Prelude and Harmonization: O Waly Waly

Alright, so here's a favourite tune of mine, often presented in a form I greatly dislike - in four, rather than in three. The problem being that in order to make these nicely set bars of three in to bars of four, you have to elongate some of the notes and bog down all the forward momentum.

So I leave it in three. Only makes sense to do so if I don't like it in four.

I don't know what the original is, incidentally. I just know I like it in three, don't like it in four, and that I've talked too much about this.

O Waly Waly - prelude and reharmonization

Any ideas for what to work on next are welcome! Drop me a line if you have a thought. And a tip or donation along with that line or thought would always be appreciated!

Little Prelude on O Waly Waly and this harmonization of O Waly Waly by Mike Cutler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Your donations can help me keep writing these! Click to feed a composer!

Reharmonization: Wondrous Love

Not a lot to say about this one... a continuation of sorts from last week's prelude: a harmonization of the American hymn tune "Wondrous Love"

(link to the PDF)

This hymn harmonization by Mike Cutler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Your donations can help me keep writing these! Click to feed a composer!

Out with 2016, in with 2017

New plans for the new year. After the wedding, honeymoon, and subsequently crazy fall and winter, I'm back to it. Don't count me out yet!

First new tune harmonization of 2017! (click here for a downloadable PDF)

The best of the new year to all friends, colleagues and admirers!

- Mike

This harmonization by Mike Cutler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Your donations can help me keep writing these! Click to feed a composer!

Little Fantasy, for Horn and Piano, on "General Taylor" (Donation piece)

In thanks for a generous donation from my friend Ryan Peters.

PDF available here! (PDF for the horn part here!)

Shortly after the turn of the new year, I was surprised by a very kind and generous donation from an old friend. So I went back in to our common history and suggested that the piece I would write in response could be an elaboration on "General Taylor," a tune we both enjoyed from our appreciation for Great Big Sea and similar folk groups.

The earliest source I could find for either tune or words for General Taylor dates to 1914; the song likely refers to American General (and President) Zachary Taylor, who died in 1850. The song is a funeral procession, describing the many things to be done to honour the memory of the dead. This Fantasy... is not. Context is more or less disregarded in this one in favour of just playing with the melody.

Hopefully this little piece provides some interest and joy to horn players out there! And if you'd like a piece like this for yourself... the donation button is below!

Little Fantasy on "General Taylor" by Mike Cutler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Your donations can help me keep writing these! Click to feed a composer!

Folk song for choir - Voyaguer rowing song #1

I'm a massive folk-song geek. I play some of the most complex music on one of the most complicated instruments in the world, and yet putting a simple vocal line with a simple accompaniment is often what attracts my attention. And my memories of the voyageur songs from my upbringing in French immersion schools are some of my favourites.

V'la l'bon vent is a voyageur rowing song. At least it is in my memory. It's got a wonderful energy behind it that drew me in as a kid, and about six years ago I wrote an arrangement for choir that I'm about to share.

PDF is available here.

There's the first three pages, representing two choruses and two verses. The verses are, by and large, unaccompanied. The verses are all in 5/4 time, while the choruses are in four-beat bars. The accompaniment basically stays out of the way, keeping time and reinforcing the harmony.

And yet, I still find the arrangement charming and fun. I hope you do too.

V'la l'bon vent by Mike Cutler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.