You probably already know that 8notes.com has a huge range of pieces and we've tried to arrange everything in a way that makes things easy to find. One thing we realised has been lacking is a progressive series of pieces for beginners.
What does 'progressive' mean? Simply that the pieces add concepts gradually as the series goes on. So the first pieces have just one note (often middle C), extra notes are gradually added, as are concepts like rests, articulation and dynamics. It's a great way to learn an instrument, much like the famous 'method' books many people use when they're first starting out.
Our first series for trumpet is now live
Stay tuned for more coming for other instruments very soon.
Continue reading...
Despite there being some great music written for double bass over the last century, including concertos by Sofia Gubaidulina, John Harbison and Einojuhani Rautavaara and others, the double bass, especially compared to the violin and cello, has had comparably few solo works written for it before the twentieth century.
Fortunately, a handful of pioneering composers recognised the expressive depth and unique beauty of this instrument, creating works that remain essential in any bassist’s repertoire. Along with these, many pieces originally written for other instruments adapt beautifully for the double bass. Here, then, we’ve gathered some of the most indispensable pieces every bassist should know—complete with links to sheet music so you can get practising right away!
Continue reading...
Classical music has long been the secret sauce of filmmaking, adding the extra level of punch, drama or humour that can take an indifferent scene to the next level. It has also been a fountain of inspiration for those composers writing original music for the movies (read more about John William’s use of Holst's 'The Planets’ here, for example).
Whether is be a serious symphony accompanying a battle scene or a light waltz in a romantic comedy, classical music provides context and amplifies the drama. Here then are some of the best cinema moments where classical music has made us laugh, cry or just say, "Hang on, I've heard that before!"
Continue reading...
‘Night on the Bare Mountain’ by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881) is a musical depiction of a witches sabbath on an exposed mountain. It is renowned for its orgiastic and supernatural atmosphere as a group of witches, demons and spirits gather for a night of chaos and revelry. Its pictorial nature has made our many versions a popular choice amongst 8notes members looking for something spooky to play, especially around Halloween.
And if the piece is wild, so too is the story of its composition…
Continue reading...
It is the dance the scandalised the 19th century, a high-kicking, skirt-flipping whirlwind of legs, laughter and naughtiness. Nowadays considered a joyous staple of French culture, in its heyday the dance caused quite the social stir, even leading to attempts to suppress it. Here then is its flamboyant history and that of the music that made it so popular.
Continue reading...
Unlike the fraught history of its trumpet cousin, the trombone has not changed much in design since it emerged in the fifteenth century. With such a long and stable history one might expect a rich solo repertoire for the instrument. Unfortunately, until the early romantic period the instrument was mostly used to double other instruments and vocal lines. Things began to to change, however, in the 19th century, with the first trombone concerto written in 1837. And since then there have been some truly great solo works for the instrument. Here are our top ten.
Continue reading...
What do you get when you mix a bassoon and a cajon? Pure rhythmic magic! In this performance, bassoonist Matthias Racz plays Get It! by Gene Koczinski and takes the bassoon out of its usual classical context and throws it into a groove-heavy, rock-inspired world, with the cajon providing the perfect percussive punch.
Originally a solo piece for bassoon, Get It! gives the performer a chance to unleash their inner rock star. The bassoonist takes center stage, navigating tricky rhythms with flair, while the cajon creates a driving beat that propels the music forward. This unlikely pairing of instruments results in a fun, energetic dialogue that's as exciting to listen to as it is to play. And piece we think is probably the funkiest bassoon piece every written (-:
Continue reading...
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker of 1892 is the third of his major ballets, the others being Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. It is set at Christmas and tells the story of young Clara, who embarks on a magical adventure with a nutcracker doll, a type of wooden figurine often painted to resemble a soldier. Though not considered a great success after its first performance, it eventually became one of the composer’s most popular works, iconic movements such as the March of the Toy Soldiers, Waltz of the Flowers and Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy being amongst our most popular sheet music here on 8notes.
Continue reading...
A wag once remarked that the oboe is ‘an ill wind that nobody blows good.’ Whilst it is true that the oboe is one of the more difficult of instruments to master, in the hands of a good player it may be the loveliest wind of all. It is certainly capable of a very wide range of expression—no instrument can be more lyrically plaintive than an oboe, or more spikily amusing—and over the centuries composers have taken advantage of the instrument’s many qualities to write some very fine concertos for it. Here are our favourites.
Continue reading...
More than any instrument the cello is known for its expressive singing qualities, making it a popular choice as a solo instrument for composers over the last two centuries. It's no coincidence, therefore, that some of the absolute best works in the repertoire are written for it. Here are our ten favourites....
Continue reading...
