Ludwig Tuman, Composer

Let your eye be chaste  (for Mixed Choir)                             

 

Let your eye be chaste  (for Soprano with Strings)                   Let your eye be chaste  (version for Strings only)

The text of this short choral piece is, "Let your eye be chaste, your hand faithful, your tongue truthful, and your heart enlightened."  From the Writings of Baha'u'llah, it is found in Book 1 of the series of Ruhi Institute courses.  The version for Soprano accompanied by string instruments is appropriate for members of Study Circles to sing along with.  While this informal recording of the song was underway in the composer's home, birds began singing in the garden outside; they were recorded separately and were included in the mix.

 

The written music for choir (or score) can be viewed and obtained at www.

sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin/show_score.pl?scoreid=131849

 

Leaves of One Branch -- a Stylistic Variation Set

1. Motets for 2 and for 3 Parts (late 13th century)

2. Isorythmic Motet (14th century)

3. Renaissance Variations (16th century)   Performed on the Harpsichord and Piano by the composer.

        Renaissance Variations - Harpsichord and Cello

        Renaissance Variations - Harpsichord solo

        Renaissance Variations - Piano and Cello

        Renaissance Variations - Piano solo

4. Fugue (18th century)

5. Rondo (19th century)   Performed on the Piano by the composer.

 

The five pieces in "Leaves of One Branch", a Stylistic Variation Set, are all based on a well-loved musical theme known to Baha'is around the world.  The Variation Set illustrates how composers might have developed the theme into a musical composition in different periods of Western music history.  For artists taking the Global Approach, it also serves as a reminder of the wealth of musical forms and approaches to composition that the contemporary composer is free to draw upon.  No. 3, "Renaissance Variations," offers a composite of keyboard playing approaches found in the Renaissance, from the sacred to the less-known, flamboyant secular styles of the time that anticipated the early Baroque.  No. 5, the Rondo, is set in a style of the early 19th century.  Like much music of that period, it tells a story, in this case that of a contest between divisive, disruptive forces and the aspiration to unity and peace.

 

 

Awakening    For Chamber Orchestra.

While composed in an atonal style, Awakening contains hints of the classical music of Java, the raga of India, the baroque concerto grosso and other sources that attentive listening will discover, blended together within a coherent artistic statement.  Awakening is not program music in the sense of following a specific story line.  However, as its title suggests, the music does evoke a movement from darkness to light, from dreams to consciousness.  Listeners have described their experience of listening to it in terms of an individual awakening, nature's revival after winter, creatures evolving over eons, and an entire world spinning into the morning.

 

The score of this work can be viewed on www.SibeliusMusic.com   In March 2007, visitors to that web site voted Awakening into the Number 1 position of the "Top Ten", from among more than 65,000 original musical works submitted to the web site by musicians around the world.  (Viewing scores on the SibeliusMusic site requires the free mini-program called Scorch.  The same web site allows the music to be heard by clicking the button marked "listen to mp3".)

 

"Alláh-u-abhá  --  Musical Prayer Beads"     [View as sheet music]       [Listen to audio] 

                                                                                                            You can sing the Greatest Name

                                                                                                            with the violins while listening.

This simple melody, designed to be sung like a chant without accompaniment, repeats the Greatest Name 19 times.  Singing the melody five times thus produces 95 repetitions of the Greatest Name.  It is easier and perhaps more uplifting to the spirit to "intone" the Name by singing, than to simply speak it.

   

Estrellas Luminosas (audio)  For Solo Soprano, Violin, Piano and optional Cello    [the Prayer, in English and Spanish]

 

                                                                                                                       [Musical Score for Soprano]  (pdf)

The prayer penned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that this song sets to music is a supplication full of hope, love and yearning.  The music was written both as an offering to Providence and a wedding gift from the composer to his bride-to-be.  The musical style is a blending of classical vocal melody, Baroque counterpoint, and, in honor of the bride, there are elements of the Venezuelan waltz in some melodic figures and the rhythm of certain passages.  In this "digital performance" (produced by the composer), a flute substitutes for the soprano.  Singers wishing to perform or record this song will find the score of the vocal part in the link above, and can get in touch with Ludwig Tuman through the contact page on this web site.  The full score can be viewed at www.

SibeliusMusic.com/cgi-bin/show_score.pl?scoreid=119296    The song has been viewed and listened to over 7,000 times on the SibeliusMusic web site.

 

Angel Waterfalls

Inspired by Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall, located in Canaima National Park, Venezuela.  The park is a tropical equivalent of the Grand Canyon, filled with the memories of American Indian legends, breathtaking geological formations, ribbon-like streams cascading through the mist from invisible heights, unique wildlife, lush vegetation, and orchids.

 

Oh Cómo Anhelo   For tenor, women's choir, harp, cuatro.

A blending of the classical Lieder and a simple call-and-response format, as well as the musical style of the joropo, a form of Venezuelan folk music.  The present recording is an instrumental version of the song, substituting clarinet and flute for tenor and choir.

 

Chorale in D Minor

A melody and 4-part harmonization in baroque style.  Instrumental version with strings and trumpet.

Tidings of Light  (for Solo Tenor, Choir, 2 Marimbas)

 

 

That Sparkle in Your Eyes   (Jazz, Big Band version)

A romantic song in classic jazz style.

That Sparkle in Your Eyes   (Jazz, for Piano)

 

Fugue in B Minor - Organ                                     Fugue in B Minor -String Orchestra            

The theme of this fugue steps upward, then falls, then rises with determination to a higher plateau and settles.  Its motion encapsulates a universal pattern in the experience of individuals and humanity itself: we climb, are brought low by life's trials, and rise again in our aspirations toward a higher plane of life.  Two different recordings are available in the links above: one for Organ, one for String Orchestra.

Canyon Winds  (for Trumpet and Electric Piano)

 

"El Dorado" - History of the Guayana Region in Music

Native Americans / Flutes

Europeans / Brass fanfare

Missions and Monks / Gregorian chant

Africans / Multitextured song

Criollo harmony / Bandola and cuatro

Nineteenth century / Venezuelan waltz

Early to mid-twentieth century / Ragtime and mambo

Late twentieth century / Modern

Futuro

Primavera en Octubre  (for VIolin, Cuatro, 'Cello)

 

Duo  (Flute, Viola de Gamba)

 

Wind Trio  (Flute, Clarinet, Oboe)

 

Suite for Solo Flute

 

Scherzo  (solo Violin)

 

Fugue in C Minor  (for Strings)

 

Fugue in Eb Major  (for Keyboard)

 

Daniel Variations  (for Piano)

1. Chorus    2. Dance    3. Winds    4. Hills    5. Echoes    6. Weaving    7. Perseverance

8.  Desire    9. Harvest   10. Horses  11. Starlight   12. Hymn

Three Mountain Dances  (for Piano)

 

Capriccio  (for Piano)

 

Prelude  (for Piano)

 

Fantasy  (for Piano)

 

March  (for Piano)

 

"Put thy hand"  (Soprano, Alto, Baritone)

 

"Blessed is he"  (Soprano, Baritone 1, Baritone 2)

 

"Thy Name is my healing"   (Prayer Chant for solo voice)

 

"Haz de Tu belleza mi alimento"   (Prayer Chant for solo voice)

 

"Thou art that All-Bountiful One"   (Prayer Chant for solo voice)

 

When the Dawn   (Alto voice, Viola da Gamba)

 

Swing Gently   (Oboe, VIola)

 

In a Lighter Vein

 

 Sunday Afternoon in our Model-T   (Ragtime for Four-hand Piano)

A story set in the early twentieth century.  The family has just gotten its first Model-T car and decides to go for a picnic.  Everyone piles into the car and Papa cranks up the engine.  But along the way they run into mud holes, cow crossings and other problems.  Will they ever make it to their picnic?

 

Some Works for Children

 

The Lord is my Shepherd / O Senhor e meu Pastor       Sung by Jasmine O. Howard (at age 8)

(For Soprano Voice, Children's Choir, Piano, Flute, Kalimba, Strings, Electric Bass, Percussion)  A well-known passage from Psalms, alternately spoken in English and sung in Portuguese, set to music with a gentle Brazilian flavor.

Oh God, guide me / Oh Deus, guiame   

 

          A prayer chant, setting a prayer of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.  For solo voice, with optional strings.  Sung by Jasmine O.

          Howard (at age 8)

 

Ding Ding Ding    Lively instrumental arrangement of a Venezuelan Christmas carol, often sung by children.

 

 

Some Works for Music Education

 

Pieces for Intermediate Piano Students:

          Sonata Allegro, Variations in D, Canon, Minuet, Invention, Boogie, Rumba 1, Rumba 2 

 

Music for Early & Intermediate Piano Students, with Jasmine O. Howard:

          Water Lilies, Swans in Spring, Bird Song, Farmer and Rabbit, Softly His Voice is Calling,

          Tell the Wondrous Story