Improvising Classical Music

Improvising Classical Music

This page contains additional information for the book: Improvising on Classical Music by Bruce Arnold. If you don’t own the book you may want to purchase it first then this page will make a lot more sense. Improvising Classical Music has made a resurgence in the last few years and this book discusses the ensemble “Spooky Actions” which has recorded many CDs where they improvise on Classical Masterpieces. The audio and full scores of the music discussed can be found here. If you would like to purchase the book or read more about its contents please follow this link: Improvising on Classical Music.

The Classical Masterpieces

by Bruce Arnold

The Classical masterpieces cited in this book were recorded by Spooky Actions, a New York based ensemble created by John Gunther and Bruce Arnold. Spooky Actions has produced a diverse set of recordings include the music of 20th century composers Anton Webern, Arnold Schoenberg and Olivier Messiaen; interpretations of Native American music Volume One and Volume Two, and well as a recording of Early Music from the 2nd century BC through the 1500’s. Their unique and compelling sound is being met with critical acclaim and widespread interest.

Below are quick links to the audio, scores and additional information for the music presented in the book “Improvising on Classical Music” by Bruce Arnold

Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, Early Music: Spooky Actions by Bruce Arnold for Muse Eek Publishing Company

Skolion of Seikilos

The Skolion of Seikilos is from the Spooky Actions CD Early Music.

Click on triangle to see the score for Skolion of Seikilos:
  • Skolion of Seikilos score used by Spooky Actions for their “Early Music” recording.
  • Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, Skolion-of-Seikilos-Melody from Spooky Actions Early Music CD
  • Below is MP3 recording of Skolion of Seikilos by Spooky Actions from “Early Music” recording:
  • Skolion of Seikilos[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Skolion_of_Seikilos.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]

“Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday”

The “Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday” is from the Spooky Actions CD “Early Music”.

Click on triangle to see the score for “Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday”:
  • “Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday” score used on Spooky Actions CD “Early Music”.
  • Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday By Saint John the Baptist recorded by Spooky Actions on Early Music CD

    Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday By Saint John the Baptist recorded by Spooky Actions on Early Music CD

  • Below is MP3 recording of “Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday” by Spooky Actions from “Early Music” recording:
  • Ode from the Kanon for Easter Sunday[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Easter.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]

The 1st Canzonet, “Qual si può dir maggiore“ by Claudio Monteverdi

The 1st Canzonet, “Qual si può dir maggiore“ by Claudio Monteverdi is from the Spooky Actions CD “Early Music”.

Click on triangle to see the score for The 1st Canzonet, “Qual si può dir maggiore“ by Claudio Monteverdi:
  • The 1st Canzonet, “Qual si può dir maggiore“ by Claudio Monteverdi score used by Spooky Actions for their “Early Music” recording.
  • Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, 1st Canzonet, “Qual si può dir maggiore“ by Claudio Monteverdi recorded by Spooky Actions on Early Music CD
  • Below is MP3 recording of The 1st Canzonet, “Qual si può dir maggiore“ by Claudio Monteverdi by Spooky Actions from “Early Music” recording:
  • Monteverdi’s 1st Canzonet[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Canzonet_1.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]

Classical Masterpieces,Improvising Classical Music, Bruce Arnold and John Gunther's Group "Spooky Actions" CD "Messiaen, Quartet for the End of Time."

“Quartet for the End of Time” 1st Movement by Olivier Messiaen

The “Quartet for the End of Time” 1st Movement by Olivier Messiaen is from the Spooky Actions recording Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time”

Click on triangle to see the score for “Quartet for the End of Time” 1st Movement by Olivier Messiaen:
  • Below is MP3 recording of “Quartet for the End of Time” 1st Movement by Olivier Messiaen from the Spooky Actions recording Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time”
  • 1st Movement[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Mvt1_QFTEOT.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
  • 1st Movement Improvisation[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Mvt1_QFTEOT_Improv.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Click on triangle to see the score for Quartet for the End of Time” 6th Movement by Olivier Messiaen:
  • Below is MP3 recording of Quartet for the End of Time” 6th Movement by Olivier Messiaen from the Spooky Actions CD Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time”:
  • 6th Movement[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Mvt6_QFTEOT.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Click on triangle to see the score for Quartet for the End of Time” 6th Movement Improvisation form for Spooky Actions recording:
  • Below is MP3 recording of Quartet for the End of Time” 6th Movement by Olivier Messiaen from the Spooky Actions CD Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time”:
  • 6th Movement Improvisation[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Mvt6_QFTEOT_Improv.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]

Quartet for the End of Time” 8th Movement by Olivier Messiaen

The Quartet for the End of Time” 8th Movement by Olivier Messiaen is from the Spooky Actions CD Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time”.

Click on triangle to see the score for Quartet for the End of Time” 8th Movement:
  • Quartet for the End of Time” 8th Movement by Olivier Messiaen score used by Spooky Actions for their “Early Music” recording.
  • Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, 8th Movement "Quartet for the End of Time" by Olivier Messiaen Violin/Guitar Part recorded by Spooky Actions on Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time"CD
  • Below is MP3 recording of Quartet for the End of Time” 8th Movement by Olivier Messiaen by Spooky Actions from their CD Messiaen “Quartet for the End of Time”:
  • 8th Movement[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Mvt8_QFTEOT.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]

Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, Bruce Arnold and John Gunther's Group "Spooky Actions" CD "Schoenberg, Five Piano Pieces op. 23"

Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg

Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg from Spooky Actions “Five Piano Pieces” recording..

Click on triangle to see the score for Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg:
  • Below is MP3 recording of Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg from Spooky Actions “Five Piano Pieces” recording:
  • 2nd Movement[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Movement2.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
Click on triangle to see the score for the improvisation solo form for Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 2nd Movement by Arnold Schoenberg:
  • Below is the MP3 of the improvisation on the 2nd Movement of Arnold Schoenberg’s Five Piano Pieces, Opus 23 by Spooky Actions “Five Piano Pieces” recording:
  • 2nd Movement Improvisation[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Movement2_Improv.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]

Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, by Bruce Arnold and John Gunther's Group "Spooky Actions" CD "The Music of Webern.

Fünf Canons, Opus 16 1st Movement by Anton Webern

The Fünf Canons, Opus 16 1st Movement by Anton Webern from Spooky Actions “Music of Webern” recording

Click on triangle to see the score for Fünf Canons, Opus 16 1st Movement by Anton Webern:
  • The Fünf Canons, Opus 16 1st Movement by Anton Webern score
  • Classical Masterpieces, Improvising Classical Music, 1st Movement Anton Webern's Funf Canons from Spooky Actions "Music of Webern" recording.
  • Below is MP3 recording of The Fünf Canons, Opus 16 1st Movement by Anton Webern from Spooky Actions “Music of Webern” recording:
  • 1st Movement[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Funf_Canon_1.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]
  • 1st Movement Improvisation[s3bubbleAudioSingle bucket=”media.muse-eek.com” track=” mp3/ClassicalAudio/Funf_Canon_1_Improv.mp3″ autoplay=”false” download=”false” style=”plain” preload=”auto”/]