Daniel’s Pieces

Mazurka No.01

Written on April 20th, 2023 for The Creative Classical Guitarist's 1 week composition challenge. The piece loosely uses the structure of Tarrega's 'Adelita', with the A section in E Minor and the B section in E Major. It's written in the style of Chopin, who in turn influenced guitar composers like Tarrega and Barrios.

Fugue

I composed this for a school assignment back in around 2015, where we were tasked with modeling a Fugue by Bach.

Mystique

Composed in early 2023, this piece uses a harmonic progression that was created by random process. The progression repeats itself several times with different variations. Using a process like this can help you come up with chord progressions that are unusual and unconventional. Hope you enjoy. The process could be something like: Major chord - Diminished chord, bass moves up a 3rd - Minor chord, bass moves down a 5th, etc.


This piece was recorded by the wonderful Argentinian guitarist/composer Alejandro Meija Sanchez.

Fugue

Yes, I love Fugues! During September-October 2023, we learned to write Fugues on The Creative Classical Guitarist. I was so inspired by the many Fugues that have been written, that this one flowed out suddenly, with the opening melody (called a subject) based on a little transitional tune from Rick Alexander's Fugue.

For Tamang

My uncle recently passed to Heaven and I composed this in his memory. This piece tries to capture his personality and tender nature in the A section, represented by the key of D Major. It then changes to B Major, which represents him being in Heaven. It ends on an Ab Major chord, which is said to symbolize eternity.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" --- John 3:16

Lament

Composed way back when I was a teenager! This was written using loops and improvising each part. After a part was recorded, I would loop it over and over and play something against it until I was satisfied. Then I'd record that new part and keep repeating the process. Composing this way is super fun and doesn't require any notation!

Ocean Chant

Composed way back when I was a teenager! This was written using loops and improvising each part. After a part was recorded, I would loop it over and over and play something against it until I was satisfied. Then I'd record that new part and keep repeating the process. Composing this way is super fun and doesn't require any notation!

Waltzing Matilda (arr. Daniel)

Inspired by Takemitsu's arrangement of 'Over the Rainbow'

O Thou Most High

While reading through Psalm 9 one morning, a melody formed in my mind - the tune you hear at the opening of the piece. Psalm 9, King James Version (KJV) “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”

All Creatures of Our God and King (arr. Daniel)

I adapted this hymn for guitar, taking the two main themes and developing them on the instrument, mostly with arpeggio effects. I love the spirit of this hymn, which to me evokes praise to the Lord through musical language. Music can do this through the use of intervals, phrase structure, rhythm, harmonies and more.