Category: Piano
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Debussy’s “Prelude to an Afternoon of a Faun” — a transcription shortened for piano
This is a shortened version of a transcription of this orchestral piece for solo piano made by Leonard Borwick published in 1914. It is available for free download from the Petrucci Music Library online. I shortened the transcription to half the playing time by playing through the 6th measure on the 6th page, and then…
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J. S. Bach’s English Suite II Prelude (Shortened Version)
I shortened this piece to about one-half its length. I played the first 82 measures, then inserted the following modified passage: This passage leads back to the key of original key of Am instead of Em. Then I continued with measure 145 to the end of the piece.
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Green Heat
I wrote this in memory of the Buena Vista Social Club. It’s a fusion of different styles around a bit of latin jazz with a short piano solo. AI music genre analyzers think it has elements of House, Down Tempo, and Future Jazz electronic genres, always amusing for what it’s worth.
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Sky Rise
Matisse’s piano goes crazy and music bursts out.
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Prokofiev, Sonata No. 7, Part 3, “Precipitato”
This is an amateur performance of one of the more difficult pieces I’ve ever attempted. Prokofiev let his true feelings about Stalin spill into his three “War Sonatas,” nos. 6-8, written in 1942. The war sonatas are tumultuous, chromatic, and dissonant. The finale to no. 7, the “Precipitato,” is a relentless tocatta in septuple time.…
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Visions Captives
Piano composition for 4 hands with latin rhythm and jazz influences, chromaticism, and cluster chords. Sheet music and recordings with a count-in of the separate parts to play along with are free to download with the links below.
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Goldberg Variations 1-3 + Aria
The 30 Goldberg variations run long for most listeners, and are a large project to learn. So here’s a short version of just the first set of 3 plus the beautiful aria which is the basis for the variations.
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La Soiree dans Granade
A habanera (literally “music or dance of Havana”) by Claude Debussey written in his impressionistic style. A very beautiful and atmospheric piece.
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Prokofiev’s Diabolical Suggestions
First performed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1909, this piece earned him his place as a leftist and “bad boy of Russian music.” It is from his Four Pieces, opus. 4, no. 4. After a demonic start, it becomes sheer terror, and is now considered a modern masterpiece. Great fun to play.
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Chopin Nocture C#min
This piece is already short, so I didn’t make any changes to it. A favorite along with Cmin nocturne.