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Sheet Music

Buy sheet music (paperback books) by John Pitts.  

Delivery time: orders will be despatched as soon as possible after you order,
normally within 3 working days.  Generally, please allow 7 days for delivery within the UK,
15 days for the EU, and 3 weeks for the rest of the world.
Some scores are also available to view, hear and print instantly
online from and

Title
Instr.
Length (mins)
Other Information
Pipa Dreams in Imperial Garden (2018)
Piano Solo
6-7
Order the printed sheet music
£7.99 + P&P
Pipa Dreams in Imperial Garden (2018) for solo piano, is an attempt to capture something of the essence of the Chinese lute. The pipa is a strummed and plucked, pear-shaped instrument, with four strings (typically tuned A D E A), characteristically using frequent fast tremolo with all of the right fingers repeatedly plucking a single string. It also uses much dramatic vibrato and wide portamento – sadly unavailable to us pianists. But, like the piano, the pipa is a very expressive instrument, and this piano piece aims to capture some of its distinctive gestures and idiosyncrasies. 6-7 minutes. Advanced.
Indian Rāgas for Piano Made Easy (2018,2020)
Piano Solo
30

Second Edition Published January 2020 (First edition 9Jan2018), Intensely Pleasant Music

This book is a collection of eight Indian rāgas, re-imagined for piano, and simplified for fledgling pianists (both children and adults).  The purpose is to provide an introductory experience of classical Indian music-making in an easy, hands-on way at a piano, offering a very accessible first encounter with improvisation.  It is designed for near-beginners (pre-grade 1) through to early intermediate players, and can be used as a stepping stone to the much bigger volume for more advanced pianists: How to Play Indian Sitar Rāgas on a Piano (Intensely Pleasant Music, 2016/2020).  Accompanying mp3s at www.pianoraga.com

Read more

How to Play Indian Sitar Rāgas on a Piano (2016,2020)
Piano Solo
 
(or duet / duo - the book contains instructions on how to play with two pianists on one or two pianos)
hours and hours

Learn to play North Indian classical sitar music on a piano. 2nd edition – fully revised 2020 (first published 2016).  Indian rāgas (or raags) have an extraordinary musical heritage dating back several centuries (from the area that is now India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) – a truly unique musical genre of fascinating melodic beauty and rhythmic intricacy – freely combining elaborate composed melodies with carefully rehearsed improvisation.  This rich and intriguing music is traditionally performed on sitar – or instruments such as the sarangi, sarod, esraj or voice – and has previously been generally unavailable to pianists.  But now the amazing world of Indian rāgas has been opened up in this sympathetic but thorough reinvention for piano solo (or duet or two pianos) by an award-winning British composer (www.johnpitts.co.uk).   This collection of 24 rāgas will be enjoyed by good amateur pianists through to virtuosic professionals. It is suitable for any pianist who enjoys discovering new music, or who has an interest in music from other cultures, or who knows the pleasure of jazz noodling and wants to explore a rewarding and fresh (but centuries-old) form of improvisation.

Includes rāgas: Kalyāni “Bliss”, Hēmavati “Golden Mountain Stream”, Latāngi “Little Girl”, Desh “Sweeping Landscape”, Vāchaspati “Wise Old Man”, Gezellish “Gazelle”, Kalavati “Moonlight”, Bāgeśrī “The Waiting Bride”, Neenda “Sleep”, Paraj “Pollen on the Breeze”, Lalit “Elegant Mischief”, Jogiya Kalingra “Aroma of Saffron”, Chakravāk “Ruddy Goose”, Kofi “Intense Coffee”, Suraja “Morning Sun”, Bilaskhani Toḍī “Mourning”, Āsāvarī “Full of Hope”, Toḍī “Lady in the Forest”, Gaud-Sarang “Lunchtime Bell”, Madhuvanti “Flowing with honey”, Patdeep “Stealing my heart”, Chārukēsi “Beautiful Hair”, Pūrvī “From the East”, & Puriya “Satisfaction”.  Read more here...

Read extensive reviews of the 1st edition here: www.pianoraga.com

“a fascinating and unique product!” Christopher Norton, Composer

“bursting with information, ideas, and advice… truly monumental… a lot of fun” Dr Gail Fischler, Piano Bench Mag

“fascinating” Dr Angela Miller-Niles, American Music Teacher Magazine

“endlessly fascinating” Allan Cronin, NewMusicBuff

“…I strongly recommend the book to pianists with an eye and an ear to the East…” Dr Jonathan Katz, International Piano Magazine

“If you have any interest in this esoteric arena… I can’t imagine a better primer than this.” Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb-International

“a very well produced and informative book” Robert Matthew-Walker, Editor, ‘Musical Opinion’

5 stars “This is a great book.” Dr Mark Polishook

7 Piano Duets & Triets (2016)
Piano Duet
and
Piano Triet
40+
Order the printed sheet music
£18.99 + P&P
A collection of seven piano duets and triets, with an international theme. Written between 1995 and 2015 for performers in UK, France and Denmark. They have the connecting thread of each being inspired by music of a different country. Four of the pieces have roots in traditional music – Indonesian gamelan, North Indian sitar raags, African balaphon ensembles, and British folksong – and the other three were inspired by German organ music (J.S.Bach), American minimalism and Spanish waltz (although it doesn’t sound like it!). Between them, they have been performed in festivals, concerts and international piano duo competitions in UK, Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Australia and USA. Most of the pieces are cheerful, vibrantly rhythmic and highly energetic, as well as requiring considerable dexterity.
Changes for 20 nifty fingers (duet)
Passacaglia (duet)
Raag Gezellig (duet)
Joyful Balaphony (duet)
Glittering Gamelan (duet)
Are You Going? (triet)
Experiencing High Volumes (triet)
2016 Edition.
Scene from Gaelic Faram
(Jig in Kiev)
2 pianos
(without percussion)
6
Order the set of both parts (printed sheet music)
£10.00 + P&P
Scene from Gaelic Faram (Jig in Kiev) is a 6-minute, note-filled, virtuosic piece inspired by British folksong, and includes adaptations of the Dargason jig and the reel Mary Mack, and starts with an attempt to capture some of the ornamented and decorated melody lines typical of Scottish bagpipes. The full 16-minute piece Gaelic Faram (Jig in Kiev) for 2 pianos and 2 percussionists was composed for the Kiev Piano Duo (Oleksandra Zaytseva and Dmytro Tavanets) for the Kiev “Chamber Music Session” Festival 2012. This new arrangement of a 6-minute scene from it, just for 2 pianos, was made in 2016 for the Australian Piano Duo (Vicky Yang & Maggie Chen).
Gaelic Faram
(Jig in Kiev)
2 pianos and 2 percussionists
16
Order the full set of 4 parts (printed sheet music)
£16.00 + P&P
Composed for the Kiev Piano Duo (Oleksandra Zaytseva & Dmytro Tavanets) for the Kiev “Chamber Music Session” Festival 2012. Designed as a companion piece for Bartok’s famous Sonata for 2 pianos and percussion. It is a virtuosic piece, lasting c.16 minutes, inspired by British folksong, and includes adaptations of the Dargason jig and the reel Mary Mack, and starts with an attempt to capture some of the ornamented and decorated melody lines typical of Scottish bagpipes. Fully revised 2016.
An Autumn Evening
Piano
13
Order the printed sheet music
£6.95 + P&P
Please note delivery info above.
"An Autumn Evening" is a tranquil, relaxing, minimalistic piece for piano players of an intermediate standard (approximately grades 5-6). Easy listening.
[25 pages]
 
1. Leaves Blowing Around the Park view mvmt1
2. Light Filtering Through the Trees at Dusk view mvmt2
3. Ripples in the Fountain view mvmt3
A Winter Night
Piano
13
Order the printed sheet music
£5.95 + P&P
Please note delivery info above.
 
"A Winter Night" is a tranquil, relaxing, minimalistic piece for piano players of an intermediate standard (approximately grades 4-5). Easy listening.
[15 pages]
 
1. First Hints of Snow in the Meadow
2. Icy Pond
3. Melting Stream
complete video
complete view score
 
Each of the three movements is also available to download individually:
7 Airs & Fantasias
Piano
64
Order the printed sheet music
£11.95 + P&P
Please note delivery info above.
 
A collection of 7 Airs & Fantasias for solo piano, composed between 1992 and 2007. The 7 airs are essentially melody-dominated, and the 7 fantasias are pieces in free form with a minimalistic use of repeated and rotating patterns.
[79 pages]
 
Released on CD - see www.hyperion-records.co.uk/ol.asp?ol=5 for further info.
View scores of individual pieces by clicking on the separate links below.
Individual scores can be printed online.
Toccata
Piano
9
Order the printed sheet music
£7.95 + P&P
Please note delivery info above.
 
TOCCATA for piano is a tour de force of driving energy, based on a few simple cells of musical material explored and developed over a ten minute period: technically demanding, mentally strenuous, the music's energy is regulated until the final release in the last section, where use is made of the entire range of the keyboard, all the thematic fragments converge, and uninterrupted momentum is achieved. Toccata is a concert show-piece for accomplished players (grade 8 and beyond).
[29 pages]
Are You Going?
& Changes
Piano triet (six hands) and
Piano duet
4
&
3
Order the printed sheet music
£6.95 + P&P
Please note delivery info above.
 
Two pieces for 2 or 3 pianists at one piano. ARE YOU GOING? for 3 pianists is a fast, complex, layered, polyphonic romp based on the folk-melody Scarborough Fair, pulled around in various time-warps - mesmerising to watch and rewarding to play. CHANGES is for piano duet, a minimalistic counting duel, with sections in both 14 and 15 quavers per bar, building to a climactic and impressive-to-behold finish. Great fun to get your and your friends' fingers round! (Standard grade 8+). [19 pages]
Are You Going? video
Changes video
Changes view score
Cerebrations
String Quartet
12
Order the printed sheet music parts (and score) £19 + P&P
Please note delivery info above.
 
A challenging string quartet, described by Dr David Wright as "a compelling work of contrasts. At times it is 'teeth on edge' music but there are fine moments and a vitality coupled with recognisable thematic material, although the music retains its angularity."
2 Piano Quartets
"Piano Quartet"





 
&





 
"Typhoid"











 
Piano Quartet







 
Piano Quartet
 
OR
 
Violin, Clarinet, Cello and Piano











 
12








 
6
Order the printed sheet music parts (and score) £18.99 + P&P
Please note delivery info above.
 
Two piano quartets (violin, viola, cello & piano) by British composer John Pitts. “Piano Quartet” (12 minutes) was the winning piece in the 2003 Philharmonia Orchestra Martin Musical Scholarship Fund Composition Competition at the Royal Festival Hall in London, and first performed by the Fidelio Piano Quartet. “Typhoid” (5 minutes) was shortlisted by the Society for the Promotion of New Music, and first performed by the Contemporary Consort at The Warehouse, London. The viola part can be replaced by a clarinet – separate clarinet part included. [Violin, Viola/Clarinet, Cello & Piano]
 
Violin/Viola/Cello/Piano
fp Ana Laurichesse, Marie-Camille Costaseca-Cazenove,
Charlotte Chollet, Mélody Giot
March 2015 Perpignan Conservatoire, France.
 
Violin/Clarinet/Cello/Piano
fp Contemporary Ensemble, The Warehouse 1999. spnm shortlist.
Nuts & Bolts
Violin, Piano, Percussion
5
spnm shortlist. Also version without percussion (Nut & Bolt).
Air 1
"Gentle Interweaving"
Piano
4
Fantasia 1 "Clockwork 5 4"
Piano
3
Air 2
"After Satie"
Piano
3
Fantasia 2
"On the Westminster Chimes"
Piano
4
Air 3
"On an anagram"
Piano
4
Fantasia 3 "Parallel Octaves"
Piano
5
Air 4 "Sarabande"
Piano
4
Fantasia 4
"Wind Chimes"
Piano
8
Air 5
"Calmly Contented"
Piano
4
Fantasia 5
"Bells in 9 8"
Piano
4
Air 6
"Modal Twist"
Piano
4
Fantasia 6
"Half-Second-Hand"
Piano
6
Air 7
"Cantabile Mist"
Piano
6
Fantasia 7
"All in a chord"
Piano
6
Mischief
Piano
1
Passacaglia
Piano Duet
6
Prelude, Sarabande & Fugue
3 recorders/flutes, harpsichord, viol/cello
9
Also available for: Flute, Oboe, Trumpet, Harpsichord, Violin, Cello
Swirling Skirmish
Accordian duet
9
Also available for: Recorder and Harpsichord, Flute and Harp, Oboe and Harp, Saxophone and Piano.
Backcloth
Brass Quartet
10
Table Manners
Cello
10
Music for the play by Alan Ayckbourn, performed by Bristol University Drama Society in 1996
Tiger Raag
Cello
7
Also available for solo violin or viola, or as duet or trio.
And I saw a new heaven
Chamber Orchestra
9
And After These Things
Choir
7
Jesus said, I AM
Choir
9
SSATBB   view score
Motet 4 Eight
Choir
3
SSAATTBB   view score
Psalm 13
Choir
2
The Voice That Breathed O'er Eden
Choir
3
SSATBB, wedding anthem.
Thy Way, Not Mine, O Lord
Choir
3
Agnus Dei
Choir
2
SATB   view score
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Choir + organ
4
released November 03 on the Naxos Book of Carols CD, sung by the award-winning choir Tonus Peregrinus.
All Glory Laud and Honour
Choir+accomp
4
SATB   view score
Lord Jesus, Come!
Choir+accomp
4
SATB and Organ, SATB (unaccomp), or Unison & Piano.   view score
Journey Through a Distant Land
Flexible Instrumentation
8
Written for COMA.
Fantasia (on a Pakistani Hymn-tune)
Flute, Clarinet, Cello, Harp
8
fp members of Brunel Ensemble, workshop at Bristol Uni 1998.
Swirling Skirmish
Flute, Harp
9
Also available for: Recorder and Harpsichord, Accordian Duet, Oboe and Harp, Saxophone and Piano.
Misella Puella
Flute, Piano
2
Light jazz.
Serenade
Guitar
3
Fantasy I
Harpsichord
3
Square Dance
Large Mixed Ensemble
8
Antigone
Mixed Chamber Ensemble
20
Music for the play, performed by Bristol University Drama Society in 1996.
Prelude, Sarabande & Fugue
Mixed Chamber Ensemble
9
Flute, Oboe, Trumpet, Harpsichord, Violin, Cello. Also available for: 3 recorders/flutes, harpsichord, bass viol/cello.
The Fawn
Mixed Chamber Ensemble
10
soprano, 2 pianos, mixed chamber ensemble
The Inmates
Mixed Chamber Ensemble
20
Music for play, performed in Manchester's Green Room, by Manchester University Drama Department.
Swirling Skirmish
Oboe, Harp
9
Also available for: Recorder and Harpsichord, Flute and Harp, Saxophone and Piano, two Accordians.
Fun 4 Three
Oboe, Piano, Gloved hand
4
Crossed Wires
Mixed Chamber Ensemble
10
OPERETTA
fp Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 1997, spnm Music Theatre project.
3 Sliced Mice
Mixed Chamber Ensemble
26
OPERETTA
fp 2001 University of Bristol. Commissioned by Five Brothers Pasta Sauces.
Passacaglia
Orchestra
7
fp Bristol University Symphony Orchestra 2001.
Passacaglia
Organ
6
Prelude
Organ
3
A Streetcar Named Desire
Piano
20
Music for the play, performed by Bristol University Drama Society in 1997.
Piano Trio
Piano Trio
12
Quartet version of this piece won the Philharmonia Orchestra Martin Musical Scholarship Composition Prize 2003.
Swirling Skirmish
Recorder, Harpsichord
9
Also available for: Oboe and Harp, Flute and Harp, Saxophone and Piano, two Accordians.
4 Short Pieces
Recorder, Piano
8
For recorder or flute, increasing in difficulty, starting from very easy.
Swirling Skirmish
Saxophone, Piano
9
Also available for: Recorder and Harpsichord, Flute and Harp, Oboe and Harp, two Accordians.
Voice From The Throne
String Orchestra
6
String Orchestra version of "And after these things", Highly commended by the Oare String Orchestra.   view score
Piece 4 Six
String Quartet, 2 Percussion
6
And After These Things
String Sextet
7
String version of "And after these things". Another version for String Orchestra is called "Voice From the Throne", and was highly commended by the Oare String Orchestra.
Tiger Raag
String Trio
7
Also available as solos or duet for violin, viola or cello.   view score
Tiger Raag
Viola
7
Also available as solo for violin or cello, or duet or trio.   view score
Tiger Raag
Violin
7
Also available as solos for viola or cello, or as duet or trio.   view score
Violin Duet I
Violin Duet
2
Violin Duet II
Violin Duet
2
Violin Duet III
Violin Duet
1
Peter Piper
Voice, Mixed Chamber Ensemble
5
Typhus
Voice, Mixed Chamber Ensemble
5
Countertenor, guitar, violin, cello
My Lute, Awake!
Voice, Mixed Chamber Ensemble, OR
Voice & guitar
5
 
Dreams Do Show Thee Me
Voice+accomp
5
Eternal Love
Voice+accomp
4
Love Me Not For Comely Grace
Voice+accomp
3
My God, I Love Thee
Voice+accomp
3
congregational hymn/song   
Sweet Day
Voice+accomp
2
The Pilgrim
Voice+accomp
2
Was There E'er
Voice+accomp
3
You Are Worthy, O Lord
Voice+accomp
4
congregational hymn/song. SSATBB

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