Tag Archives: transcription

Star Spangled Banner

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Anne Ku

The national anthem of the Unites States is not easy to sing due to big interval leaps and huge vocal range (more than 1.5 octaves). In the key of C major, the melody spans from middle C to the second … Continue reading →

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Game of Thrones

Posted on July 10, 2023 by Anne Ku

I was living on Maui when “Game of Thrones” premiered on American cable TV HBO in Spring of 2011. I must have watched one episode of it on someone else’s television and concluded that the main theme was an ear … Continue reading →

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My Country, ‘Tis of Thee or God Save the King

Posted on July 6, 2023 by Anne Ku

On an American air base in the island of Okinawa, I grew up singing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” before I learned that the same tune was known as “God Save the Queen” or “God Save the King” depending on … Continue reading →

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Guitar transcriptions for ukulele

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Anne Ku

Is there a one stop shop for ukulele arrangements and transcriptions of guitar music? Given the right transposition and pitch range, what was originally written for the classical guitar can now be replicated and experienced on a smaller instrument such … Continue reading →

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Waltzes by Carulli for ukulele

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Anne Ku

How many waltzes did Ferdinando Carulli write? I keep discovering new waltzes arranged for the ukulele by those who have played them on the guitar. I am the newest of the lot, for my fingers remember a waltz I played … Continue reading →

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Homage to Carcassi and Carulli

Posted on May 1, 2021 by Anne Ku

Music and memory are intricately connected. The last classical guitar solo piece I loved playing in my teenage years was one by Carcassi in 3/4 time in a minor key. The nylon string guitar my mother bought from a music … Continue reading →

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Autumn Leaves in G minor with French

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Anne Ku

Autumn: leaves are falling and turning colour. The summer has ended, and soon my stay in London will, too. My research into the paradox of simplicity that commands the sound of 3,000 voices and instruments (Irish Hooley, Dun Laoghaire, August … Continue reading →

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Dido’s Lament for ukulele

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Anne Ku

Dido’s Lament is one of the saddest but most beautiful arias, sung by a woman grieving over a broken heart before she dies. Such is the famous lament of Dido, Queen of Carthage, when her beloved Aeneas leaves her for … Continue reading →

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Elegant but easy to play music from “Still Alice”

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Anne Ku

I listened to the soundtrack to the film “Still Alice” on Youtube because I missed its premiere at the Maui Film Festival last December. I became mesmerized by the simplicity and beauty of the various short pieces played on piano, … Continue reading →

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