Alessandro Scarlatti, craftsman of Baroque opera

Alessandro Scarlatti, a famous Italian Baroque composer, is considered to be the father of the Neapolitan school of opera. His skills and diligence were highly appreciated by many influential figures of that epoch. Thus, he was appointed by Queen Christina of Sweden her own maestro di cappella and four years later he occupied the similar post at the court of the viceroy in Naples. He was also protégé of Ferdinando de' Medici as he composed operas for his private theatre, and of Cardinal Ottoboni, who also made him his maestro di cappella.
You can also enjoy pieces by this talented composer. Here O cessate di piagarmi you’ll find sheet music of one of his earliest works, the air “O cessate di piagarmi” from the opera “Il Pompeo”. This rarely soulful and tragic piece will be interesting for all Baroque music lovers, both for beginners and advanced musicians.

Feodor Koenemann, a Russian music genius

Talented Russian composer and brilliant pianist, Professor of Moscow Conservatory, Feodor Feodorovich Koenemann was the author of over 100 works and his life-time friendship with Feodor Chaliapin created the perfect artistic duet of a singer-wunderkind and virtuoso pianist, whose destinies bond together in a remarkable creative union for a quarter of a century. He accompanied Feodor Chaliapin invariably on the concert stage, but he also wrote music for songs, which then performed by Chaliapin acquired a huge popularity. Eminent talent of Koenemann as of the author of popular music manifested itself most clearly through his song compositions such as the ballads "As the king went to war" and "The Blacksmith", the concert arrangement of a Russian folk song "Hey, uhnem!" and the romance "Three Roads" dedicated to Feodor Chaliapin.
Sheet music of the romance "Three Roads" is available for download here Three Roads.

Mikhail Akimovich Slonov, master of the Russian romance

Mikhail Akimovich Slonov, recognized singer and composer, good friend of S. Rachmaninoff and F. Chaliapin, was famous for his excellent taste in music. He composed a huge number of compositions in different genres including a lot of choral music and theatre pieces, children songs and more than 30 romances and popular songs. Rare sheet music of one of his most popular romances “Ah, Thou, Red Sun!” you can find here Ah, Thou, Red Sun!. The romance was written special for the genius of the Russian opera scene F. Chaliapin, who enjoyed the piece particularly and performed it therefore constantly at his concerts and even recorded it on his first gramophone record.

Rare sheet music auctioned off

Rare sheet music were sold at the auction house «Sotheby's» in London. A recently found piano duo by Gabriel Fauré composed supposedly in 1870 cost 20.000 £.
The price of Beethoven’s manuscripts containing some themes and concepts of new compositions, including Octet for wind instruments, op. 103 rose to 163250 £.
The letter written by Farinelli, one of the most famous Italian contralto and soprano castrato singers of the 18th century, was bought for 10625 £. It was his first letter sold by auction.

“Pieta, Signore!” Alessandro Stradella

At the beginning of the piece “Pieta, Signore!” by Alessandro Stradella, meditative tranquility overtakes slightly people’s hearts. But in a moment dramatic tension starts to rise constantly and it won't stop till the very end of the composition. The beauty of its melody, so woeful like a desperate supplication, affects every listener exciting in him the bowels of mercy and humility of mind. While you are listening to the piece you understand that the best thing you can do now is to curb all the unnecessary vanities in your life and try to make it more conscious and pure.
Sheet music of this remarkable composition by Alessandro Stradella is available for download here:
Pieta, Signore!