top of page
Recent Posts
Archive
Tags
Michael Allen
Dec 5, 2017
Texture 2 - Writing for families
However, in my brass ensemble writing, I'll write passages for a grouping of trumpets when the music calls for it, and/or as a contrast
23 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Dec 3, 2017
Texture 4 - writing chamber music
Recently, I've undertaken some large engraving projects - I'm making clean versions of the Tchaikovsky ballets. This may seem a little...
23 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Nov 9, 2017
Bass Doubling
I wrote something yesterday that was confusing even to me when I read it again today. Mea culpa. The offending sentence was: Wright notes...
38 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 24, 2017
Farnaby's Conceit
The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book comprises nearly 300 works composed for keyboard by notable English court composers from the time of Queen...
23 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 15, 2017
Breaking up the Romance
Too soon? I'm having too much fun with these titles. I promised to talk about the decision to transpose this movement of Robert...
15 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 14, 2017
More advice on Romance
One of the things I appreciated about teaching was that I learned things about my own playing by observing and articulating ideas to...
18 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 13, 2017
Schumann Romances
...orchestrated for brass. I've loved Robert Schumann's Opus 94 Romances since the 80's. I heard them first on a cello recital, and then...
18 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 12, 2017
Limoges - The Big News
Sadly, only a few of the sketches by Victor Hartmann that inspired Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition have survived. We must rely on...
19 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 8, 2017
Mussorgsky's Pictures
I'm always surprised that some still believe that Maurice Ravel's orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition is the 'original
135 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 2, 2017
Keeping the trombones out of the pub
I usually carry around a small notebook that has only one purpose - it is used to write down new project ideas when I hear them (or think...
17 views0 comments
bottom of page