Beethoven Sonata 9, Opus 14, No. 1 for Woodwind Quintet
This was one of my favorite pieces as a teenager taking piano lessons. Transforming it into a woodwind quintet brings out Beethoven’s lyricism with added color and variety. Everybody gets the melody at some point, and it is both challenging and fun. And I believe audiences will enjoy it, too.
It is in three movements: Allegro, Allegretto, and Rondo (Allegro comodo). Even though the middle movement is in a minor key, the tempo keeps the upbeat feeling of the piece, and provides a subtle bridge between the two happy outer movements. Altogether it’s a little over 14 minutes long.
Six Woodwind Quintet Arrangements for Halloween
“Jack’s Lament” from Nightmare Before Christmas Duration: 3:06
“What’s This?” from Nightmare Before Christmas Duration: 1:24
“Oogie Boogie’s Song” from Nightmare Before Christmas Duration: 2:25
Main theme from Beetlejuice Duration: 2:39
“Grim Grinning Ghosts,” theme song for Disney’s The Haunted Mansion Duration: 2:47
Night on Bald Mountain excerpts, by Modest Mussorgsky Duration: 5:46
Three Gems of the Vade Mecum
“The Vade Mecum of the Oboist” method book is a well-known staple of oboe teachers and students, compiled and published by Albert Andraud in 1940. In addition to scales, arpeggios, exercises, and orchestral excerpts, it has a few short recital pieces that are at once lyrical and demonstrative of the oboe’s expressive range, but also challenges for advanced students.
1. “Shepherds of Provence”, by Eugene Bozza, was written for Albert Andraud in 1939. The original was a duet for oboe and English horn. Here I have added a string quintet to provide more depth and color to the four movements.
2. "Scènes Écossaises", by Benjamin Godard, was written in 1893 for oboe and piano. Only the first movement appears in the Vade Mecum. Here, I have replaced the piano part with a string quintet for all three movements.
3. "Quatre Pièces", by Georges Guilhaud, was written in 1890 for oboe and piano. Only the last movement appears in the Vade Mecum. Here, I have replaced the piano part with a string quintet for all four movements.
Two "Lady Gaga Medley" Arrangements:
Bb Clarinet, Bb Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, and Piano
Clarinet Choir (Eb Clarinet, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bb Clarinets, Eb Alto Clarinet (alt. 4th Bb Clarinet), Bb Bass Clarinet, Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet, optional Bb Contrabass Clarinet)
These arrangements include "Bad Romance," "Just Dance," "Poker Face," and "Telephone." They provide a fun, audience-engaging encore to a recital or concert. Click here to buy the sheet music.
"Irish Tune from County Derry" (Danny Boy), by Percy Aldridge Grainger for Bb Clarinet and String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola, Violoncello).