www.MontoyaMusic.com
Non-Choral Works
The following is a listing of my non-choral works. Many of these are also listed on the MANUSCRIPT SCORES page and the COMMISSIONS page. More recordings will be coming soon, so please check back.
An Armful of Warm Ukulele
lead sheet for solo voice and ukulele
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This is a song written to convey my love for the ukulele. It is in an older jazz style with original lyrics, fun and sometimes tricky chords, and a very memorable tune. The last line of text says it all:
An armful of warm ukulele does things to me -
those things that I can't live without.
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This is a song written to convey my love for the ukulele. It is in an older jazz style with original lyrics, fun and sometimes tricky chords, and a very memorable tune. The last line of text says it all:
An armful of warm ukulele does things to me -
those things that I can't live without.
| armful_of_warm_ukulele.pdf |
Are You Too Old to Trick-or-Treat?
lead sheet for solo voice and ukulele
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This silly little song asks the question that we must all eventually reckon with. Ask yourself the question and get back to me with the answer.
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This silly little song asks the question that we must all eventually reckon with. Ask yourself the question and get back to me with the answer.
Francis' Prayer
for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, flute, oboe, clarinet, cello, piano, and tamboura
Time: 6:30
Fr. Gino Vanzillotta, O. M. of All Saints Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA is a wonderful patron of the arts. He is also a budding poet. He writes poetry to honor his Catholic faith, and then he commissions composers to write music based on his original texts. Francis' Prayer was written in honor of the lesser know St. Francis (of Paola) who is the patron saint of Fr. Gino's order, the Minim Fathers. The piece was premiered on the feast day of St. Francis at All Saints.
Time: 6:30
Fr. Gino Vanzillotta, O. M. of All Saints Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA is a wonderful patron of the arts. He is also a budding poet. He writes poetry to honor his Catholic faith, and then he commissions composers to write music based on his original texts. Francis' Prayer was written in honor of the lesser know St. Francis (of Paola) who is the patron saint of Fr. Gino's order, the Minim Fathers. The piece was premiered on the feast day of St. Francis at All Saints.
Go, Lovely Rose
tenor solo with piano accompaniment
Time: 3:30
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This piece was written during my days at the University of Nevada, Reno. I was working on my master's degree and I had just started studying with W. A. Mathieu. The song uses a soft piano theme in contrary motion, while the lyric tenor notes float above. This piece was dedicated to my girlfriend at the time. . .she later became my wife. It is PUBLISHED in it's SATB choral version and is available from Santa Barbara Music Publishing.
Time: 3:30
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This piece was written during my days at the University of Nevada, Reno. I was working on my master's degree and I had just started studying with W. A. Mathieu. The song uses a soft piano theme in contrary motion, while the lyric tenor notes float above. This piece was dedicated to my girlfriend at the time. . .she later became my wife. It is PUBLISHED in it's SATB choral version and is available from Santa Barbara Music Publishing.
| go_lovely_rose_-_tenor.pdf |
I Saw a Young Lady
tenor solo with piano accompaniment
Level: Easy
Time: 1:15
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This short text was penned by my college friend, Nicholas Roman, when we were at Cal State Los Angeles. I wrote him an equally short tenor solo.
I saw a young lady, and though she said, "Baby," I chose not to go.
Level: Easy
Time: 1:15
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This short text was penned by my college friend, Nicholas Roman, when we were at Cal State Los Angeles. I wrote him an equally short tenor solo.
I saw a young lady, and though she said, "Baby," I chose not to go.
| i_saw_a_young_lady.pdf |
M & M Honeymoon
In 2000, my wife and I got married and went on our honeymoon in Hawaii. Of course, I had to buy my first ukulele. On the balcony in Waikiki, I wrote this, my first uke song.
My Pal Bill
lead sheet for solo voice and ukulele
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This song was written for my dear friend and teacher Bill "Tappy" Tapia on the occasion of his 100th birthday. It is in an old-fashioned jazz style with original lyrics.
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This song was written for my dear friend and teacher Bill "Tappy" Tapia on the occasion of his 100th birthday. It is in an old-fashioned jazz style with original lyrics.
| my_pal_bill.pdf |
On the Blessed Virgin's Bashfulness
soprano solo with piano accompaniment
Level: Intermediate
Time: 2:30
[FREE DOWNLOAD] An early work of mine, and a favorite of sopranos. The lovely little Robert Crashaw text paints the image of Mary looking not up, but down to Heaven, as she cradles the baby Jesus in her arms.
Level: Intermediate
Time: 2:30
[FREE DOWNLOAD] An early work of mine, and a favorite of sopranos. The lovely little Robert Crashaw text paints the image of Mary looking not up, but down to Heaven, as she cradles the baby Jesus in her arms.
| on_the_blessed_virgins_bashfulness.pdf |
Passacaglia for Three Trombones
for tenor 1, tenor 2, and bass trombones
Level: Advanced
Time: 2:00
One day, one of my uke/music theory students walked by my rehearsal and said, "Why don't you write a piece for trombones?" I got excited about the idea and happily obliged! Passacaglia is a jazzy trombone piece, with great rhythmic driving force, fun counterpoint, and irregular meters. The piece is dedicated to two former wonderful LHHS students who are now music majors in college, Kelly and Cynthia. Passacaglia was premiered on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at an undergraduate recital at Azusa Pacific University. Cynthia Navarro, my former student, gave a wonderful reading of the piece!
Level: Advanced
Time: 2:00
One day, one of my uke/music theory students walked by my rehearsal and said, "Why don't you write a piece for trombones?" I got excited about the idea and happily obliged! Passacaglia is a jazzy trombone piece, with great rhythmic driving force, fun counterpoint, and irregular meters. The piece is dedicated to two former wonderful LHHS students who are now music majors in college, Kelly and Cynthia. Passacaglia was premiered on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at an undergraduate recital at Azusa Pacific University. Cynthia Navarro, my former student, gave a wonderful reading of the piece!
Sonatina
for classical guitar
Level: Intermediate
Time: 7:15
[FREE DOWNLOAD] As a guitar teacher at the high school level, I can't resist writing pieces for my students to play. This sonatina is a good example of this. This piece is very accessible for an amateur guitarist and very fun to play.
1. Rondo giocoso
2. Theme
3. Allegro feroce
Level: Intermediate
Time: 7:15
[FREE DOWNLOAD] As a guitar teacher at the high school level, I can't resist writing pieces for my students to play. This sonatina is a good example of this. This piece is very accessible for an amateur guitarist and very fun to play.
1. Rondo giocoso
2. Theme
3. Allegro feroce
| allegro_feroce.pdf |
Song in Minor-over-Major
for solo piano
Level: Easy to Intermediate
Time: 2:00
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This is one of my favorite piano compositions. It is very simple, but very complex at the same time. The mode is less familiar to us Westerners, but is has a D-major scale for the lower tetrachord of the scale, and d-minor for the upper. The resulting scale is D-E-F#-G-A-Bb-C-D. It is a beguiling mode to write or improvise it. Enjoy!
Level: Easy to Intermediate
Time: 2:00
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This is one of my favorite piano compositions. It is very simple, but very complex at the same time. The mode is less familiar to us Westerners, but is has a D-major scale for the lower tetrachord of the scale, and d-minor for the upper. The resulting scale is D-E-F#-G-A-Bb-C-D. It is a beguiling mode to write or improvise it. Enjoy!
| song_in_minor-over-major-updated_10-2012.pdf |
Song of the Virgin Mary
for soprano and tenor soloists, oboe, cello, and piano
Time: 5:30
This was a second commission by Fr. Gino Vanzillotta, O. M. of All Saint's Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA. The text is an original poem written by Fr. Gino himself. The music is a Mahler-esque tribute to the Blessed Mother.
Time: 5:30
This was a second commission by Fr. Gino Vanzillotta, O. M. of All Saint's Catholic Church in Los Angeles, CA. The text is an original poem written by Fr. Gino himself. The music is a Mahler-esque tribute to the Blessed Mother.
Ukulady Bug
lead sheet for voice and ukulele
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This song was written based on a true story. A ladybug landed on my uke strings. I wondered what it was thinking, and a song appeared. It is in an older jazz style with original lyrics, fun and sometimes tricky chords, and another earworm of a tune.
Ukulady bug, my little darling one,
you landed on my strings one day. . .
Download the song and find out what happens next!
[FREE DOWNLOAD] This song was written based on a true story. A ladybug landed on my uke strings. I wondered what it was thinking, and a song appeared. It is in an older jazz style with original lyrics, fun and sometimes tricky chords, and another earworm of a tune.
Ukulady bug, my little darling one,
you landed on my strings one day. . .
Download the song and find out what happens next!
| ukulady_bug.pdf |
Ukulele Midnight (after "Strangers in the Night")
lead sheet for ukulele
This piece is hot off of the presses. What was just a fun little tune, based off of a motive from the familiar "Strangers in the Night," became a recording with my students one day after school in which one played the trumpet. Then a couple of weeks later, at Huntington Beach, CA, I teamed up with my mother Barbara to write lyrics for the tune. It became a living tribute to our dear Bill Tapia who passed away last December at the age of 103 years young. God be with you Bill!
Stranger in the night. He played his ukulele right.
Under the stars above the sea, he played for me.
He thought he was alone. I spied his ukulele tone.
He never saw me standing there. So unaware.
Ukulele man, strum upon the sand.
Play until your heart is one with mine.
Oh, stranger in the night, please tell me
When will you play for me again?
Or is this just a sweet passing midnight melody
In my memory? Stranger in the night.
This piece is hot off of the presses. What was just a fun little tune, based off of a motive from the familiar "Strangers in the Night," became a recording with my students one day after school in which one played the trumpet. Then a couple of weeks later, at Huntington Beach, CA, I teamed up with my mother Barbara to write lyrics for the tune. It became a living tribute to our dear Bill Tapia who passed away last December at the age of 103 years young. God be with you Bill!
Stranger in the night. He played his ukulele right.
Under the stars above the sea, he played for me.
He thought he was alone. I spied his ukulele tone.
He never saw me standing there. So unaware.
Ukulele man, strum upon the sand.
Play until your heart is one with mine.
Oh, stranger in the night, please tell me
When will you play for me again?
Or is this just a sweet passing midnight melody
In my memory? Stranger in the night.
Ukulele Sunset
lead sheet for ukulele
I once called this tune one of the best melodies that I have ever written. It still holds up well. With jazz chords and a sweet, lilting tune, you'll be carried away to Waikiki. [FREE DOWNLOAD coming soon.]
I once called this tune one of the best melodies that I have ever written. It still holds up well. With jazz chords and a sweet, lilting tune, you'll be carried away to Waikiki. [FREE DOWNLOAD coming soon.]
The Uniquely American, Good Old-Fashioned, 12-Hole Harmonica Songbook
for Hohner 12-hole harmonica in C major
The Uniquely American, Good-Old Fashioned, 12-Hole Harmonica Songbook began when my grandfather passed away in February 2006. I wanted to play his harmonica at the services, my grandmother allowed me to do so, and then she allowed me to keep his harp.
I began working on my technique, playing familiar tunes and creating new ones. It was especially fun to create duets to play with my students at La Habra High School in Orange County, CA.
As the book developed, it began to take shape as a uniquely American songbook, with tunes from our history, as well as many new tunes that had that familiar, old-American sound. The names of the new tunes seemed to be right out of the Old West, and the Plains, and the South. . .out of our early struggles, and out of our early churches. . . and from our grandfathers who came to this country from other great lands. Many of the tunes included in this book are familiar and time-honored, but I feel that the new ones that I have composed have that same great American Spirit.
Songs of Inspiration
1. Amazing Grace...........................................William Walker
2. Ev‘ry Time I Feel the Spirit..........................African American Spiritual
3. Gift of Finest Wheat....................................Robert Kreutz
4. Hine Ma Tov - DUET……………...............Jewish Hymn
5. How Can I Keep?………………………..……D. V. Montoya
6. The King of Love My Shepherd Is.................Irish Melody
7 . This Train…………………….………………American Folk Tune
8 . Were You There?….………………………....J. W. & J. R. Johnson
Songs Our Grandfathers Taught Us
9. Bagpipe Song - DUET.................................Scottish Tune
10. De Colores.................................................Spanish Folk Song
11. Down By the Salley Gardens........................Irish Melody
12. It’s All Relative........…...............................D. V. Montoya
13. Minuet #1.…...............................................J. S. Bach
14. Minuet #2.…...............................................J. S. Bach
15. Musette........…...........................................J. S. Bach
16. Solamente…................................................D. V. Montoya
17. String Theme...............................................Franz Joseph Haydn
Songs of the Country
18. Bound for Florida..........................................D. V. Montoya
19. Colorado Trail...............................................Cowboy Song
20. Home on the Range.......................................Higley and Kelley
21. Idyllwild.......................................................D. V. Montoya
22. Leaving Home...............................................D. V. Montoya
23. Plantation Song.............................................D. V. Montoya
24. Restless Farewell….......................................Bob Dylan
25. Shenandoah…...............................................American Folk Tune
26. Streets of Laredo……………………………….American Folk Tune
27. Under the Cypress Trees................................D. V. Montoya
28. Valley Song………………………….………….D. V. Montoya
Songs of Freedom
29. Advance and Be Recognized!..........................D. V. Montoya
30. Battle Hymn of the Republic - DUET.............attr. to John William Steffe
31. Caisson Song………………………................Edmund L. Gruber
32. Freedom March............................................adapted English Melody
33. God Bless America - DUET..........................Irving Berlin
34. March - DUET............................................D. V. Montoya
35. With God on Our Side....................................Bob Dylan
Songs of Fun
36. Car Song ……………………………...............Woody Guthrie
37. Curly Hair Rag - DUET...................................D. V. Montoya
38. Sheriff Shar’s Jig - DUET.............................D. V. Montoya
39. Two Little Clouds...........................................Children’s Song
40. What‘s the Hold-Up, Slowpoke? - DUET.........D. V. Montoya
The Uniquely American, Good-Old Fashioned, 12-Hole Harmonica Songbook began when my grandfather passed away in February 2006. I wanted to play his harmonica at the services, my grandmother allowed me to do so, and then she allowed me to keep his harp.
I began working on my technique, playing familiar tunes and creating new ones. It was especially fun to create duets to play with my students at La Habra High School in Orange County, CA.
As the book developed, it began to take shape as a uniquely American songbook, with tunes from our history, as well as many new tunes that had that familiar, old-American sound. The names of the new tunes seemed to be right out of the Old West, and the Plains, and the South. . .out of our early struggles, and out of our early churches. . . and from our grandfathers who came to this country from other great lands. Many of the tunes included in this book are familiar and time-honored, but I feel that the new ones that I have composed have that same great American Spirit.
Songs of Inspiration
1. Amazing Grace...........................................William Walker
2. Ev‘ry Time I Feel the Spirit..........................African American Spiritual
3. Gift of Finest Wheat....................................Robert Kreutz
4. Hine Ma Tov - DUET……………...............Jewish Hymn
5. How Can I Keep?………………………..……D. V. Montoya
6. The King of Love My Shepherd Is.................Irish Melody
7 . This Train…………………….………………American Folk Tune
8 . Were You There?….………………………....J. W. & J. R. Johnson
Songs Our Grandfathers Taught Us
9. Bagpipe Song - DUET.................................Scottish Tune
10. De Colores.................................................Spanish Folk Song
11. Down By the Salley Gardens........................Irish Melody
12. It’s All Relative........…...............................D. V. Montoya
13. Minuet #1.…...............................................J. S. Bach
14. Minuet #2.…...............................................J. S. Bach
15. Musette........…...........................................J. S. Bach
16. Solamente…................................................D. V. Montoya
17. String Theme...............................................Franz Joseph Haydn
Songs of the Country
18. Bound for Florida..........................................D. V. Montoya
19. Colorado Trail...............................................Cowboy Song
20. Home on the Range.......................................Higley and Kelley
21. Idyllwild.......................................................D. V. Montoya
22. Leaving Home...............................................D. V. Montoya
23. Plantation Song.............................................D. V. Montoya
24. Restless Farewell….......................................Bob Dylan
25. Shenandoah…...............................................American Folk Tune
26. Streets of Laredo……………………………….American Folk Tune
27. Under the Cypress Trees................................D. V. Montoya
28. Valley Song………………………….………….D. V. Montoya
Songs of Freedom
29. Advance and Be Recognized!..........................D. V. Montoya
30. Battle Hymn of the Republic - DUET.............attr. to John William Steffe
31. Caisson Song………………………................Edmund L. Gruber
32. Freedom March............................................adapted English Melody
33. God Bless America - DUET..........................Irving Berlin
34. March - DUET............................................D. V. Montoya
35. With God on Our Side....................................Bob Dylan
Songs of Fun
36. Car Song ……………………………...............Woody Guthrie
37. Curly Hair Rag - DUET...................................D. V. Montoya
38. Sheriff Shar’s Jig - DUET.............................D. V. Montoya
39. Two Little Clouds...........................................Children’s Song
40. What‘s the Hold-Up, Slowpoke? - DUET.........D. V. Montoya
Variations in C
for solo piano
Level: Intermediate
Time: 8:00
A simple but lovely piano theme followed by seven variations. This piece is one of my older compositions and was a joy to write.
Level: Intermediate
Time: 8:00
A simple but lovely piano theme followed by seven variations. This piece is one of my older compositions and was a joy to write.
When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer
tenor solo with piano accompaniment
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Time: 3:30
This poem by Walt Whitman is one of my favorites - it's how I look at life. I tried to capture the mysterious wonder of the heavens in my setting, and the simple perfect silence too. I just may orchestrate this one day.
When I heard the learn’d astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Time: 3:30
This poem by Walt Whitman is one of my favorites - it's how I look at life. I tried to capture the mysterious wonder of the heavens in my setting, and the simple perfect silence too. I just may orchestrate this one day.
When I heard the learn’d astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.