Toccata from L'Orfeo by Monteverdi, arranged for Group Piano
The Toccato from Monteverdi's L'Orfeo is like a brisk morning wake-up call, musically speaking. If you have a capable group - or trio - of young keyboard players, this free Renaissance ensemble might be just what you are looking for!
On this page you will find:
- a trio for one piano (or for a group class of keyboards)
- a four or five-part ensemble for keyboard group
- discussion of how to approach & teach this ensemble
Scroll on down the page to find the download links for the free printable sheet music.
For those who have the impression that Renaissance music is dull or meanders around aimlessly, the direct, brassy edginess of this toccata is almost a slap in the face!
In the following video from the opera "L'Orfeo", the conductor and ensemble seem to push the limits.
The first thing one notices is the dramatic entrance of the conductor in flowing robes - "Maestro" certainly applies here!
Here is what the trio arrangement for one piano looks like:
Dissecting the parts
As you can see, the lowest part has two staffs, treble and bass.
Yes, in Part 3, the Right Hand will play the same "G" that the Left Hand has as a whole note. Your student can handle this - tell them to move the left hand thumb out of the way. (If I had notated this exactly, with rests where the left hand releases, the music would have been harder to read.)
The top line must play an octave higher than written, in order to stay out of the way of part 2!
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
The 4 or 5-part ensemble
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
The notes here are easy. What makes this ensemble tricky is the rhythm, which is different for every part. Getting it together is a CHALLENGE. Therefore, assess your pianists!
There are 5 parts to the ensemble, though parts 4 and 5 can easily be combined (and even added to part 1, 2, or 3).
The reason for maintaining separate lines is so that different "instruments" can be assigned to each part, giving your keyboard players the illusion of a real brass ensemble.
Page 2
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
But it's a fun challenge! I suggest starting the Toccata by first using the primary rhythmic element, the sixteenth notes followed by a thump, as the basis of a rhythm game in your group piano class.
We say "One-ee-and-uh TWO; three-ee-and-uh FOUR," etc.
In my classes -- probably like yours--, we'll have two teams compete to see who can clap a rhythm correctly first, with the metronome clicking along. As each rhythm is conquered, it is altered slightly, getting more and more difficult.
This was a particularly fun rhythm to do, first learning it in pieces on the whiteboard, then looking at the sheet music (We only practiced Part I the first time through).
Lightbulb moments
If you draw on a whiteboard or chalkboard to explain the rhythms, you may see some light bulbs going off above some of your students' heads when you draw the values of 16 sixteenth notes per measure, and show how the dotted eighth notes compare... "Oh, NOW I get it..."
Page 3
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Use a pen to tap the rhythms
Because of the great speed of the sixteenth notes, my students have found it easier to tap on a table with pens instead of clapping their hands when learning this toccata. Too much fast clapping is painful! And greater precision can be had with a pen on a hard surface.
The tapping sounds cool, too...besides, even older kids find it fun to "drum" like a percussionist, and they don't have as many opportunities to just "whack" things as younger students. (I like to mention to them the origin of the word "toccata" -- to touch.)
Tricky rhythms, but easy notes!
I said the notes are easy. Well, they are REALLY easy if you tell your students that almost every note is just a member of the C chord!
Then even the ledger line notes lose their intimidating quality. A fun way to go through one of these parts is to have the whole group read aloud the notes together slowly, but in rhythm... "c-c-c-c-G; c-c-c-c-G," etc.
Rehearsing the piece
A good way to rehearse this piece is to learn just one or two parts at a time, then "throw" it together before the end of class (with you, the instructor and conductor, holding down two or more parts on a very LOUD keyboard).
Let them read through from beginning to end just once; don't beat it to death... you can come back to it again later.
Who wrote the first opera? Perhaps Monteverdi; at any rate, L'Orfeo was one of the very first. The beginnings of opera were, as you might expect, in Italy in 1607, in a town called Mantua (which town plays a bit part in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet").
Here's a little background on the opera from Wikipedia:
"The music begins with a dramatic toccata for brass and percussion; in modern performances this is sometimes played in the auditorium, or as a grand entrance for the conductor.
After a brief ritornello (which will recur through out the opera) La Musica (a "Spirit of Music") explains the power of music, and specifically the power of Orfeo (Orpheus), whose music is so powerful that it is capable of moving the gods themselves."
This piece is such fun!
The link to the piano trio:
Download the piano trio "Toccata" by Monteverdi
The link to the keyboard ensemble:
Download free printable piano ensemble Toccata from L'Orfeo
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
Recent Articles
-
Best Broadway Musicals List - My Top Favorite Shows
This Broadway musicals list features the songs I've found to be most singable, easily learned, & beloved among my own students. Also, warnings of some pitfalls! -
Classical Piano Sheet Music: Download Free PDF Pieces
Classical piano sheet music - 1 or 2 page intros, & some longer. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart & more - bite-size classics for beginning & advancing players. -
Cinderella Song Lyrics & Sheet Music Lavender's Blue
Cinderella song lyrics & sheet music for voice & piano. The movie is Disney, but this pretty lullaby in Cinderella (2015) is actually an old song from England! -
Russia Song of the Plains Meadowland Easy Sheet Music
A famous & powerful song from Russia, this Cavalry piece is frequently sung by a Red Army choir. Find here easy piano & lead sheets, & guitar tabs. -
Looking for music in certain keys
I am wondering if there is a way to find songs of certain key signatures on your site? In my Google Classroom for my students I have several Topics based
Interested in songs from the Bible for your students or church? Check out my other website, SingTheBibleStory.com!
All the first-year material I give my beginner students.
Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!
Music-for-Music-Teachers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This beautiful song book for piano & voice "Esther, For Such a Time as This", available as a digital download, tells the riveting story of the time when Jews in ancient Persia faced a foe named Haman, and how a brave young queen risked her life to save her people.
A good choice for a singing story-teller, an operatic group, a short theater production, or a class of children!
This book is also available from Amazon as a paperback.
Music-for-Music-Teachers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This book is available as a digital download from this site. Visit this page to see some free examples from the book.
It is also available from Amazon as a paperback!
This is the perfect easy start for little pianists.
And when they start reading white-key notes on the staff, this is a fun easy resource to say each week, "Choose a new black-key song at home this week and figure it out to show me next lesson!" They will be spending more time at the piano.
Music-for-Music-Teachers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
%20-%20this%20free%20ensemble%20is%20very%20fun!%20%20A%20good%20example%20of%20Renaissance%20music%20for%20your%20students.){kind=link}
%2C%20at%20Music-f0r-Music-Teachers.com){kind=link}
A perfect read aloud storybook
for little boys or girls.
The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.
With a red cap on his head and a sack of tools slung over his shoulder, Tonsta seems to meet people in distress wherever he goes.
Lots of trolls in this book - including one who gives him a Christmas gift!
Music-for-Music-Teachers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Comments: Do you have a story or a question about music teaching? Share it!
Please note that all comments are moderated, and will not appear until I have approved them. Also, IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR MUSIC THAT IS NOT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, YOUR REQUEST WILL BE IGNORED. That's pretty much any music written in the last 75 years...
About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like so many of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
Recent Articles
-
Best Broadway Musicals List - My Top Favorite Shows
This Broadway musicals list features the songs I've found to be most singable, easily learned, & beloved among my own students. Also, warnings of some pitfalls! -
Classical Piano Sheet Music: Download Free PDF Pieces
Classical piano sheet music - 1 or 2 page intros, & some longer. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart & more - bite-size classics for beginning & advancing players.