
About
The Rational Grapes is a humanistic website created by me, Lily, and my associate, Monica. Its main purpose is to challenge irrational behavior and encourage the pursuit of knowledge. Here, you will find information regarding philosophy and music especially, but also art and gardening. The site is called The Rational Grapes for no reason other than my value of rationality and affinity for grapes. Please feel free to comment on anything and add to the discussion.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Friday, December 23, 2016
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Composition: Alkaline by Lily and Monica
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Arrangement: Lacrimosa from Requiem in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Xaver Süssmayr
(L) Arranged for flutetunes.com using MuseScore. This is a full orchestra and SATB chorus work arranged for four flutes. Flute I exclusively follows the violin I part, flute II follows the soprano, flute III follows the alto/tenor, and flute IV follows the bass. At the instrumental section, flute II switches to the solo clarinet part, and flutes III and IV switch to the trombone part.
About: Mozart's 1791 Requiem is considered the last piece he ever composed, although portions of it were left unfinished. The Lacrimosa (or Lacrymosa) had only eight bars composed by the time of Mozart's death. The remainder of the work was composed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr in 1792. The work was written to commemorate the death of Count Franz von Walsegg's wife. The text of the Lacrimosa (which literally means tearful) was taken from the last two stanzas of the "Dies Irae," a Latin hymn used as the sequence for the Roman Catholic Requiem Mass. Lyrics in Latin and English are below:
First page, linked to PDF:

About: Mozart's 1791 Requiem is considered the last piece he ever composed, although portions of it were left unfinished. The Lacrimosa (or Lacrymosa) had only eight bars composed by the time of Mozart's death. The remainder of the work was composed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr in 1792. The work was written to commemorate the death of Count Franz von Walsegg's wife. The text of the Lacrimosa (which literally means tearful) was taken from the last two stanzas of the "Dies Irae," a Latin hymn used as the sequence for the Roman Catholic Requiem Mass. Lyrics in Latin and English are below:
Lacrimosa dies illa,
Qua resurget ex favilla,
Judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus:
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem. Amen.
Ah! that day of tears and mourning,
From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgement must prepare him,
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him.
Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen.
Qua resurget ex favilla,
Judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus:
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem. Amen.
Ah! that day of tears and mourning,
From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgement must prepare him,
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him.
Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen.
First page, linked to PDF:

Saturday, October 22, 2016
Arrangement: Solo 1, Movement 2, from Trois Grands Solos by Friedrich Kuhlau
(L) This piece was not arranged, rather, "put together" for flutetunes.com using MuseScore. The reason for re-uploading it is because Flutetunes requested it for their database.
About: Friedrich Kuhlau was a Classical-Romantic composer, alive 1786-1832. Although he was born in Germany, he fled to Denmark in 1810 to escape being drafted into the Napoleonic Army. Many of his works are operatic, but he also composed for piano, flute, and other instruments. Kuhlau's style is very similar to Beethoven, and he actually knew him personally. The Trois Grands Solos were published in 1824, placing them on the border of the Classical and Romantic periods. It was composed for solo flute and optional piano accompaniment.
First page, linked to PDF:

Also, the piano part is linked HERE.
About: Friedrich Kuhlau was a Classical-Romantic composer, alive 1786-1832. Although he was born in Germany, he fled to Denmark in 1810 to escape being drafted into the Napoleonic Army. Many of his works are operatic, but he also composed for piano, flute, and other instruments. Kuhlau's style is very similar to Beethoven, and he actually knew him personally. The Trois Grands Solos were published in 1824, placing them on the border of the Classical and Romantic periods. It was composed for solo flute and optional piano accompaniment.
First page, linked to PDF:

Sunday, October 16, 2016
Composition: Klockorna by Lily
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Composition: Pool Party by Monica
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Audio Visualizer Coming Soon!
(L) Hey guys!
I just wanted to quickly say that we are working on an audio visualizer for electronically produced music, and we'll put some pieces on YouTube soon. Once Monica has finished the template, we'll create custom backgrounds and color schemes for each piece.
So far, we've made one piece (Pixeltech), though I animated it frame by frame, which took too long for my comfort. We've been working on more music since then, and when the visualizer is done, we'll upload them here!
Have a nice day!
I just wanted to quickly say that we are working on an audio visualizer for electronically produced music, and we'll put some pieces on YouTube soon. Once Monica has finished the template, we'll create custom backgrounds and color schemes for each piece.
So far, we've made one piece (Pixeltech), though I animated it frame by frame, which took too long for my comfort. We've been working on more music since then, and when the visualizer is done, we'll upload them here!
Have a nice day!
Saturday, September 24, 2016
APMT #2: PRACTICE
Here are some practice questions that go with the second episode. Watch the video first then answer the questions below.
Question 1: Label and define the parts of the diagram below.

Question 2: Assuming the scales of the images below are the same, which wave has the largest volume? Which one has the smallest volume?

Question 3: Listen to the audio file. Describe what is happening to the frequency and amplitude over time.
Audio file:
Question 4: What is the formula used to depict sound waves, including pitch and volume?
Question 5: What unit is the y-axis measured in?
For questions 6 and 7, use the graphs to find the amplitude of the sound depicted (hint: use the parent function and solve for the missing variable).
Question 6:

Question 7:

For questions 8 and 9, use the graphs to find the pressure difference of the sound depicted at 4.2 seconds. For 9, round the calculated frequency to the nearest whole number.
Question 8:

Question 9:

For question 10, use the graph to find 3 times between .4 and .5 seconds where the pressure difference is -1.909.
Question 10:

Explanations are now included in the answers.
Question 1: Label and define the parts of the diagram below.

Question 2: Assuming the scales of the images below are the same, which wave has the largest volume? Which one has the smallest volume?

Question 3: Listen to the audio file. Describe what is happening to the frequency and amplitude over time.
Question 4: What is the formula used to depict sound waves, including pitch and volume?
Question 5: What unit is the y-axis measured in?
For questions 6 and 7, use the graphs to find the amplitude of the sound depicted (hint: use the parent function and solve for the missing variable).
Question 6:

Question 7:

For questions 8 and 9, use the graphs to find the pressure difference of the sound depicted at 4.2 seconds. For 9, round the calculated frequency to the nearest whole number.
Question 8:

Question 9:

For question 10, use the graph to find 3 times between .4 and .5 seconds where the pressure difference is -1.909.
Question 10:

Explanations are now included in the answers.
Answer 1: Top answer: compression. A compression is an area where the particles are closest together. Bottom answer: rarefaction. A rarefaction is an area where the particles are furthest apart.
Answer 2: Largest volume: blue. This is because the amplitude is the largest. Smallest volume: orange. This is because the amplitude is the smallest.
Answer 3: The frequency remains constant, while the amplitude decreases. The amplitude decreases because the volume decreases.
Answer 4: y = A * sin(2 * pi * frq * x). A is the new value added in from the last video.
Answer 5: N/m^2, or Pascals.
Answer 6: A = 2.5. We first plug the point given into the parent function. Also, it is apparent on the graph that the frequency is 1, so we plug that in too: -1.177 = A * sin(2 * pi * 1 * 1.578). Isolate A by dividing both sides by sin(2 * pi * 1 * 1.578), getting 2.5.
Answer 7: A = 3.7. To go about solving this problem, simply reference the problem above. The only real difference is that the frequency is not 1; it is 5.
Answer 8: Pressure difference = 0. When asking for pressure difference, we must find the y value. In our equation, have 3 variables: A, frq, and x. X is given; it's 4.2. A is visible; it's 4. Frq is also visible, to an extent; in .2 seconds, there are 3 periods, so the frequency is 15 Hz. Plug these in and solve for y.
Answer 9: Pressure difference = -1.705. This one is a bit more tricky. We still need to solve for y, but the variables A and frq are not as clear. To find A, just look at the point given; it's at the peak, so A is the y value, 2.9. Now we have to find frq. There are two ways we can go about find it. First, we notice that the x value is given at halfway through the crest. By multiplying it by 4, we know the x value at the end of the trough, or the complete period. There is 1 period in .02632 seconds, so there are 38 periods in 1 second (that's the frequency). The second method† is plugging the point into the function. 2.9 = 2.9 * sin(2 * pi * frq * .00658), so divide both sides by 2.9. 1 = sin(2 * pi * frq * .00658), now inverse-sine both sides (it looks like sin^-1 on your calculator). This cancels out the sin part, giving us 1.5708 = 2 * pi * frq * .00658. Solve for frq, getting 38. Now with our frequency, we plug it into our function with our desired x value (4.2) in mind: y = 2.9 * sin(2 * pi * 38 * 4.2).
Answer 10: .4122, .4628, and .4955 seconds. This problem is the toughest yet. As you know, the sine function is not one-to-one, meaning that for every y value, there may be multiple x values (in this case, infinitely many). We are asked to limit them to just three. To begin this problem, first find an x value that produces the desired y value—with this, we can find 3 others that happen to fall into the range we want. We need to solve for x, but we need the other variables first; the y is given, -1.909. The amplitude is observable, 6. The frequency is also observable, 12. -1.909 = 6 * sin(2 * pi * 12 * x), solving for x and getting roughly -.0043. What other x values can give us the same value? Well, a period over can; add the length of a period to this number to find a number in our range. If the frequency (cycles/second) is 12, then a period length is 1/12, or .0833. We add this multiple times to our calculated x value getting .0790, .1623, .2456... and eventually .4122 (let's call this point 1) and .4955 (point 2)! Both of those work, but the question asks for three x values, not two. If we look at the graph, we can see there's another point mirroring the trough on which .4955 is placed. We have to think using common sense here; a period consists of a trough and a crest. Divide that by two and we get the length of just one. So then, the length of a trough is .0417, using our previously calculated period length. Subtract that from .5 and we get the left side of the trough's x value, .4583. The difference between the right side of the trough (.5) and point 2 is .0045, so the difference between the left side of the trough and point 3 must be the same, making point 3 .4583 + .0045, or .4628.
†Note that this method does not always work. If the point were given on a different crest—say, the second or third one—then another wave with a different frequency would be able to produce the same point, only it would be the first crest for that said wave. Click here to see a visual example.
Answer 2: Largest volume: blue. This is because the amplitude is the largest. Smallest volume: orange. This is because the amplitude is the smallest.
Answer 3: The frequency remains constant, while the amplitude decreases. The amplitude decreases because the volume decreases.
Answer 4: y = A * sin(2 * pi * frq * x). A is the new value added in from the last video.
Answer 5: N/m^2, or Pascals.
Answer 6: A = 2.5. We first plug the point given into the parent function. Also, it is apparent on the graph that the frequency is 1, so we plug that in too: -1.177 = A * sin(2 * pi * 1 * 1.578). Isolate A by dividing both sides by sin(2 * pi * 1 * 1.578), getting 2.5.
Answer 7: A = 3.7. To go about solving this problem, simply reference the problem above. The only real difference is that the frequency is not 1; it is 5.
Answer 8: Pressure difference = 0. When asking for pressure difference, we must find the y value. In our equation, have 3 variables: A, frq, and x. X is given; it's 4.2. A is visible; it's 4. Frq is also visible, to an extent; in .2 seconds, there are 3 periods, so the frequency is 15 Hz. Plug these in and solve for y.
Answer 9: Pressure difference = -1.705. This one is a bit more tricky. We still need to solve for y, but the variables A and frq are not as clear. To find A, just look at the point given; it's at the peak, so A is the y value, 2.9. Now we have to find frq. There are two ways we can go about find it. First, we notice that the x value is given at halfway through the crest. By multiplying it by 4, we know the x value at the end of the trough, or the complete period. There is 1 period in .02632 seconds, so there are 38 periods in 1 second (that's the frequency). The second method† is plugging the point into the function. 2.9 = 2.9 * sin(2 * pi * frq * .00658), so divide both sides by 2.9. 1 = sin(2 * pi * frq * .00658), now inverse-sine both sides (it looks like sin^-1 on your calculator). This cancels out the sin part, giving us 1.5708 = 2 * pi * frq * .00658. Solve for frq, getting 38. Now with our frequency, we plug it into our function with our desired x value (4.2) in mind: y = 2.9 * sin(2 * pi * 38 * 4.2).
Answer 10: .4122, .4628, and .4955 seconds. This problem is the toughest yet. As you know, the sine function is not one-to-one, meaning that for every y value, there may be multiple x values (in this case, infinitely many). We are asked to limit them to just three. To begin this problem, first find an x value that produces the desired y value—with this, we can find 3 others that happen to fall into the range we want. We need to solve for x, but we need the other variables first; the y is given, -1.909. The amplitude is observable, 6. The frequency is also observable, 12. -1.909 = 6 * sin(2 * pi * 12 * x), solving for x and getting roughly -.0043. What other x values can give us the same value? Well, a period over can; add the length of a period to this number to find a number in our range. If the frequency (cycles/second) is 12, then a period length is 1/12, or .0833. We add this multiple times to our calculated x value getting .0790, .1623, .2456... and eventually .4122 (let's call this point 1) and .4955 (point 2)! Both of those work, but the question asks for three x values, not two. If we look at the graph, we can see there's another point mirroring the trough on which .4955 is placed. We have to think using common sense here; a period consists of a trough and a crest. Divide that by two and we get the length of just one. So then, the length of a trough is .0417, using our previously calculated period length. Subtract that from .5 and we get the left side of the trough's x value, .4583. The difference between the right side of the trough (.5) and point 2 is .0045, so the difference between the left side of the trough and point 3 must be the same, making point 3 .4583 + .0045, or .4628.
†Note that this method does not always work. If the point were given on a different crest—say, the second or third one—then another wave with a different frequency would be able to produce the same point, only it would be the first crest for that said wave. Click here to see a visual example.
Monday, September 19, 2016
APMT #2: Volume, part 1: Pressure and Modeling
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Composition: Bored 1 by Lily
(L) Arranged using MuseScore.
About: A random song for the Secret Flobo Society, written for 2 oboes.
Click here for the PDF.
About: A random song for the Secret Flobo Society, written for 2 oboes.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Arrangement: High School of Cello Playing (40 Etudes), Etude 1 by David Popper
(L) Arranged using MuseScore. As one can see by the name, this etude is originally written for cello. Because of this, it was a bit tricky to arrange it for flute. In measure 20, I have put a treble clef with an 8 on top—this signifies the change from written to an octave above (it was hard to read all those ledger lines before). However, if the player finds it difficult to play that high, he may play the section as written—that is, without the octave jump. Additionally, in measures 60-62, I found it a bit difficult to play those low C's then jump all the way up above the staff, so I made it optional to play the C's in the staff, since it still sounds alright.
About: Many cello players know of the Popper Etudes; many flute players do not. It was not until my cello-playing friend complained of the ache in her fingers that I decided to check them out. The Popper Etudes are a set of 40 etudes belonging to standard cello repertoire. David Popper composed the etudes with various challenges in mind, like string crossing, double stops, and articulation. Popper was a Romantic composer (1843-1913), born in Prague. He was also known for writing his Tarantella, as well as some other rather demanding cello music, such as Spinning Song. Originally composed for cello, I have arranged it for solo flute.
First page, linked to PDF:

About: Many cello players know of the Popper Etudes; many flute players do not. It was not until my cello-playing friend complained of the ache in her fingers that I decided to check them out. The Popper Etudes are a set of 40 etudes belonging to standard cello repertoire. David Popper composed the etudes with various challenges in mind, like string crossing, double stops, and articulation. Popper was a Romantic composer (1843-1913), born in Prague. He was also known for writing his Tarantella, as well as some other rather demanding cello music, such as Spinning Song. Originally composed for cello, I have arranged it for solo flute.
First page, linked to PDF:

Saturday, August 20, 2016
Arrangement: Solo 1, Movement 1, from Trois Grands Solos by Friedrich Kuhlau
(L) This piece was not arranged, rather, "put together" for flutetunes.com using MuseScore. The reason for re-uploading it is because Flutetunes requested it for their database. I primarily used the Litolff edition, but there some mistakes, so I fixed them (for example, the trill that should be flat at the end of measure 22, or the F natural that should be sharp at the end of measure 88).
About: Friedrich Kuhlau was a Classical-Romantic composer, alive 1786-1832. Although he was born in Germany, he fled to Denmark in 1810 to escape being drafted into the Napoleonic Army. Many of his works are operatic, but he also composed for piano, flute, and other instruments. Kuhlau's style is very similar to Beethoven, and he actually knew him personally. The Trois Grands Solos were published in 1824, placing them on the border of the Classical and Romantic periods. It was composed for solo flute and optional piano accompaniment.
First page, linked to PDF:

Also, the piano part is linked HERE.
About: Friedrich Kuhlau was a Classical-Romantic composer, alive 1786-1832. Although he was born in Germany, he fled to Denmark in 1810 to escape being drafted into the Napoleonic Army. Many of his works are operatic, but he also composed for piano, flute, and other instruments. Kuhlau's style is very similar to Beethoven, and he actually knew him personally. The Trois Grands Solos were published in 1824, placing them on the border of the Classical and Romantic periods. It was composed for solo flute and optional piano accompaniment.
First page, linked to PDF:

Thursday, July 21, 2016
Arrangement: Ranz des Vaches (from William Tell) by Gioachino Rossini
(L) Arranged for flutetunes.com using MuseScore.
About: The William Tell Overture is the overture to Gioachino Rossini's famous opera William Tell, or Guillaume Tell. It is composed of four parts (not movements, as they flow directly into each other): Prelude, Dawn; Storm; Ranz des Vaches; and Finale, March Of The Swiss Soldiers. While the whole overture is quite famous, the Ranz des Vaches and Finale are especially well known, used in many cartoons. This part is usually used to show daybreak or morning. A Ranz des Vaches (or Kuhreihen) is actually a simple melody played on the horn by Swiss Alpine herdsmen. Below, I have arranged the full orchestra piece for a flute trio, with flute 1 and 2 being the flute and English horn parts, respectively.
First page, linked to PDF:

About: The William Tell Overture is the overture to Gioachino Rossini's famous opera William Tell, or Guillaume Tell. It is composed of four parts (not movements, as they flow directly into each other): Prelude, Dawn; Storm; Ranz des Vaches; and Finale, March Of The Swiss Soldiers. While the whole overture is quite famous, the Ranz des Vaches and Finale are especially well known, used in many cartoons. This part is usually used to show daybreak or morning. A Ranz des Vaches (or Kuhreihen) is actually a simple melody played on the horn by Swiss Alpine herdsmen. Below, I have arranged the full orchestra piece for a flute trio, with flute 1 and 2 being the flute and English horn parts, respectively.
First page, linked to PDF:

Arrangement: Nocturne in C-sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin
(L) Arranged for flutetunes.com using MuseScore.
About: This piece is a widely known piano Nocturne of Chopin's, still performed today. Also called Lento con gran espressione, the work was published after Chopin's death. It is known mainly from The Pianist. I have arranged it for flute and piano.
First page, linked to PDF:

About: This piece is a widely known piano Nocturne of Chopin's, still performed today. Also called Lento con gran espressione, the work was published after Chopin's death. It is known mainly from The Pianist. I have arranged it for flute and piano.
First page, linked to PDF:

Thursday, July 14, 2016
APMT #1: PRACTICE
Here are some practice questions that go with the first episode. Watch the video first then answer the questions below.
Question 1: Label the parts of the wave shown below.

Question 2: Assuming the scales of the images below are the same, which wave has the highest frequency? Which one has the lowest frequency?

Question 3: Match each audio file with the image that best represents it.
Audio 1:
Audio 2:
Audio 3:
Image A:

Image B:

Image C:

Question 4: What is the formula used to depict sound waves?
For questions 5-8, use the graphs to find the frequency of the sound depicted.
Question 5:

Question 6:

Question 7:

Question 8:

Question 1: Label the parts of the wave shown below.

Question 2: Assuming the scales of the images below are the same, which wave has the highest frequency? Which one has the lowest frequency?

Question 3: Match each audio file with the image that best represents it.
Audio 2:
Audio 3:
Image A:

Image B:

Image C:

Question 4: What is the formula used to depict sound waves?
For questions 5-8, use the graphs to find the frequency of the sound depicted.
Question 5:

Question 6:

Question 7:

Question 8:

Answer 1:

Answer 2: Highest frequency: green. Lowest frequency: yellow.
Answer 3: Audio 1, Image B; Audio 2, Image C; Audio 3, Image A
Answer 4: y=sin(2 * pi * frq * x)
Answer 5: 3 Hz
Answer 6: 8 Hz
Answer 7: 300 Hz
Answer 8: 610 Hz

Answer 2: Highest frequency: green. Lowest frequency: yellow.
Answer 3: Audio 1, Image B; Audio 2, Image C; Audio 3, Image A
Answer 4: y=sin(2 * pi * frq * x)
Answer 5: 3 Hz
Answer 6: 8 Hz
Answer 7: 300 Hz
Answer 8: 610 Hz
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
APMT #1: The Wave and Pitch
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Composition: Pixeltech by Monica
Monday, June 27, 2016
Arrangement: Chaconne Op. 8 by Cécile Chaminade
(L) Arranged for flutetunes.com using MuseScore.
About: Cécile Chaminade was a brilliant French composer and pianist known for her Flute Concertino. She was a Romantic composer, alive 1857-1944. Chaminade has also made many piano works that are rarely performed today. Here is one of her early piano pieces she created as a young adult, published in 1879. It is arranged for two flutes.
First page, linked to PDF:

About: Cécile Chaminade was a brilliant French composer and pianist known for her Flute Concertino. She was a Romantic composer, alive 1857-1944. Chaminade has also made many piano works that are rarely performed today. Here is one of her early piano pieces she created as a young adult, published in 1879. It is arranged for two flutes.
First page, linked to PDF:

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