DURATION: ca. 3’30”
Sunset is, at its core, a simple piece, but one with a long and somewhat storied development. A kind of song without words, its first iteration came in 1998 as a work for piano or guitar with strings, though Magle had completed the theme some three years earlier. An arrangement for solo piano came ten years later, with final smaller tweaks coming in 2023. This subsequent version for guitar (arranged with assistance and advice from Bozena Wetchacz and Carsten Pedersen) was completed in 2024.
A simple piece it may be, but each component that Magle includes within it is tuned to its finest. The main melody, which progresses in long, sweeping arcs over the rest of the texture, is melancholy and tender without ever drifting into the territory of kitsch or melodramatic; the undulating couplets underneath providing a gently lilting rhythmic propulsion to the work, enlivening the texture while still leaving it skeletal and fragile. The work’s harmonies are tonal but decidedly Romantic and often rely on extensions and inversions, with the resulting mood being simultaneously emotive and
unsettled.
While Sunset begins unassumingly enough, a wistful air permeating the sound, it starts to stir – the bassline intensifies and the texture fills out more. A secondary countermelody engages the principal theme in a mournful counterpoint. From there it develops further, but the harmonies start to jar – the sun may be going down, but there seems to be, to paraphrase Dylan Thomas, a certain sense of rage against the dying of the light. We come to the work’s climax, a reiteration of the first theme with fuller-bodied chords and expressive melodic variation – but it is in vain. The struggle conceded, we lose our grounding, and a final haunting rendition of the theme at the highest reaches of the composition leads us away. The sun has set, and we are left
staring into the stars.
notes: Acorus Calamus
(Sunset is also available for solo piano)
John (verified owner) –
Nice piece
Giancarlo Colleoni (verified owner) –
Brano raffinato e molto melodico vagamente malinconico.
Pascal St-Gelais (verified owner) –
Nice piece, nice score
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Fingerings for guitar are missing
frederikmagle (store manager) –
Fingerings are now included and available for existing customers to download as well.
Van Tan Pham (verified owner) –
Walter (verified owner) –
Eugenio Pintado León (verified owner) –
Giovanni Simone (verified owner) –
Buying the score was very easy. Received immediately. The printing is very well done.
Riku Rantanen (verified owner) –
Hi, I like the song much, it had got a nice, charming and a little melancholy, mesmerizing melody. For a self learned, not so skilful guitarist, I find the beginning bit hard – the bass b, how to succeed to have it last so long… Perhaps the finger notations would help. But to be honest, I haven’t had time enough these days fully concentrate to learn it yet, but definately in the bucket list!
Blessings,
frederikmagle (store manager) –
Hello Riku, thank you! I’m happy you like it. I’m glad to let you know that a version with fingerings is now available and can be downloaded by both new and existing customers.
Wolfgang (verified owner) –
Poul (verified owner) –
I actually haven’t played it yet…5 points for “the package”…the video, the shop and the pretty layout.
Ali H. (verified owner) –
“Sunset” is a beautiful classical guitar piece that truly captures the essence of a sunset. The gentle melodies and harmonious flow create a peaceful, captivating atmosphere. It’s accessible yet rewarding to play, with a depth that keeps me coming back. Highly recommended for anyone looking to add a calming, soulful piece to their repertoire.
Nick Clarke (verified owner) –
What a beautiful piece of music, a bit harder than I thought it would be, quite a few stretches for my old tendons and bones! But thoroughly enjoying working on it!!
Vladislovas Ž. (verified owner) –
I am a musics teacher, this piece was exactly what my students needed. It is simple but nice. Thank you!
Erik R. (verified owner) –
Nice piece but… no fingering suggestions for guitar.
frederikmagle (store manager) –
Hello Erik, I’m glad you like Sunset! I’m happy to let you know that fingerings have now been included, and the updated sheet music is available for download to both new and existing customers.
Andrew (verified owner) –
Very beautiful music, quick, efficient service
Georgios M. (verified owner) –
Theo (verified owner) –
The music is very beautiful and the sheet music looks very good. I can read sheet music, but when I play guitar I prefer to read from tablature. So I’m missing the guitar tablature. My suggestion would be also to include the tablature.
Foruzan (verified owner) –
Very beautiful and easy to play
Marcel Guldimann (verified owner) –
Ein sehr schönes Gitarrenstück, ich freu mich es einzuüben! Auch der proaktive Internetverkauf der Noten (anschauen, hören, kaufen) ist sehr einfach und problemlos. vielen Dank ich würde mich über weitere Kompositionen freuen!
Mihai Cristescu (verified owner) –
Ioseb Burduladze (verified owner) –
Fantastic! Thank you very much!
Jens (verified owner) –
Musically speaking the composition sounds like an adaptation of pieces already written, to say the least. But there is a compelling inevitable beauty woven in. Technically it’s astonishingly demanding despite it’s simple structure.
Miguel Acosta (verified owner) –
Ernesto Cabahug (verified owner) –
a simple yet beautiful composition
Krzysztof P. (verified owner) –
No tabs 🙁
frederikmagle (store manager) –
Hello Krzysztof,
I’m happy to let you know that tabs are now included with the download, and all existing customers can get them for free by contacting me. I have just re-sent the email with download links to you, now including the tabs as well.
Best regards,
Frederik
Jan G. (verified owner) –
Very nice piece of music
Kristoffer S. (verified owner) –
I am not professionall, thats why I would like left hamd fingerings on every note!
José Camilo López Estrella (verified owner) –
Thank you dear Frederic, I will be attentive to your compositions to be able to follow you and be able to perform as a better musician.
Robert C. (verified owner) –
Easy download.
Angela T. (verified owner) –
Jacques Farmer (verified owner) –
I heard this music on Facebook, I was blown away, originally written for piano it was recently transcribed for guitar. How do you value a piece of music? Probably from the pleasure it gives you when you have eventually mastered it. Great value in my opinion.
Thomas (verified owner) –
A beautiful piece of music with some passages of medium technical difficulty. Unfortunately, fingerings are missing and TABs would be useful for many guitarists. But a very nice piece.
frederikmagle (store manager) –
Hello Thomas, and thank you, I’m happy you like it! Fingerings are actually included but easy to overlook in the email you received with the download-links. Aside from that, I have now also included a new version with tabs, and I will re-send the email with all three versions included. best regards, Frederik
Geert Janssen (verified owner) –
Very beautiful music.
I looked and looked, but nowhere in my email or account I find the link to the fingered notation and the tabs notation. Every time I am directed to the fingerless notation.
Those notations would make it a lot easier to play.
Hope to hear from you, Frederik.
Best wishes from the Netherlands.
frederikmagle (store manager) –
Hello Geert,
Thank you, I’m very happy you like Sunset! Your order has been updated now to include all three versions. Please check your account again, it should be in there now, though you may have to refresh your browser. If not let me know, and I will send it to you in another way.
Best regards,
Frederik
Geert Janssen (verified owner) –
Dear Frederik,
Excuse me ……. I have found it !!!
Thank you very much.
Geert.
Steve Reed (verified owner) –
Easy purchase. Really nice piece and I’m going to enjoy working on it!
Damien Treseux (verified owner) –