Tag: film music

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All Sheet Music Children's Music Film Music

The Rainbow Connection

(from “The Muppet Movie”)

Words and music by Kenneth L. Ascher and Paul Williams; Arranged by Elena Fortin

The Rainbow Connection Cover

Most people hear the intro of this piece and immediately picture Kermit the Frog, strumming his banjo and singing this wistful little tune. It is one of the very first music sheets that I went out and bought at our local music store. I was so excited to learn it!

Fast forward many years later and I am so happy to see it entertaining a whole new generation of people. On YouTube, Kermit uploaded a special performance of it in April 2020!

I performed a version of this as a duet with a student at a recital and it was a big hit (we even came up with our own choreography to go along with the piece)! This melody is one of those timeless and iconic pieces that will forever have a special place in my heart.

About the arrangement

My version starts out in the key of A major, and like the original modulates to B flat major. The left hand is arranged in a simple, arpeggiated/broken chord accompaniment that makes the style more pianistic. These smooth, flowing arpeggios accompany most of the piece.

The first verse is left to be fairly simple and lets the melody shine. The second verse is slightly more complex, with more harmony added to the right hand notes, and some fills that build on the melody.

The key change has more movement and signals the last verse done in a very full, orchestra-like sound that takes advantage of the breadth of the piano keyboard. The finish brings us back to a more simple arrangement–back to its’ humble beginnings!

I hope I made Kermit proud!!

Video Performance

Purchase Information

Clicking on the link below will bring you to a new site: Sheet Music Plus. This arrangement is under copyright with the ArrangeMe program by Hal Leonard.

Sheet Music Plus – The Rainbow Connection

Sheet Music Sample

The Rainbow Connection Sheet Music Sample

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All Sheet Music Film Music Rock and Pop Music

Shallow

(from “A Star is Born”)

Words and music by Stefani Germanotta, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt, and Mark Robson; Arranged by Elena Fortin

Shallow Cover

This is an advanced intermediate piano solo arrangement of the beautiful song “Shallow” from “A Star is Born”, made famous by Lady Gaga (aka Stefani Germanotta) and Bradley Cooper.

I have been working on arrangements that have stood the test of time and that I consider to be beautiful and inspirational. While this piece is fairly young (it came out in 2018), it’s one of those pieces that give you chills when you hear it. I have never seen the movie, although I have seen various YouTube videos of this being performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

There is something magical in the melody and in the emotion that they convey when they play and perform this song together.

About the arrangement

This arrangement follows the basic structure of the vocal arrangement (intro, verse, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, outro). The arrangement stays fairly plain at first and gradually introduces some alternate melodies and fills. The left hand alternates between gentle arpeggios and areas of strong octaves and chords to build a powerful chorus and bridge section.

The arrangement was written for the early-advanced to advanced pianist. I enjoyed adding to the melodic line to fill it out in the piano solo version–the vocal version has Lady Gaga’s lovely voice to add beauty to the melodic line, but the piano solo version needs a little more!

Video Performance

Purchase Information

Clicking on the link below will bring you to a new site: Sheet Music Plus. This arrangement is under copyright with the ArrangeMe program by Hal Leonard.

Sheet Music Plus – Shallow

Sheet Music Sample

Shallow Sheet Music Sample

Audio Sample

Categories
All Sheet Music Christmas and Holiday Music Film Music

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

(from “Meet Me In St. Louis”)

Words and music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane; Arranged by Elena Fortin

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Cover

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) is a gem of a Christmas song first written in 1943. It was used in the 1944 film “Meet Me In St. Louis“. Judy Garland introduced this song in a scene where she is comforting a younger sister when they learn they are moving away from their beloved home in St. Louis, just before the highly-anticipated World’s Fair is coming to their doorstep!

A well-beloved holiday favourite, the song has been performed by several different recording artists including Frank Sinatra, Micheal Bublé, Josh Groban, and Sam Smith.

It’s funny that this song turned into a holiday favourite–in the movie, Judy Garland sings it to her little sister (played by Margaret O’Brien) to comfort her because their family is moving to New York City just before the holidays. The song has undergone a few lyric changes since it’s first incarnation–lyrics that were considered to be “depressing” were changed to be more uplifting.

About the arrangement

This arrangement is a nod to classic film–think old style soundtracks with lush orchestrations. I chose to write this song in 12/8 time, so the left hand triplets are accompanying the melody throughout. The triplets give the melody a nice lilt and writing it in 12/8 time instead of 4/4 time with triplets is just easier for editing and hopefully easier to read.

Listen for the surprise change of harmony with a trick chord near the end!

Video Performance

Purchase Information

Clicking on the link below will bring you to a new site: Sheet Music Plus. This arrangement is under copyright with the ArrangeMe program by Hal Leonard.

Sheet Music Plus – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Sheet Music Sample

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Sheet Music Sample

Audio Sample