Listening & Score Reading Challenge 2

For this challenge your task is to read the sheet music (available at imslp.org) while listening to a recording of these compositions. These were all available on YouTube at the time of publication. Suggestions for what to listen for are listed with every piece below.

1. Beethoven: Symphony no. 9, op. 125, 4th movement

What to listen for: Note how this popular theme consists mostly of whole steps and half steps. Throughout the music, the theme is developed, varied, and transformed in various ways but its characteristic stepwise movement is consistent.

2. De Victoria: Taedet Animam Meam

What to listen for: This piece is from the 16th century. Notice the musical effects produced by the added sharps and flats. At that time, this was a relatively new style of music.

3. Grieg: Holberg Suite (String Orchestra Version)

What to listen for: This piece was originally for piano, and the composer himself arranged it for string orchestra. Observe the interactions between the four instruments (first violins, second violins, violas, and cellos) and notice the 3 clefs in use. The violins are in the treble clef, the violas in the alto clef, and the cellos in the bass clef. Together they cover a very wide range of notes.

4. Bach: Bourrée in E minor from Lute Suite No. 1, BWV 996

What to listen for: Although it was originally for lute, this piece has become a timeless standard for the classical guitar. It is known for Bach’s masterful use of 2 voices at the same time (a compositional technique known as counterpoint ). Notice how the 2 voices share one staff. The top voice has stems going up, and the bottom voice has stems going down. This way the music is clear to read.

5. Schubert – Fantasia for Piano 4 Hands, D. 940

What to listen for: As its title says, this piece is for 2 players (4 hands) on 1 piano. The music is written on 2 grand staffs, one for each pianist. The first pianist takes up the top two parts, and the second takes the lower two parts. The interaction between the two is fascinating!