Welp, the 2020's are upon us. Yikes.

The Coronavirus may well bring civilization to its knees, which at first sounds like maybe not such a bad thing from the perspective of anyone other than humans. Unfortunately, we're humans, so, ergh.

Click Here for: Bubba, The Musical

Kyrie

Harry Potter Trio

Wind Sextet

1st Movement



2nd Movement



3rd Movement

Piano Concerto, Second Movement

This is the second (originally third) movement of my first and only piano concerto. It's a bit silly, and I'm again sorry I can't quite manage to pull myself out of the 19th century.

Piano Concerto, First Movement

This is now the first movement of my piano concerto, as I've axed the original first movement and put this (originally the second movement) in its place. Unlike a lot of pieces of mine, I rather like this one, though it sports some of the usual foibles my stuff is heir to.

Piano Concerto, Zeroth Movement

I wrote a piano concerto roughly a year ago as a sort of unrealistic "out" in case the Khachaturian Concerto I was at the time learning proved too difficult.

The mp3 file below is the original first movement which I've since axed, as it's, well, just kind of awkward in too many places. Also, the recording is WAY too loud - adjust your speakers accordingly, or, better yet, just skip to the later movements. Sorry.

Winterfell

Several months ago, I wrote a symphony. Why? I'm not sure, but it coincided with HBO beginning a production of the (still incomplete) George R. R. Martin "Song of Ice and Fire" books. Perhaps I thought some network executive would notice it and use it for the series theme.

Alas, that hasn't happened. In fact, nobody has noticed it at all, which is probably a good thing, as the piece itself is a weird mixture of dork and cheese. Chork, anyone?

Anyhow, there's only one movement so far, and it follows pretty strictly Sonata-Allegro form and Xena-Warrior-Princess harmonies. Enjoy.

Variations on the "Star Spangled Banner"

This is a set of variations I wrote for piano based on the ever familiar American National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner".

Each variation is in a fairly distinct musical style, though the Brahms and Schumann ones sort of mix together a bit I suppose. Oh well. Here's the deal:

1. Theme
2. Neo-Classical
3. Beethoven
4. Brahms
5. Schumann
6. Ragtime (sort of)

Whee.

Violin Concerto, third movement

This is the wacky third and final movement of my completely muddled concerto for violin and orchestra. It is pretty much a complete disaster. I think I was going for some sort of heroic rondo where the tune keeps coming back against all sorts of musical obstacles and digressions. However, I instead got an awkward mix of confusing ideas and bad orchestration. I like the end, though. And there's a place in the middle with a timpani that's kind of cool. So, er, there it is.

Enjoy, if you can. :)

Violin Concerto, second movement

This is the second movement of my wildly unsuccessful and mercifully never actually attempted Violin Concerto. Often the middle slow movement of a classical or romantic concerto is the heart of the work. That is true here as well, though some places seem a little more like a ruptured spleen.

Violin Concerto, first movement

This is the the turbulent if not entirely competently written first movement of a Violin Concerto. I wrote it for a violinist named Sara Trickey and has rather random quotes from the Beethoven Violin Concerto in all three movements. The first movement also features quotes from the Sibelius Violin Concerto, though again for no particularly clear reason.

Some music I've written

Hello.

This is my first attempt at blogging, but seeing as it is near the end of a highly bloggy decade I figured I'd give it a shot.

I play piano at a school in very far northern California. I do a lot of pretty stupid things with my computer, bicycle, and chess set. I'll probably take pictures of all of the above at some point. However, for now I'd just like to share with you some of my more or less delusional attempts at musical composition.

Sincerely,

John Chernoff

P.S. -> Click on any of the links below to inflict them further upon yourselves.

Bubba, the Musical

Songs my Mother Nagged Me About

Sextet for Violin, Clarinet, Viola, Horn, Bassoon, and Bass

Symphony in C# minor, first (and so far only) movement

Variations for Piano on the "Star Spangled Banner"
String Quartet, first (and only) movement

A Freaking Requiem Mass (Kyrie and Dies Irae sections)

I've also written two concertos, but they're pretty freaking epically long winded at times. You've been warned.


Violin Concerto, first movement

Violin Concerto, second movement

Violin Concerto, third movement
Piano Concerto, first movement

Piano Concerto, second movement

Piano Concerto, third movement

Phew.