Composing

Compositions of Rogier Bos

Short guitar compositions
These are some compositions for guitar solo. Some of them I wrote years ago. They are all short (as the name suggests) and the form is often just ABA. I added tablature for the fingering I had in mind, since I did not put any information about that in the normal music notation score.
  • Short guitar composition 1 (2005) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    This composition is in time signature 3/4, where each quarter note is divided into a triplet. These form arpeggios, with the use of open strings and the melody is in the top. Harmonically it moves back and forth between A major and A minor.
  • Short guitar composition 2 (2005) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    This composition is rhythmically based on syncopated subdivision of 2/4, something that sounds like a latin rhythm to me.
  • Short guitar composition 3 (2003) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    The A part of this is 3/4, in D minor and in a sense very "classical". In the B part it goes to mostly D major and F# minor. I used additive (odd) rhythms and the melody moves to the bass, "under" the chords.
  • Short guitar composition 4 (2008) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    A composition in E major, 4/4 and very much a "guitar composition".
  • Short guitar composition 5 (1998) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    This one is mainly in 7/8 and I played it once with the my old band: "Dikmaesband". It is not so easy to play at some passages (at least for me). In one ore two spots (indicated by T) a thumb grip is used. This means the note is fretted with the thumb of the left hand.
  • Short guitar composition 6 (2009) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    Arpeggiated chords with a melody on top. Again with lots of open strings and a few thumb grips.
  • Short guitar composition 7 (2009) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    In an attempt to write a more dynamical composition I used strumming of chords and percussive possibilities of the guitar.
  • Short guitar composition 8 (2009) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    A melancholic and meditative composition. As for the technique: there is a thumb barre at measure 15 and 16; this means: make the barre with the thumb of the left hand. There is a diagonal barre at measure 34; this means the barre finger is diagonal, crosses a fret.
  • Short guitar composition 9 (2008) (score (pdf))
    A very short composition!
  • Short guitar composition 10 (2010) (score (pdf))
  • Short guitar composition 11 (2010) (score (pdf))
    Another composition based on arpeggio-style playing.
  • Short guitar composition 12 (2011) (score (pdf))
    This one and number 13 are harmonically a bit more exciting than the previous ones.
  • Short guitar composition 13 (2011) (score (pdf))
    Bach goes to Spain?


    • Guitar etudes
  • Etude 1 (2008) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    This one is a study of a few things. Firstly, a basic thumb + 3 fingers arpeggio that stays the same until measure 52 and is then slightly adepted. Secondly, the chords on the low E till G strings with an open D string, more or less till measure 26, but reoccuring later. Thirdly, the use of natural harmonics in chords in measure 35-52. Finally, in measure 53-66 the same arpeggio as before is used but with a simple melody added in the top. Some chords (e.g. the first chord) should be played by twisting your left wrist clockwise. Measures 45-48 require a gymnastic left hand.
  • Etude 2 (2008) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    This is an up-tempo study of pull-offs on top of a chord, and especially pulloffs to open strings. There is a short slower interlude to this at measures 62 to 69.
  • Etude 3 (2009) (score (pdf), tabs (pdf))
    This is a study mainly of a legato technique opposit to the one of the previous etude: hammer-ons (is there a better word for this?). It also uses odd time signatures in additive rhythms.
  • Etude 4 (2010) (score (pdf))
    This is the most (and only) mathematical music I ever wrote. As one would expect, it doesn't sound too good, but it is fun to study when you are in an autistic mood. It is a study of polyrythms (3:4, 2:3 and 3:5) and polymeters (3/4 to 7/8 etc.), also mixed.


    • Vuurdoop (2005) (mp3, midi, score (pdf))
    This composition was written for the Parnassos amateur composition concours 2005 in Utrecht. I wrote it (with the guitar in the hands) for piano quatre mains. It was performed by two organisers (for which I am still very grateful!). The piece roughly has the form ABAC. It uses time signatures 4/4 and 12/8. I hope to make an arrangement once for two guitars.

    Songs for jazz band (lead sheets)
  • The frog (2008/2009) (score (pdf), Live with Bramm Dustels and the Medium Bangers (mp3))
    A "smooth jazz" song. Not my favorite style to listen, but fun to play. It is based on the chord scheme, which I made up just for improvising. Later I added the melody and the syncopations at the end.
  • Needs replacement (2005/2009) (score (pdf))
    The original title was "needs replacement by a more suitable title", which I made up after reading some Douglas Hofstadter article on self-reference and not knowing a suitable name for the composition. It is based on Short Composition 1 for guitar.
  • Deux croque-monieurs (2008/2009) (score (pdf))
    This one is a straightforward adaptation of Short Composition 4 for guitar.
  • Bosbossa (1998) (score (pdf))
    A bossa nova style song that I wrote years ago.
  • De Indiase Pannenkoek (1998) (score (pdf)
    A funk with the weirdest theme I could think of (in 1998).
  • Hat Bangers Blues (2009) (score (pdf), Live with Bramm Dustels and the Medium Bangers (mp3))
    An odd time signature blues written for Bramm Dustels and the Medium Bangers.
  • Minor Dustels (2010) (score (pdf))
    A minor blues written for Bramm Dustels and the Medium Bangers.



    • Some of my favorite composers

    Bela Bartok
    Igor Stravisky
    Leo Brouwer
    Steve Reich
    György Ligeti