I want some music I can mess around with

[kriskicksass]

I've been reading through a lot of music lately, trying to pick out the compositional techniques because I eventually want to compose my own music. But first I want to try smaller projects, like writing a cadenza for a concerto and doing some arranging of other composer's music.

That being said, I don't think I'm ready to attempt a full-scale transcription, so I was wondering if anyone can think of any music by composers who didn't mind having their music altered. Of course Liszt comes to mind, and I have the fingers to play his music, but I was hoping for somethink slightly more esoteric, as modern performance practice dictates that we can't change what's written on the page. I'm not planning on performing any of this per se, so I suppose the real reason why I want lesser known music is to A. broaden my musical horizons a bit and B. so if I end up getting assigned something I've messed with later in my career I won't have a warped mental image of the piece.

Any suggestions? And if so, could you tell me where I could find a pdf of said music? Thanks.

[tompilk]

i think i am going to pick bits out of mazeppa... e.g. the easier bits in just octaves and the ending... because they sound impressive... and do not have a speck of dificulty compared to the rest of the piece...
Tom

[donjuan]

yeah, I try to do this kind of stuff too.  But mostly, to practice, I get fake books or just a simple tune like "Autumn Leaves" with obvious harmonies and try to make something on Sibelius. 

I have tried to do small stuff, like "writing a cadenza for a concerto" in a number of Liszt's pieces (ossias for Les Preludes, Faust Waltz, Czardas macabre etc.), but I kept finding that after hours and hours of messing around with it, I realize it was most effective just the way Liszt wrote it.  The man could write and play anything; it's pretty hard to make something new from an already well-done work and be satisfied, because you can't help but compare it to the original. 

Liszt comes to mind, and I have the fingers to play his music, but I was hoping for somethink slightly more esoteric, as modern performance practice dictates that we can't change what's written on the page. I'm not planning on performing any of this per se, so I suppose the real reason why I want lesser known music is to A. broaden my musical horizons a bit and B. so if I end up getting assigned something I've messed with later in my career I won't have a warped mental image of the piece.

I had to look up "esoteric" to understand what you were getting at.  If you like Liszt, go for arranging some of his stuff!  Don't worry about getting a "warped mental image" of a well-known piece.  Most probably, thinking about places to take the piece will only enhance your understanding of it.

What pieces were you wanting to mess around with, that is, ignoring your inclination to go with lesser known pieces?

[tompilk]

i think i miht try and "pianize" some orchestral work.... hmm... but the problem is getting somehting i like so much thayt id want to work on it to get it for piano...
hmm..
Tom

[donjuan]

i think i miht try and "pianize" some orchestral work.... hmm... but the problem is getting somehting i like so much thayt id want to work on it to get it for piano...
hmm..
Tom

yeah, and then theres that problem with trying to read orchestral scores -Hope you know Alto clef!-

[tompilk]

lol yeah...
Tom

[kriskicksass]

What pieces were you wanting to mess around with, that is, ignoring your inclination to go with lesser known pieces?

There wasn't really anything particular I wanted to mess around with, I just wanted to find some stuff I wouldn't otherwise play through or even hear and to pull it apart and mangle it a bit to try to see the compositional techniques.

I started a 2p4h transcription of the final movement of Sibelius's Second Symphony a few months ago. Maybe I'll pull it out and work on that some more.