1. "Sonatina for Flute and Piano: I. Allegretto grazioso" by Eldin Burton, performed by Amy Porter and Christopher Harding
This is the first movement in an extremely difficult but also beautiful flute solo that I am currently preparing for Solo & Ensemble next year. I'm working on the first movement first, because you know, that just seemed like the logical thing to do, so I listen to the recording a lot.
2. "Love Never Dies" from the musical Love Never Dies written by Andrew Lloyd Webber
This is a vocal solo from the musical that was written as a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera. It's a good musical, for the most part, but the difference between it and Phantom was that I loved every moment of Phantom, and Love Never Dies just wasn't quite as special to me. However, there's some great music in it, specifically this song, which I have sung in the shower on multiple occasions.
3. "Bellas Finals Mashup" from the movie Pitch Perfect
I have the soundtrack from Pitch Perfect on my phone, and this is one of my favorite songs from it. Being a choir girl as well as a band nerd, I enjoyed that movie, and I greatly appreciated the fact that the sequel was just as good.
4. "On A Hymnsong of Philip Bliss" by David Holsinger, performed by the Concordia University Wind Symphony
I mentioned this piece in a previous post, Music Is Amazing. As said in that post, this piece is a concert band arrangement of the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." When I'm feeling sad, or lonely, or just depressed in general, or when I'm stressed out, I listen to this at a louder volume than usual and let the music engulf me as I recall the words to the hymn:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows, like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.
5. "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, arranged and performed by the Copper Street Brass Quintet
Copper Street Brass is a group that I just recently discovered when they came and did a concert at my school that featured myself and other musicians from the high school and middle school bands in the last piece on the program. In addition to that piece, which was a mashup of famous classical compositions, the quintet played this arrangement of "Hallelujah" at that concert. The feeling that they put into their playing, combined with the fact that I knew the words to the song, almost brought tears to my eyes.
6. "Fields of Gold" by Sting, arranged and performed by the Copper Street Brass Quintet
Another great arrangement by Copper Street, which was also performed at the aforementioned concert. This one, although beautiful, did not make me cry.
7. "Libertango" by Astor Piazzolla, arranged and performed by the Copper Street Brass Quintet
I love this piece because it has a sort of Latin feel to it, which makes me wish I actually knew how to tango. Or dance in general. The tuba part is also freakin' amazing.
8. "Moon River" by Andy Williams, arranged and performed by the Copper Street Brass Quintet
Though I don't know the lyrics to the actual song, this arrangement is one of those pieces of music that makes you remember the trials and tribulations of years past, and though it isn't necessarily sad, it brings memories and regrets hand in hand.
9. "Rest" by Frank Ticheli, performed by the National Intercollegiate Band
This was also mentioned in Music Is Amazing as being part of one of the best concerts I've ever been to in my life. I absolutely love this piece, and in addition to listening to it to fall asleep (for obvious reasons) I also turn up the volume when I'm feeling down and let it surround me, proceeding to cry when the climax of the piece comes.
10. "Leaves on the Seine" by David Lanz
Last summer, I asked my band director for some new piano music, and this was one of the pieces she gave me. It has since become one of the pieces I play when I need to escape from life for awhile, because it is one of the few pieces that I am able to play expressively.
11. "Variations On A Theme From Pachelbel's Canon In D Major" by David Lanz
I played a version of the actual "Canon in D Major" for a piano recital a couple years ago, so that's why I like this arrangement so much. Funny story about the version I played: I was like ten years old, so my piano teacher had me play a simplified version that was actually written in the key of C, not D. Who thought that was a good idea? I mean, really. I have since transposed it and played it in the correct key, of course.
12. "Cristofori's Dream" by David Lanz
When my band director played this piece for a few of us during free period one day when I was a freshman, I absolutely fell in love with it. I have since memorized it, and like "Leaves on the Seine," it has become part of my repertoire for when I'm having a rough day and need to get away from it all. It's one of those pieces of music that I feel almost as if it were written for me, though I know that isn't the case. And I can't help but wonder if Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano, dreamed of someone writing a piece such as this for his instrument.
13. "Madre de la Tierra" by David Lanz
This one I just like because it's a piano piece that happens to also include other instruments on the recording, which gives it the effect of the epic concert band pieces I love so much. The French horn part is especially prominent, which makes it even better.
14. "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson, from the Pitch Perfect soundtrack
I'm actually not sure why this is on my Top 25... I listen to most of the others pretty much every day, but not really this one. Oh well, it's a good song anyway, and I like this a capella version too.
15. "Amazing Grace" arranged for concert band by Frank Ticheli
I went to a conducting workshop for beginners last week (probably going to do a post on that eventually) and this was the piece that we studied a bit and conducted. I did more extensive score study when I got home, and conducted to the recording a few more times, and decided that I love this piece. The alto sax solo is gorgeous, and Ticheli seems to have a talent for including totally epic climaxes in his work, which I greatly appreciate.
16. "Piano Sonata No. 14 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto" by Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by Evelyne Dubourg
This one is very calming and beautiful, and goes quite well with walks in the woods. Not much else I can say about it, except that I wish I had the sheet music for it.
Wow, this is a long post.
17. "Fur Elise" by Ludwig van Beethoven, performed by Evelyne Dubourg
I played a simplified version of this for a piano recital once, too. Other than that, it doesn't really have a super special meaning for me.
18. "Claire de lune" by Claude Debussy, performed by Evelyne Dubourg
19. "Träumerei" by Robert Schumann, performed by Evelyne Dubourg
Numbers 18 and 19 are special simply because they are beautiful and great for listening to while walking in the woods or falling asleep.
20. "Waltz in C sharp minor" by Frédéric Chopin, performed by Idil Biret
This is a very challenging piece that I played for Solo & Ensemble and my piano recital this year, and I'm still working on it. My main problem was not being able to play legato in the middle section, and not having correct left hand technique in the faster section.
21. "Song Without Words in E Major, Op. 19, No. 1" by Felix Mendelssohn, performed by Jenö Jandó
My band director gave me a list of piano masterpieces to listen to, and this happened to be one of them. I'm so very glad that it was; it's gorgeous.
22. "Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2" by Johannes Brahms, performed by Jenö Jandó
Another one of my band director's favorite piano compositions (and one of mine, too) this piece literally takes my breath away. It's amazing how certain arrangements of sounds can do that, isn't it?
23. "Toccata for Cello, Strings, and Harpsichord" by Girolamo Frescobaldi, performed by Jian Wang and Camerata Salzburg
My school's band played the concert band version of this for Large Group Contest this year, and it has become one of my favorite pieces of all time. So, when I found this recording of a cello and other strings playing it, I was very excited. I love the cello, and actually want to learn how to play it someday. Anyway, great piece, great arrangement of it too.
24. "Song for Lindsay" by Andrew Boysen, performed by the Bethel Park High School Symphonic Band
I've mentioned this piece in a previous post as well. Even though this recording is a little funky because the band doesn't always release together and they aren't always in tune, I can forgive them because my band isn't, either. I actually had the honor of playing the flute solos during rehearsal in the weeks before graduation, because the senior flute players aren't in the same band as me. And the French horn player I had a crush on last year played the horn solos. So, even though that crush isn't still a thing, it was pretty cool. A reminder of the way things used to be, so to speak.
25. "Dream" by Michael Bublé
Not really sure why this is on this list, but ok. It's a good song, I guess.
That was a really long post. Well, I hope some of you found that interesting, or maybe I broadened a few musical horizons. Anyway, happy Fourth of July, for those of you in America! See you all next time!
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