Welcome to inargenti.nl, the website of pianist/composer René Torenstra. In addition to my own work, I write for theatre, teach, and give workshops. You will find many original compositions and arrangements here, as well as transcriptions, music related articles, recordings and educational material. Please enjoy your stay, and feel free to share your feelings about the music by leaving a comment.
My Music
inargenti.nl on Twitter
This was a first, even for me. This is what happens when you have a lot on your mind while dressing in the morning. http://t.co/0oBVc1Pf
Gregg Popovich coach of the year, congrats to the @spurs coach. Looking forward to the game tonight. #NBAPlayoffs #GoSpursGo
OK, for once, no music tweet: getting ready to watch @spurs live from the Netherlands using NBA.tv. I'm really happy that's possible :)
Recently Added
Created: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:21
Bob Brookmeyer passed away recently. Usually I don't comment on any kind of news on this site, even if it is music-related, but this is a special case.
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Created: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:45
On November 29 we had the last workshop of the year with members of the MuziekAtelier, and this time it was open for the public to participate and enjoy singing a few well-known songs with us.
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Created: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:41
Buddy Shank played a rare alto flute solo on the the Mamas and the Papas single "California Dreamin'." I needed it for a project, so here it is if you need it. Note that the key is different from the original and there are very minor changes to keep it more simple. There is nothing remarkable about this solo, although the flat tenth used on the dominant might surprise a few people in the pop scene. The rest of the solo is built on natural and harmonic minor, with use of a blue note here and there.
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Created: Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:08
This is a simple arrangement of the well-known song by the Mamas and the Papas, in lead-sheet form, for use in the MuziekAtelier-projects. There are some slight differences in chords and rhythm, and the key (Ami) is different from the original.
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Created: Sun, 18 Sep 2011 19:45
The new theme for the current series of workshops is "Dreaming," so this beautiful piece had to be part of it. This song for the MuziekAtelier projects is an adaptation of a 1934 version of the song "Droomland," originally an American song from 1897.
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Created: Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:56
This is a popular song from the eighties, Used in the MuziekAtelier projects, set in the key of G.
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Created: Sat, 17 Sep 2011 23:06
This is the sheet music for part of the intro of the play "Senioren," which you can find here. This is just the part for the live instruments, not for the electronic part.
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Random Content: Compositions
Ostinato I
The first of a series of music I have been working on. A piece drawing on serial music. The choice what to publish is quite difficult (once you get started with this kind of thing you will get hours and hours of music - and it's hard to decide what is good enough.) This one turned out quite satisfactory,... Read more..
The first of a series of music I have been working on. A piece drawing on serial music. The choice what to publish is quite difficult (once you get started with this kind of thing you will get hours and hours of music - and it's hard to decide what is good enough.) This one turned out quite satisfactory,... Read more..
Prélude Naghmeh 1
This is the first piece of my Persian Classical Music fusion project I finished. Persian music (like Indian music, etcetera) has a lot in common with jazz, but the main difficulty is the use of quarter-tones. I have employed blues techniques, power chords and such things to be able to write music... Read more..
This is the first piece of my Persian Classical Music fusion project I finished. Persian music (like Indian music, etcetera) has a lot in common with jazz, but the main difficulty is the use of quarter-tones. I have employed blues techniques, power chords and such things to be able to write music... Read more..
After All This Time
This is kind of fusion piece. Nothing much special about it. I'm quite happy with the modulation and the groove. I even used the same groove in another song, "One Way Commitment." Enjoy. Read more..
This is kind of fusion piece. Nothing much special about it. I'm quite happy with the modulation and the groove. I even used the same groove in another song, "One Way Commitment." Enjoy. Read more..
Ode aan de Moderne Keuken
For one of the projects of "Kunst in de Wijken," a senior citizen's project, one of the participants created lyrics for a custom song. Ria de Visser-Pronk wrote lyrics about the joys of modern kitchens, and I wrote music that supports those lyrics in the customary way for this type of songs. Read more..
For one of the projects of "Kunst in de Wijken," a senior citizen's project, one of the participants created lyrics for a custom song. Ria de Visser-Pronk wrote lyrics about the joys of modern kitchens, and I wrote music that supports those lyrics in the customary way for this type of songs. Read more..
La Luce
"La Luce" means "The light" in Italian. For related pieces and a solo piano transcription, see the Related Articles box. This is a favourite of mine, as some things went really well. The classical feel is obvious, but I think I managed to give some extra bitter-sweetness with the uncommon chords.... Read more..
"La Luce" means "The light" in Italian. For related pieces and a solo piano transcription, see the Related Articles box. This is a favourite of mine, as some things went really well. The classical feel is obvious, but I think I managed to give some extra bitter-sweetness with the uncommon chords.... Read more..
Random Content: Arrangements
Laat Me Niet Alleen
This is a piano accompaniment for "Laat Me Niet Alleen," the Dutch version of "Ne Me Quitte Pas." Obviously, it can also be used for the original version. This is part of the "muziekatelier" project. To find more, search for the keyword or see the related articles. Read more..
This is a piano accompaniment for "Laat Me Niet Alleen," the Dutch version of "Ne Me Quitte Pas." Obviously, it can also be used for the original version. This is part of the "muziekatelier" project. To find more, search for the keyword or see the related articles. Read more..
You've Got A Friend
You've Got A Friend: a beautiful song by Carole King, made famous the same year she did the song by James Taylor. This is an arrangement which is pretty close to the original, but with some twists. I've kept the surprising sequence at the end of the intro. Make sure you listen to Carole's version as... Read more..
You've Got A Friend: a beautiful song by Carole King, made famous the same year she did the song by James Taylor. This is an arrangement which is pretty close to the original, but with some twists. I've kept the surprising sequence at the end of the intro. Make sure you listen to Carole's version as... Read more..
Droomland
The new theme for the current series of workshops is "Dreaming," so this beautiful piece had to be part of it. This song for the MuziekAtelier projects is an adaptation of a 1934 version of the song "Droomland," originally an American song from 1897. Read more..
The new theme for the current series of workshops is "Dreaming," so this beautiful piece had to be part of it. This song for the MuziekAtelier projects is an adaptation of a 1934 version of the song "Droomland," originally an American song from 1897. Read more..
Krezip - I Would Stay
Right, I absolutely loathe this song and the band/singer. Why? Well, apart from the rather bad harmonies in the backing vocals, the singer is off-key, sings blue notes when not appropriate (on a minor chord), and, worst of all, the rhythm is botched up. Note how I need to place "slower" and "faster"... Read more..
Right, I absolutely loathe this song and the band/singer. Why? Well, apart from the rather bad harmonies in the backing vocals, the singer is off-key, sings blue notes when not appropriate (on a minor chord), and, worst of all, the rhythm is botched up. Note how I need to place "slower" and "faster"... Read more..
Genesis - Horizons
This is an arrangement of Horizons for piano and guitar I wrote for a student. This is only the piano part; the guitar is exactly as on the recording. Read more..
This is an arrangement of Horizons for piano and guitar I wrote for a student. This is only the piano part; the guitar is exactly as on the recording. Read more..
Random Content: Transcriptions
So What (Intro)
There are tons of transcriptions of "So What," the Miles Davis composition, and especially of the original 1958 recording. I've never seen the rubato intro transcribed, though, so here it is. Of course, the rhythmic notation is approximate, so listen to the recording (again!) for the timing. Read more..
There are tons of transcriptions of "So What," the Miles Davis composition, and especially of the original 1958 recording. I've never seen the rubato intro transcribed, though, so here it is. Of course, the rhythmic notation is approximate, so listen to the recording (again!) for the timing. Read more..
Evans - Epilogue (Everybody Digs)
The Bill Evans piece from the "Everybody Digs Bill Evans" album. See the related articles for a transcription of another version of this song from an earlier recording. Read more..
The Bill Evans piece from the "Everybody Digs Bill Evans" album. See the related articles for a transcription of another version of this song from an earlier recording. Read more..
Baker - It Could Happen To You
This is one of the best chat solos I know, perhaps just because of its simplicity. The melody is so well thought-out and flowing it could be a written theme in itself. It is also a real "Musician's solo," as the line is one that Chet Baker, as a trumpet player, could easily have played on his instrument... Read more..
This is one of the best chat solos I know, perhaps just because of its simplicity. The melody is so well thought-out and flowing it could be a written theme in itself. It is also a real "Musician's solo," as the line is one that Chet Baker, as a trumpet player, could easily have played on his instrument... Read more..
Davis - So What
Here's the great solo Davis played on the album "Kind of Blue." Every jazz musician can sing every solo on this album. Just ask them to, you will see. It is also often quoted, for instance by branford Marsalis, who wrote a piece with the exact same chords and form. Read more..
Here's the great solo Davis played on the album "Kind of Blue." Every jazz musician can sing every solo on this album. Just ask them to, you will see. It is also often quoted, for instance by branford Marsalis, who wrote a piece with the exact same chords and form. Read more..
Marley - Waiting In Vain
This is not a jazz solo, but I have used this in improvising lessons, and recently I found it again. There are many interesting techniques and notes Marley uses here, like blues scale, pentatonic motifs and different guitar tricks, all in a very short solo that is built well enough to sound like it was... Read more..
This is not a jazz solo, but I have used this in improvising lessons, and recently I found it again. There are many interesting techniques and notes Marley uses here, like blues scale, pentatonic motifs and different guitar tricks, all in a very short solo that is built well enough to sound like it was... Read more..
Random Content: Articles
On Sibelius and the music plug-in used on this site
In this article I will look at a few perks and twists of the plug-in for sheet music I use on this site, and I will talk a bit about sound cards and synthesizers and the like. Chances are, your computer isn't sounding that great. Read more..
In this article I will look at a few perks and twists of the plug-in for sheet music I use on this site, and I will talk a bit about sound cards and synthesizers and the like. Chances are, your computer isn't sounding that great. Read more..
Cantaloupe Island: Analysis
I have published a lead sheet to Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island on this site, which you can find here. In this article I will try to analyse the piece and to give some thoughts on the composition and the way it can be played. Read more..
I have published a lead sheet to Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island on this site, which you can find here. In this article I will try to analyse the piece and to give some thoughts on the composition and the way it can be played. Read more..
Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer passed away recently. Usually I don't comment on any kind of news on this site, even if it is music-related, but this is a special case. Read more..
Bob Brookmeyer passed away recently. Usually I don't comment on any kind of news on this site, even if it is music-related, but this is a special case. Read more..