hall. Unfortunately, we didn't have a good video camera :(

Find this arranged for piano in Piano Pronto: Movement 2, Movement 3, Encore, Coda and Mozart: Exploring His Life and Music.

Daily Listening Assignments ~ June 20, 2020

Saturday, June 20, 2020 by Mary O'Connor | OCMS

Today's listening assignment is Can-can from "Orpheus in the Underworld" by Jacques Offenbach. This piece is very often in early method books because of the descending C Major scale. Can you find it?

The can-can (or cancan as in the original French) is a high-energy, physically demanding dance that became a popular music hall dance in the 1840s, continuing in popularity in French cabaret to this day. Originally danced by both sexes, it is now traditionally associated with a chorus line of female dancers. The main features of the dance are the vigorous manipulation of skirts and petticoats, along with high kicks, splits, and cartwheels.

Many composers have written music for the cancan. Today's selection is the most famous of these.

A 'follow-along" video. This key has 6 flats, so the scale will be in what key?

Flute ensemble:

The original, for full orchestra

An animation

A dog barking the can-can?

Find this in many student books including Piano Pronto: Movement 1

Have you ever noticed the rug by the piano?

Daily Listening Assignments ~ June 19, 2020

Friday, June 19, 2020 by Mary O'Connor | OCMS

Today's piece is one of those that piano students often try to learn on their own - or a friend will teach them the first 9 notes. It's usually played too fast and, often in the wrong octave, or the first couple notes are repeated too many times.

This is one of two pieces that are so often played incorrectly that they have the distinction of being banned from competition in Northern Virginia Piano Teacher competitions.

Stay tuned for the other one!

Für Elise was not published during Beethoven's lifetime, having been discovered by Ludwig Nohl 40 years after the composer's death. The identity of "Elise" is unknown.

The very basic melody:

The actual beginning is a little more involved.

And, there's more!

If you'd like to learn to play this piece correctly, find the sheet music at IMSLP, Beethoven: Exploring His Life and Music, and countless compilations of classical music available at the O'Connor Music Studio.

Follow along: