Christmas Carols from mfiles
For many people, Christmas 2020 could be very different from previous years due to Covid restrictions. If you like to celebrate Christmas with music then check out our Christmas Songs. Our catalogue now lists 37 Carols with a range of mp3 files including some different instruments and arrangements. Our latest Christmas Carol MP3 is below: More...
Elgar: Salut d'Amour
In 1988 Edward Elgar composed a little piece of music called "Salut d'Amour" (or "Love's Greeting"). This was dedicated to Caroline Alice Roberts who was soon to become his wife. The music was originally for Violin and Piano though Elgar then made multiple arrangements of it for various instruments and groups. On mfiles we now provide mp3 files for the following versions:
Vivaldi: L'estro armonico
Vivaldi's "L'estro armonico" is a set of 12 concertos. We present mp3 files of the perfectly formed 2nd (slow) movement from the Concerto No.11 in Dm (RV 565), for solo violin and string orchestra, in its original form plus 3 arrangements:
Brahms: St Anthony Chorale - Theme
Brahms composed 2 versions of his "Variations on the St. Anthony Chorale" (previously thought to be by Haydn), for Two Pianos and for Orchestra. For the Theme only, we include mp3 files of these and 2 further versions - for Piano Solo and for Trio (played here on oboe, clarinet & bassoon):
Grieg: Holberg Suite - Gavotte (piano)
Edvard Grieg composed his Holberg Suite to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ludvig Holberg, a Norwegian writer, and chose the style of his Suite to reflect period music "From Holberg's Time". Although Grieg later arranged the Holberg Suite for string orchestra we present the 3rd movement "Gavotte" from the original version for piano solo. Here is an mp3 file of the Gavotte for piano, ready to play or download:
Saltarello 2 from a Medieval Manuscript
Continuing our exploration of early music notation, here is a lively dance tune called "Saltarello 2" from a Medieval Tuscan collection from the late 14th Century. It is the 2nd of 3 Saltarellos in the collection, and the music clearly shows a characteristic jumping figure which gives the dance its name. Here are mp3 files for two versions of this piece:
Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony (No.6)
Beethoven's 6th Symphony in F is called the Pastoral since it's all about the countryside. The 1st movement sets the scene musically by describing the peace and tranquility after arriving in the countryside. Here is an mp3 file for the first movement, available to download:
Liszt's Liebestraum No.3 for Piano
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) is best known as a pianist and composer of piano music, but he was very influential as a composer and musician. Among his solo piano works is a set of 3 Liebestraum of which No.3 is the best known. We now have mp3 files for No.3 available in 2 versions:
Chopin's Nocturne: with Arrangements
Frederic Chopin is credited with 21 Nocturnes for piano, and many of these can be readily arranged for different instruments and combinations. Here are mp3 files of his famous Nocturne in E-flat Op.9 No.2, the original for piano and two different arrangements:
New MP3 Music for Guitar
Here's some new MP3 files of Guitar Music including 2 pieces by Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909), often considered to be the "Father of Classical Guitar". The other 2 pieces are by Luis Narváez and "Anonymous" and all the works include midi & mp3 files plus PDF Sheet Music:
Mozart's Horn Concerto No.4
Mozart's 4th Horn Concerto is his most famous, particularly the 3rd movement "Rondo" which will remind listeners that today's orchestral french horn was developed from hunting horns. The main theme uses intervals similar to hunting horns while the tempo and rhythm are reminiscent of a gallop. Here are mp3 files for this 3rd movement in two different versions:
Cherry Ripe - Traditional Song
"Cherry Ripe" started as a poem by Robert Herrick (1591–1674) and then became a song with music by Charles Edward Horn (1786–1849). The song became very popular, and is now essentially a traditional folk song. Here are mp3 files of the original song (with oboe replacing the voice), and an arrangement for piano solo:
Two composers connected to Chopin
Two composers with a Chopin connection. John Field composed a number of Nocturnes and inspired Chopin to write his own. Carl Filtsch was a young student of Chopin who sadly died at the age of 14. Here are some mp3 files of music by both composers:
Tchaikovsky Piano music and Arrangements
In addition to symphonies and ballets, Tchaikovsky composed many pieces for solo piano. Mostly this was at the request of his publisher seeking sales. Here are mp3 files of 3 of his piano pieces, in their original form and also in woodwind arrangements:
Gabriel Fauré's Dolly Suite - Berceuse
The Dolly Suite by French composer Gabriel Fauré is one of his best known works. It was originally composed for piano duet, but is frequently played in other arrangements. On mfiles we present mp3 files of the 1st movement of the Dolly Suite, named Berceuse (or Lullaby), in 3 different arrangements:
Flowers of the Forest - Folk Song
"Flowers of the Forest" is an old Scottish Folk Song, found in an early 17th Century manuscript. Here we have 4 different MP3 files: the original melody (guitar substituting for mandore/lute), a slightly newer version (often played as a Lament) on solo bagpipes, arranged for Piano Solo, and arranged for oboe with piano accompaniment:
Franz Schubert's Ständchen (Serenade)
Franz Schubert composed more than 600 songs in total, though "Ständchen" (or Serenade) was published after his death as part of a collection called "Swan Song" by the publisher. Here are mp3 files for the original song and several instrumental arrangements:
Haydn: Symphony No.88 in G major
Joseph Haydn has 104 numbered symphonies to his name. The Symphony No.88 in G major falls between his "Paris" Symphonies and "London" ones, and one of his better known. Here is an mp3 file for the first movement, available to download:
Bach: Some shorter works
Here are some shorter, less well-known works by Bach. From his Lute Suite in E minor BWV996, the Bourrée is very adaptable and can be played on Piano, Guitar or as a Duet. His Little Prelude in C minor BWV999 is not one of his 48 Preludes & Fugues but similar in concept, and well suited to either Piano or Guitar. Here are MP3 files for each of these arrangements:
Sergei Rachmaninoff - Preludes for Piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian born composer and pianist who later settled in the US. Among his works for piano solo are a total of 24 preludes one in each major and minor key. Here are mp3 files for two of his most famous preludes:
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