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Michael Allen

Farnaby's Conceit

The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book comprises nearly 300 works composed for keyboard by notable English court composers from the time of Queen...

Michael Allen

Breaking up the Romance

Too soon? I'm having too much fun with these titles. I promised to talk about the decision to transpose this movement of Robert...

Michael Allen

More advice on Romance

One of the things I appreciated about teaching was that I learned things about my own playing by observing and articulating ideas to...

Michael Allen

Schumann Romances

...orchestrated for brass. I've loved Robert Schumann's Opus 94 Romances since the 80's. I heard them first on a cello recital, and then...

Michael Allen

Limoges - The Big News

Sadly, only a few of the sketches by Victor Hartmann that inspired Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition have survived. We must rely on...

Michael Allen

Mussorgsky's Pictures

I'm always surprised that some still believe that Maurice Ravel's orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition is the 'original&#3

Michael Allen

Keeping the trombones out of the pub

I usually carry around a small notebook that has only one purpose - it is used to write down new project ideas when I hear them (or think...

Michael Allen

Little Red Riding Hood

I've been a big fan of Rachmaninoff's music for many years, but arranging his music for brass presents, in some cases, insurmountable...