SKU: A0.1224093

SKU: A0.963159

From a collection of original music inspired by Lewis Carroll's beloved books Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass, and the original illustrations by Sir John Tenniel (PDM). Piano solos are Early Intermediate to Intermediate. Great for students exploring the creative process and how these classic stories inspire other art forms.
www.billykiddmusic.com Eighth Man Music (BMI).

SKU: A0.573377

Written April 3, 2020, this is an original piano composition in a lyrical, calm, and almost bitter sweet style. Today I heard a newscaster in New York City talking about how he had lived in New York 19 years and as everything is so quiet with people being off the streets because of the virus, for the first time he actually heard the beautiful sound of birds singing… but it feels sad that it took such tragedy to hear the beautiful music that is always there. James Michael Stevens is a prolific composer residing in Nashville, TN and serves as the Music Department Chairman of Welch College.

SKU: A0.1033340

The chase is afoot! A rather large cat attempts to hunt a wily mouse. The mouse tries to escape the cat’s clutches. Who succeeds?

This piece’s ternary form follows the chase between a cat and mouse. Section A is lively and fast-paced because the cat is on the hunt for the mouse. Since this piece is written from the mouse’s perspective, C-sharp minor conveys the mouse’s fright and fear. The time signature is 4/4 to allow for 16th notes, which denote running steps. The theme in m.19 repeats several times throughout Section A to signify the large cat’s ominous stalking. Tenutos and staccatos punctuate the cat’s heavy steps. In m.14-15, the chromatic scale represents the cat’s momentum. The constantly changing dynamics showcase the various movements and emotions in a chase. Specifically, in m.28-31, the dynamic changes to piano and pedal is employed to signify the mouse’s despair.

Section B stands alone, representing the mouse’s successful escape from the cat. The section’s key signature D-flat major is light and happy. A time signature of 6/8 swings, furthering the carefree mood of the mouse. The beginning of Section B repeats to emphasize the mouse’s joyous escape. However, at the end of the section, the cat returns. In m.61-68, varying speeds and descriptors contrast the movements of the cat and mouse. In m.68, the cat’s theme is an octave lower to draw attention to the cat’s threatening, heavy steps. In m.70-71, the notes accelerate to show that the mouse begins to run again.

Section A’s refrain recaps the cat chasing the mouse. In m.89-100, the end, tells the mouse’s fate. The climatic ending is highlighted by the speeding tempo. The treble-clef notes are an octave higher to build excitement. In m.95-96, notes descend 4 octaves to indicate the mouse’s ultimate demise. The piece ends with grand chords to mark the mouse’s death.

SKU: A0.992069

This is an exciting piece of music which depicts a hungry cat stalking a carefree dancing mouse. The single chord ending leaves the outcome to the listener's imagination. The story and the events unwinding, can be threaded through the music for the benefit of any young children who may be listening.