Analysis

This category contains articles that analyse musical works, discussing what they can teach us as composers, orchestrators and arrangers.

Mozart’s E-Minor Violin Sonata, K. 304: music composition techniques

1 Comment / 18th Century, Analysis, Concert Music /
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In early 1778, Mozart was touring from his home in Salzburg to Paris. Stopping in Munich and Mannheim first, Mozart composed many sonatas on this journey. A collection of these includes seven Violin Sonatas (No. 17 – 23). The E-Minor Violin Sonata, No. 21/K. 304, is the only minor key sonata in this collection. I decided to take a look at this sonata, in part for that reason, but also because I found the clarity of its composition compelling. Using texture to clearly state themes and then present interesting variants, I think it’s a good demonstration in what I think can be easily forgotten as a composer or arranger: less can be more. Below I explore the works contextual origins, before analysing the first movement in more detail, focussing on its composition.

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Bizet’s Farandole (L’Arlesienne No.2): music composition techniques

1 Comment / 19th Century, Analysis, Concert Music /
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The orchestral composition Farandole, a movement from L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2, can teach us a lot of simple tips and tricks that we can apply to our arrangements, compositions and orchestrations. In this article, I analyse the piece and discuss its structure, its clever use of simple themes, textures and orchestration. For example, one simple but exhilarating technique this composition/arrangement uses is to counterpoint its themes at the end (see Themes/Melodic Material)

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