BENDOCKERY.COM: August 2017

« July 2017 | Main | September 2017 »

August 2017

08/31/2017

Eight-Bit Impromptu No. 6

This is the sixth installment in my series of piano impromptus inspired by the sounds of childhood, namely the theme songs of early nineties video game systems like Nintendo. This quick piece (1 min. 10 sec.) is a fun, aggressive composition that sounds harder to play than it really is. The opening right-hand melody is easily played by fingering each four-note group with either 1,2,5 or 1,2,4. I originally discovered this pattern from an Art Tatum transcription book. He was the master of economical virtuosity.

The sheet music and mp3 are available for purchase here.

You can also check out my Publisher Page from sheetmusicplus.com with all my compositions here.

Please consider signing up for my email list to get updates on new releases and tons of free music!

Eight-Bit_Impromptu_No_6

Click link above to listen.

Posted at 06:21 AM in Eight-Bit Impromptus, Original Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/25/2017

Eight-Bit Impromptu No. 5

This short piece (1 min, 50 sec) for piano is the fifth in my series of impromptus inspired by the sounds of childhood, namely the theme music from early nineties video game systems like Nintendo. The exotic sounds found throughout this arrangement would be described by many as sounding Spanish, Flamenco, or Egyptian. Impressions of these musical traditions are often characterized by the augmented second melodic interval and the use of modal rather than tonal organization. In the minds of many composers, these musical locales once represented the edge of western civilization or the known world. As such, they serve as creative jumping-off-points to imagine new worlds.

The introduction section must be played with a far greater sense of rubato than the playback recording. At the new tempo, interpretation is more straight-forward. One technical and fingering challenge lies in the melodic figures in the right-hand that are frequently harmonized in parallel thirds. The bass ostinato pattern must be played steadily, but the dynamics should still be subservient to the primary melody in the right-hand.

The complete sheet music and mp3 download is available for purchase here. Also consider signing up to my email list for updates and tons of free music. I add new freebies for subscribers regularly, so don't miss out!

Eight-Bit_Impromptu_No_5

Click link above to listen.

Posted at 10:30 AM in Eight-Bit Impromptus | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/12/2017

Elegy

Elegy is an intermediate piece for piano (2 min. 30 sec.). Its dark cerebral character is accomplished through lush, sometimes dissonant, sonorities, heavy use of sustain pedal, and a subdued dynamic level through most of the composition.

It's most distinguishing feature is also its greatest performance challenge: a primary melody in the tenor or highest left-hand voice. Care must be taken to bring out the melody while taming the competing voices elsewhere. More rubato should be used than what the playback recording can demonstrate. The ostinato accompaniment part, usually in the right-hand, should sound like waves ebbing up and down.

The full download is available here. Please consider subscribing to my email list for updates and free music!

Elegy_Playback

Click link above to listen.

Posted at 10:37 AM in Original Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/08/2017

Eight-Bit Impromptu No. 4

This menacing short piece for piano (1 min., 15 sec.) is the fourth in my series of impromptus inspired by the sounds of childhood, namely the theme music from early nineties video game systems like Nintendo. Its character is achieved through repetitive drones and syncopated accents throughout.

There are multiple challenges to this deceptively simple sounding impromptu. For many, the 12/8 time signature will take some getting used to. Make sure to pay attention to clef signs. Often, hands will both be in treble clef or bass clef, and the shifts in position and clef sometimes occur within the musical phrase. Exaggerated dynamics will bring the most out of this piece.

The full download (pdf sheet music and mp3) is available here. Please consider subscribing to my email list for updates and free music!

Eight-Bit_Impromptu_No_4

Click the link above to listen.

Posted at 07:35 AM in Eight-Bit Impromptus, Original Music | Permalink | Comments (0)

08/02/2017

Monthly Roundup: Free Music for August

This is the first installment of what I intend to make a regular monthly series. The Monthly Roundup consists of two items: a free give-away and a summary of what readers may have missed in the previous month.