Tanz by Georg Leopold Fuhrumann (1574-1616) Georg Leopold Fuhrumann was a German Lutenist. A Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck (either fretted or unfretted) and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes. The European lute and the modern Near-Eastern oud …
Pastorale by Joseph Kuffner (1776-1856) Level Beginner Joseph Küffner was a German musician and composer, a contemporary of Beethoven. He was a violinist with the Würzburg court orchestra, and was later, when Würzburg became part of Bavaria (1802), assigned to take charge of military music. At this point he became bandmaster with a Bavarian Army …
Dance of the Spirits by Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck (1714-1787) Christoph Willibald Ritter von Gluck was an opera composer of the early classical period. After many years at the Habsburg court at Vienna, Gluck brought about the practical reform of opera’s dramaturgical practices that many intellectuals had been campaigning for over the years. With …
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Kemp’s Jig by Anonymous 16th century English The Jig is a form of lively folk dance, as well as the accompanying dance tune, originating in England in the sixteenth century and today most associated with Irish dance music and Scottish country dance music. Jigs were originally in 2/4 time, but have been adapted to a …
Il Bianco Fiore by Cesare Negri Casare Negri was a renowned Italian dancing instructor of the secong half of the 16th century. His important treatise on the dance, Le gratie d’amore, contains 43 most popular dance tunes of the day in both lute and standard music notation.
Branle by Jean Babtiste Besard (1567-1617) Although Jean Babtiste Besard was born to a family of some means and noble lineage, he led an extremely active life as a lutenist, composer, teacher, lawyer and medical doctor. His noteworthy treatise on playing the lute, entitled De modo, was included in both of these collections. John Dowland’s …
Evening Prayer by Engelbert Humperdinck (1854-1921) Engelbert Humperdinck (1 September 1854 – 27 September 1921) was a German composer, best known for his opera, Hänsel und Gretel. Humperdinck was born at Siegburg in the Rhine Province; at the age of 67 he died in Neustrelitz, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. His reputation rests chiefly on his opera Hänsel …
Almain by John Dowland (1563-1626) John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as “Come, heavy sleep”, “Come again”, “Flow my tears”, “I saw my Lady weepe” and “In darkness let me dwell”, but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and …
Mrs White’s Nothing by John Dowland (1563-1626) John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, lutenist, and singer. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as “Come, heavy sleep”, “Come again”, “Flow my tears”, “I saw my Lady weepe” and “In darkness let me dwell”, but his instrumental music has undergone a major …
Caprice No.24 by Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) Intermediate Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique. Caprice No. 24 in A minor is the final caprice of Niccolò Paganini’s …
