This sequence comes from Stevie Wonder‘s song Sir Duke, off of his iconic album, Songs in the Key of Life. History After climbing to the peak of the music industry with back to back top 5 albums in 1974 and…
Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke Sequence
Chicago – Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is Sequence
This sequence is a tribute to James Pankow, one of the greatest trombonists of all time, and the title of the source song fits my life as the parent of a newborn. The Greatest? What does it mean to be…
Ravel – L’Enfant et les sortilèges Sequence
One thing that is remarkable about orchestral music is its ability to create sounds that are perfectly suited to a story. A great example is Berg’s opera Wozzeck, where the atonal music is both beautiful and twisted, perfectly expressing the…
Kansas – Carry On My Wayward Son Sequence
Inspired by the arrival of my son, Dante Rockwell Baker, this sequence comes from the hit song, Carry On My Wayward Son by the rock band Kansas.
Grainger – The Brisk Young Sailor Sequence
As all Northwestern University SWE Alums know, Percy Grainger‘s Lincolnshire Posy is an incredibly important piece in the wind band repertoire. It is so important that every year, each student of Dr. Mallory Thompson‘s conducting class leads the band through…
Hovhaness – And God Created Great Whales Sequence
Perfect your pentatonics with this week’s sequence, inspired by a wild whale piece by Armenian/American composer Alan Hovhaness.
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 – Sequence 1
This week’s sequence is a beautiful romantic melody from Sergei Rachmaninoff‘s 2nd piano concerto. This concerto is such an incredible piece of music. The piano solo is ridiculously virtuosic, and the orchestra parts are also well crafted. I love the…
Respighi – Pines of Rome Sequence 1
Do you ever come across music that is very simple and easy looking but somehow turns out to be incredibly challenging? I do, and this sequence is based on one of those moments. The monk chorale in the second movement…
Tchaik 5 – Sequence 1
I’m having a blast playing Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony this week with the San Diego Symphony. Maestro Gemma New is bringing details to the interpretation that aren’t printed on the page, and her leadership has made a huge positive impact on the…
Saint-Saens – Samson and Delilah Sequence
This Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah was one of the first pieces by SS that I had the pleasure of playing. The piece has beautiful melodies that so expertly capture and outsiders view of the middle east, and an almost primal energy…