Scarborough Fair is a great example of a classic folk song that has been made into popular hit, the version by Simon and Garfunkel now being considered a classic of the genre.
There is much more to this song, however, than their brilliant cover—the song has a long and fascinating history, and there are many other great versions of it, including more than 50 here on 8notes, to enjoy...
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From classic nursery tunes, through to beloved hymns and great works of classical music, Easter, like Christmas has some great music. Luckily, here at 8notes, we have you covered at Easter time, with a great selection of seasonal sheet music. Here are some of our favourites!
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Happy Birthday to You, perhaps not surprisingly, is consistently one of our top five pieces here on 8notes. We have versions for 50 instruments as well as a cool Happy Jazzy Birthday arrangement by composer and 8notes founder David Bruce. Whilst the piece may seem familiar, however, its history is full of surprises and even the occasion whiff of controversy...
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It would be cruel to call Johann Pachelbel a one-hit wonder (especially as we have over 290 pieces by him here on 8notes), but his brilliant and hypnotic Canon in D has certainly penetrated popular culture as few other classical works have achieved, becoming a soundtrack in commercials and movies and a favorite choice of brides and grooms-to-be. But as a source of inspiration its influence goes beyond that and has led to the piece being referred to as ‘the godfather of popular music.’
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Beethoven's famous Ode to Joy is much more than a good tune—it forms a part of a much bigger work, one that pushed the boundaries of music, in the process paving the way for some of the great works of the late-Romantic era.
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Holst’s seven movement suite ‘The Planets’ had a difficult genesis, completed in the midst of a global conflict by a composer who barely had enough time to compose. And the finished result was not initially universally well received, with some conductors considering it too 'difficult' for audiences. Nowadays, however, it is one of the most familiar and beloved works in the orchestral canon, a source of inspiration for other composers and a very popular choice amongst our members here on 8notes. Here is its fascinating story.
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Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, or to give it its epic official title, Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor 'Quasi una fantasia,' Op. 27, No. 2, is one of the composer's best loved piano works and one of the top ten pieces here on 8notes. Known especially for its sublime opening movement, the work also marks the transition to a whole new era of music making.
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Music history abounds with disastrous premieres, but few come close to that of Handel’s ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks.’ Featuring a royally hobbled orchestra, fire, water and some maimings, things did not go as well as the composer had hoped. More than 250 years later, however, it is considered one of the Handel's best works...
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Danny Boy, the globally recognised folk music classic, has a curious history. Like most folk tunes it can trace its history deep into the 19th century and beyond. Yet in its present form it is little more than a century old. Quintessentially Irish, it is not entirely from that country. Widely covered by an array of musicians, its lyrics have never entirely stuck.
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Amazing Grace is one of the most popular pieces in any genre here on 8notes (and we have over 70s versions of it from beginner piano, through to Saxophone Quartet). It is a piece with a remarkable history. Based on a poem written by a slaver, it became associated with the abolitionist movement; originating in the UK, it was largely ignored there for 100 years; a Christian anthem, it took on a life outside the church, becoming a seminal influence on pop musicians.
Here is the full story...
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