20th century
1900-2000
Click on the composer’s name to see a list of compositions by that composer.
Click on the composition title to see the topics covered by that composition,
and links to the score and a recording of the piece.
Click again on either the composer name or composition to collapse the view.
NOTE: Pieces marked NON-PD (Non-Public domain) may not have a link
to a copy of the score.
Arutunian, Alexander (1920-2012)
Soviet, Armenian composer.
Concerto for Trumpet and Piano (1950) - NON-PD
Topics: Rondo (small)
Sheet Music: 1967 International Music Company, NYC
Audio: YouTube, Performed by T. Dokshizer
Auerbach, Lera (1973-)
Female, Soviet born, American composer.
Lonely Suite: Ballet for a Lonely Violinist, op. 70 (2002) - NON-PD
Topics: Ternary form, binary form, timbre related, quartal harmony
Sheet Music: Copyright 2002, Edition Sikorski 8545
Audio: YouTube, Performed by T. Dokshizer
The Prayer for solo alto saxophone (1996, 2009) - NON-PD
Topics: Ternary form
Sheet Music: Copyright 2009 Musikverlag Hans Sikorski GmbH & Co. KG, Hamburg
Aufderheide, May (1888-1972)
Female American composer of Ragtime and popular music.
See more about May Aufderheide here.
Buzzer Rag (1909)
Topics: Ragtime, Secondary Dominants
Indianapolis: J.H. Aufderheide Music Publisher, 1909. (Non-PD-Canada)
Audio: YouTube
Barber, Samuel (1910-1981)
Sonata for Piano, Op. 26, Mvt 1 (1949) - NON-PD
Bartok, Bela (1881-1945)
Hungarian composer.
44 Duos for Two Violins, No. 33 Harvest Song (1931) - NON-PD
Topics: Ternary, octatonic
Sheet Music: NON-PD; Vienna: Universal Edition, 1933. Plate U.E. 10452a, b.
Reissue – New York: Boosey & Hawkes, 1960.
Audio: YouTube video with score
Mikrokosmos, Volume 2, No 43a-b, In Hungarian Style (1926-1939) - NON-PD
Mikrokosmos, Volume 2, No 65, Dialogue (1926-1939) - NON-PD
Mikrokosmos, Volume 3, No 77, Little Study (1926-1939) - NON-PD
Mikrokosmos, Volume 4, No 101, Diminished Fifth (1926-1939) - NON-PD
Pitch axis analysis by Maark Feezell, Ph.D.
Topics: Octatonic, Pitch Axis
Sheet Music: 2004, Boosey & Hawkes
Audio: Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Mikrokosmos, Volume 4, No. 115, Bulgarian Rhythm (1926-1939) - NON-PD
Topics: set theory
Sheet Music: 2004, Boosey & Hawkes
Berg, Alban (1885-1935)
4 Gesange, Op 2, No. 2 'Schlafend Tragt Man Mich in mein Heimatland' (1910)
Topics: Set theory
Sheet Music: Berg 4 Gesange, ‘Schlafend Tragt Man Mich in mein Heimatland’ : Berlin: Schlesinger, n.d.(1910), 1928. Plate S.9540.; Copyright: Public Domain
Lyrics: Oxford Lieder
Audio: YouTube, Performance with analysis
Bernstein, Leonard (1918-1990)
Elegy for Mippy II (for trombone alone) (1940s) - NON-PD
Topics: Ternary Form
Sheet Music: Copyright: 1950, Leonard Bernstein
Audio: YouTube, Performed by Jospeh Alessi
Bloch, Ernest (1880-1959)
Poems of the Sea, B. 46, Mvt 1: Waves (1922)
Topics: Ternary form (Arch form), modes
Sheet Music: Bloch-Poems of the Sea, Mvt 1; New York: G. Schirmer, 1923.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio: YouTube
Poems of the Sea, B. 46, Mvt 2: Chanty (1922)
Topics: Ternary form (Arch form), modes
Sheet Music: Bloch-Poems of the Sea, Mvt 2; New York: G. Schirmer, 1923.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio: YouTube
Bonis, Mel(anie) (1858-1937)
French female composer. Her biography can be found on a website about her here.
Sonata pour Piano and Violincello, Op. 67, Mvt. 1: Moderato quasi andante (1904-5)
Topics: Aug 6, Neapolitan
Sheet Music: Bonis-Cello Sonata; Paris: E Demets, 1905, Copyright: Public Domain.
Audio: YouTube, Performed by cellist Frederic Audibert with Maria Stembolskaya.
Brymn, James Tim (1874-1946)
African-American jazz musician, composer, conductor, and pianist from North Carolina.
More information here: Library of Congress
The Tar Heel Blues (1915)
Topics: Ragtime, FoxTrot, Augmented 6 chords (Gr6), cto7, circle of fifths progression, Compound binary form
Sheet Music: The Tar heel Blues (Fox Trot-Ragtime); Publisher: New York: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., 1915.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio: YouTube
Clark, R. Alden (1991-)
Composer for media living in Knoxville, TN. For more information, see: https://raldenclark.bandcamp.com/music
Four Cycles (2015) - NON-PD
Topics: Ternary Form
Sheet Music: Copyright: 2015, R. Alden Clark (https://raldenclark.bandcamp.com/music)
Audio: Digital track on Alden’s website
Creston, Paul (1906-1985)
Italian American composer of classical music.
Sonata for Eb Alto Saxophone and piano (1939) - NON-PD
Topics: Rondo form (large)
Sheet Music: Copyright: Shawnee Press (1945)
Audio: YouTube, Mvt 3 at 9:25
Dallapiccola, Luigi (1904-1975)
Quaderno musicale di Annalibera (1952-53) - NON-PD
Topics: 12-tone
Row: Bb B Eb Gb Ab D Db F G C A E
Sheet Music: Copyright: Boosey & Hawkes
Audio: YouTube – all movements
Dett, R. Nathaniel (1882-1943)
Black, Canadian-American composer. For more information, visit: https://nathanieldett.org/
No. 7, Other Sheep, from Eight Bible Vignettes for the Piano (1941-43) - NON-PD
Topics: Binary form, theme and variations
Sheet Music: Copyright: 1971, Mills Music Inc.
Evans, George (1870-1915)
Welsh-born songwriter, entertainer and musician that lived in the United States.
See more about George Evans here.
In the Good Old Summertime
Ren Shields (words), George Evans (Music)
Topics: Secondary Dominants, Aug 6, common tone o7, Babershop quartet
Sheet Music: In the Good Old Summertime
Copyright: Free Sheet Music from Barbershop Harmony Society
Audio: from Barbershop Harmony Society
Hindemith, Paul (1895-1963)
Nine English Songs, No 3. The Moon (1942-1944) - NON-PD
Topics: Binary form
Sheet Music: Copyright: 1945, Associated Music Publishers
Audio: Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Holst, Imogen(1907-1984)
The Fall of the Leaf for cello solo (1963)- NON-PD
Topics: Theme and Variations
Sheet Music: Copyright: 1964, Oxford University Press (Allegro Music reprint)
Audio: Earsense recording
Ives, Charles (1874-1954)
114 Songs, No. LXVI (66): The Cage (1922)
Topics: Whole-tone scale, quartal/quintal harmony, clusters
Sheet Music: Ives-The Cage; Published by: Redding, Conn.: C. E. Ives, n.d.(1922); Reprinted by: New York: New Music Edition Corporation, n.d.[1932].
Audio: YouTube
Joplin, Scott (1867-1917)
African-American composer most known as a composer of Ragtime.
See more about Scott Joplin here.
The Sycamore: A Concert Rag (1904)
Topics: Common tone o7, Aug 6, Mixture
Sheet Music: Joplin-The Sycamore; Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Audio: YouTube
Wall Street Rag (1909)
Topics: Common tone o7
Sheet Music: Joplin-Wall Street Rag; Publisher Info.-New York: Seminary Music Co., 1909. Reprinted – Mineola: Dover Publications, 1988.; Copyright-Public Domain
Audio: YouTube, RagtimeDorianHenry uploads
Kafui, Kenneth (1951-2020)
Ghanian composer. See more about Kenneth Kafui here.
Mele Ekpom (I Do See It), No. 4 from Six Easy African Piano Pieces (Tonal) (1986) - NON-PD
Topics: Ternary form, counterpoint
Sheet Music: Copyright: 1986, Music by Black Composers, Piece 13, Violin Volume 1, published by LudwigMasters
Audio: YouTube – Music by Black Composers
Li Yinghai (1927-2007)
More on Li Yinghai here.
Music at Sunset (1972) - NON-PD
Topics: Pentatonic
Sheet Music: Prunus Press USA (January 1, 2017)
Audio: YouTube, Classical Study Music.
McLin, Lena J. (1928-)
Black, female composer, music teacher and pastor. Her biography can be found here.
'Silence,' No. 1 of from Songs of Love (2002) -NON-PD From the album The Unknown Flower – Song Cycles by American Woman Composers of the 20th Century Album, Released 1999 Topics: One-part form Copyright: 2002, Kjos Music Press, San Diego, CA
Audio: Youtube, Performed by Soprano: Charsie Randolph Sawyer, Pianist: Susan Keith Gray
Milhaud, Darius (1892-1974)
Saudades do Brasil, Op. 67, No. 2, Botafogo (1920-21) Topics: Ternary form Sheet Music: Milhaud-Saudades do Brasil; E. Demets
Copyright – Public Domain, US only
Audio: Youtube
Price, Florence (1887-1953)
African-American female composer, educator, and pianist who lived during the Harlem Rennaisaance. See more about Florence Price here.
Adoration for Organ (1940) Topics: Ternary form Fantasie Negre (in E minor) (1929) - NON-PD Based on the spiritual: “Sinner, Please Don’t Let This Harvest Pass” Topics: Variations, spiritual Piano Sonata in E Minor, Mvt. 1: Andante-Allegro (1932) - NON-PD Topics: Sonata form, Aug 6, Pentatonic Piano Sonata in E Minor, Mvt. 2: Andante (1932) - NON-PD Topics: Rondo form, pentatonic Sheet Music: “Adoration (for Organ)”; Lorenz Music, n.d.(ca.1951)
Copyright – Public DomainAudio: YoutubeCopyright 1932, Florence Beatrice Price, renewed 1960Audio: Youtube, Artist: Lara Downes; Album: America Again; Licensed to Youtube by Naxos Sheet Music: 1932, G. SchirmerAudio: Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of AmericaSheet Music: 1932, G. Schirmer
Raum, Elizabeth (1945-)
Female, Canadian composer. More about Elizabeth Raum here.
Sweet Dances for Unaccompanied Tuba (2002) - NON-PD Four Movements: More about Sweet Dances here. Topics: Mvt. 1: Ternary form, Tritone sub; Mvt. 2: Ternary form, linear analysis; Mvt. 3: Ternary form; Mvt. 4: Ternary form
1. Blew Tango
2. Dot Polka
3. Waltzin’ Matuba
4. A Hard Knight’s DayCopyright: 2002, Elizabeth RaumAudio : On Elizabeth Raum’s website.
Scriabin, Alexander (1872-1915)
Five Preludes, Op. 74 No. 1 Topics: octatonic scale Sheet music: Scriabin-Prelude 1 Op74; Publisher info: A.N. Skryabin: Polnoe sobranie sochinenii dlia fortepiano, vol.3; Moscow: Muzgiz, 1953.; Copyright-Public Domain
Audio : YouTube, Performed by Evgeny Zarafiants
Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957)
Finlandia (1900) - NON-PD-EU Topics: Aug 6 chords Sheet music – Finlandia; Piano arrangement by Benjamin Nacar; Publisher Info. – Benjamin Nacar; Copyright – Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 – Non-PD EU
Audio : YouTube
Smyth, Dame Ethel Mary (1858-1944)
British female composer, conductor, author and Suffragette.
See more on Dame Ethel Smyth here.
Three Moods of the Sea, 1. Requies (Meerestille) (1913) Topics: Ternary form, Whole tone scales Three Moods of the Sea, 3. After Sunset (Nacht dem Sturm) (1913) Topics: Binary form (strophic) Violin Sonata in A Minor, Op. 7, Mvt. 1 (1887) Topics: Sonata form (non-standard), Augmented 6th Sheet music – 3 Moods of the Sea, 1. Requies (1913)
Vienna: Universal Edition, 1913.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio : YouTubeSheet Music – Three Moods of the Sea, 3. After Sunset (Nacht dem Sturm) (1913)
Vienna: Universal Edition, 1913.
Copyright: Public DomainSheet Music – Violin Sonata in A Minor, Op 7, Mvt. 1: Allegro moderato (1887)
Vienna: Universal Edition, 1923.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio : YouTube, Tasmyn Little, Violin
Still, William Grant (1895-1978)
Click here for information on William Grant Still.
Afro-American Symphony (1930) - NON-PD Topics: Arch Form, Blues progression No. 2, Summerland, from Three Visions: A Suite for Piano (1935) - NON-PD Topics: Ternary form Sheet Music: Copyright held by Novello & Co. Ltd.Audio: Youtube, entire symphony with scoreSheet Music: Copyright by William Grant Still MusicAudio: Youtube, Performed on piano by Mark Boozer
Stravinsky, Igor (1882-1971)
Dirge-Canons from In Memoriam Dylan Thomas (1954) - NON-PD Topics: 12-tone (6 tone row) Row: E Eb C C# D Sheet music: Prelude and Postlude; Copyright 1954 Boosey & HawkesAudio : YouTube
van Duuren, Skye (1990-)
Click here for more information on Skye van Duuren.
Theme and Variations No. 2 for violin, clarinet , and piano (2015) - NON-PD
Webern, Anton (1883-1945)
Funf Satze fur Streichquartett, Op. 5 No. 1 (1909) Topics: Set theory Funf Satze fur Streichquartett, Op. 5 No. 2 (1909) Topics: Set theory Funf Satze fur Streichquartett, Op. 5 No. 4 (1909) Topics: Ternary form Drei Lieder, Op 25, No. 1: Wie Bin Ich Froh (1935) - NON-PD Topics: 12-tone Row: G E Eb Gb Db F D B Bb C A Ab String Quartet, Op. 28, Mvt 2 (1936-38) - NON-PD Topics: 12-tone Row: Db D B C Ab G Bb A F Gb Eb E Sheet Music: Webern-Five Mvts for String Quartet, No 1; Universal Edition, 1922.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio: Youtube, Performed by the Julliard String QuartetSheet Music: Webern-Five Mvts for String Quartet, No 2; Universal Edition, 1922.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio: Youtube, Performed by the Julliard String QuartetSheet Music: Webern-Five Mvts for String Quartet; Universal Edition, 1922.
Copyright: Public Domain
Audio: YoutubeSheet Music: Copyright 1934, Music: Vienna: Universal Edition, 1956. Plate U.E. 12418.
Audio: YoutubeSheet Music: London: Boosey & Hawkes, n.d.(ca.1945? 1955?). Copyright: 1939
Audio: Youtube, Mvt. 2 at 3:56