top of page

Blog
Search


I'M IN THE MOOD FOR HUNGARIAN for Flute Solo (2024)
I'M IN THE MOOD FOR HUNGARIAN for Flute Solo (2024). I'M IN THE MOOD FOR HUNGARIAN was composed for a call for scores by Lisa Bost-Sanberg/Fifteen Minutes of Fame (Vox Novus). The title is a play on the fact that this piece is composed entirely in the C Hungarian Minor Mode (C, D, E-flat, F-sharp, G, A-flat, B). The music features contrasting non-linear and linear melodic elements throughout. I chose a march-like tempo and mood to continue the play on words of the title, as i
Stanley M. Hoffman
Feb 131 min read


Judith (Let There Be Light) for Horn in F with Incidental Vocals (2025)
I was drawn to the last name of the performer, “Orr;” my mind went to homophones. “Ohr” means “Light” in Hebrew. The Jewish heroine, Judith, is associated with Chanukah because of the miracle of the Temple’s rededication celebrated by lighting the nine-branched Chanukiah. The words are from Genesis 1:3. Link to a scrolling score music video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/Lk8X1wob6lE
Stanley M. Hoffman
Feb 131 min read


HEBRAIC LAMENT for Violoncello Solo (2024)
Since violoncellist Eunice Koh states that she is interested in performing world music, especially music reflecting the ethnic background of composers whose music she performs, I decided to compose a HEBRAIC LAMENT for her. No unusual performance practices are required though they were encouraged. Rather, the piece just sings, much as a cantorial soloist would sing during a sacred service. Link to a scrolling score music video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/P7jjkbtdR6I
Stanley M. Hoffman
Feb 121 min read


THE SAXOPHONIST for Tenor Saxophone Solo (2024)
“The Saxophonist” is a tone portrait of a busy performer. It’s marked “Mercurial” referring to the swift Roman “messenger of the gods.” I led a different sort of life, so I don’t know how performers like Drew Hosler maintain their teaching and performing duties while managing to have a personal life. © Copyright 2024 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. The sheet music is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Link
Stanley M. Hoffman
Feb 121 min read


DINNER FAVORS for SATB Chorus and Piano (2026)
DINNER FAVORS was composed for a call for scores by a non-auditioned community chorus called the Questors Choir which is based in West London, England, Paul Ayres, Conductor. This brief composition is a setting of the Public Domain poem DINNER FAVORS by Arthur Macy (1842–1904). The music features a "perpetual mobile" in the piano accompaniment, and easy homophonic writing in the choral parts. The melody, which is mostly in the soprano line, grows organically from the harmonie
Stanley M. Hoffman
Feb 121 min read


A LITTLE MORNING MUSIC for Piccolo and Piano (2026)
Composed for piccolo/flute player Jack Nesser "A Little Morning Music" features a musical language that alternates between modality and tonality. Among other things, the music features arpeggios in the piano, and salient melodies shared by both instruments. © Copyright 2026 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. The sheet music is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Link to a scrolling score music video on YouTub
Stanley M. Hoffman
Feb 61 min read


STOPPING BY THE WOODS ON A SNOW EVENING for SATB Chorus (divisi) unaccompanied (2026)
Public Domain text by Robert Frost (1874–1963). Music: © Copyright 2026 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. The sheet music is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Scrolling score music video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/xoI3sO7iuu4
Stanley M. Hoffman
Jan 301 min read
![Moonlight (Clair de Lune [a.k.a. Menuet]) - music by Gabriel Faure (1845–1924) for voice and piano, arranged for SATB chorus and piano](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f3e5c9_6979d50bcacf457788a86081d5cfa2f9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_333,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/f3e5c9_6979d50bcacf457788a86081d5cfa2f9~mv2.webp)
![Moonlight (Clair de Lune [a.k.a. Menuet]) - music by Gabriel Faure (1845–1924) for voice and piano, arranged for SATB chorus and piano](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f3e5c9_6979d50bcacf457788a86081d5cfa2f9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_514,h_386,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/f3e5c9_6979d50bcacf457788a86081d5cfa2f9~mv2.webp)
Moonlight (Clair de Lune [a.k.a. Menuet]) - music by Gabriel Faure (1845–1924) for voice and piano, arranged for SATB chorus and piano
Moonlight (Clair de Lune [a.k.a. Menuet]) - music by Gabriel Faure (1845–1924) composed in 1887 - words by Paul Verlaine (1844–1896) - a chanson originally scored for voice and piano, arranged for SATB chorus and piano in 2026. Words and music: Public Domain. Arrangement: © Copyright 2026 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. The sheet music is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Link to scrolling score music v
Stanley M. Hoffman
Jan 271 min read


MELANCHOLY PRELUDE for organ solo
My composition, MELANCHOLY PRELUDE for organ solo, is being performed by David Bohn tomorrow at Luther Memorial Church located at 1021 University Avenue, in Madison, Wisconsin, along with 29 other one-minute works. Thank you, David Bohn, Fifteen Minutes of Fame/Vox Novus/Robert Voisey. http://www.voxnovus.com/15_Minutes_of_Fame/featuring/David_Bohn/organ_2026_2/index.htm https://www.luthermem.org/sermon/david-bohn-1-28-26/
Stanley M. Hoffman
Jan 271 min read


"There Was an Old Man" (Three Brief Nonsense Limericks) for SATB Chorus (divisi), Triangle, Flute, and Hand Gong
Texts from the “Book of Nonsense Limericks” by Edward Lear (1812–1888). Music: © Copyright 2026 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. The sheet music is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Link to scrolling score YouTube music video. https://youtu.be/K3hL23sI3nI
Stanley M. Hoffman
Jan 81 min read


Sandburg Songs: Song Cycle for Baritone and Piano
"Sandburg Songs" represents a different sort of composition for me. It is a pastiche of mostly brand new music, but also some old musical ideas, both from my own oeuvre, and also from the pen of Ottorino Respighi. Pan-diatonicism is contrasted with chromatically rich harmonies and melodies. 1. Fog 2. Flux 3. Under the harvest moon 4. Monotone 5. Young Sea 6. I sang 7. Follies 8. Uplands in May 9. Between two hills Words: from "Chicago Songs;" Public Domain. Music: © Copyright
Stanley M. Hoffman
Jan 21 min read


Follow your saint (Voice, Piano)
A reworking of a composition from 1984. Olde English Words by Thomas Campion (1567–1620). The sheet music is available for licensing from me, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Link to a scrolling score video. https://youtu.be/zu3fHQcVoXU
Stanley M. Hoffman
Jan 21 min read
Music engraving and editing
Composers, arrangers, conductors, and publishers: just a reminder that I am available to assist you with all of your sheet music engraving and editing needs. Please contact me via my website for a quote.
Stanley M. Hoffman
Dec 24, 20251 min read


AFTERNOON ON A HILL for Soprano, Violin, and Viola (2025)
AFTERNOON ON A HILL is a brief, uncomplicated, modal setting of the poem of the same name by Edna St. Vincent Millay scored for soprano, violin, and viola. It features the major and minor second as the predominant-sounding interval, more so in the accompaniment, but also in the melodic lines of the voice, and of the two string parts. Those melodic lines are more linear than they are intervallic, intervallic leaps being more so prevalent in the accompaniment. Timing in at 2:25
Stanley M. Hoffman
Dec 11, 20251 min read


Compact disc, anyone?
Being a senior citizen, and having survived a nasty case of malignant cancer this year, I am facing the twilight years of my life as a creator of classical orchestral compositions and arrangements, and am seeking a first-rate choir, and/or a first rate orchestra interested in exploring the possibility of recording and releasing a CD devoted to a selection of my published and/or unpublished titles. If you are unfamiliar with my music and are wondering about my qualifications,
Stanley M. Hoffman
Dec 9, 20251 min read


FIRE AND ICE for SATB Chorus - Words by Robert Frost - Music by Stanley M. Hoffman (2025)
Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. —Robert Frost (1874–1963) Words: Public Domain. Music: © Copyright 2025 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. This title is available for licensing from the composer, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus.
Stanley M. Hoffman
Nov 20, 20251 min read


TWAIN SONGS: Song Cycle for Tenor Voice and Piano (2025)
CONTENTS 1. Love came at dawn 2. Genius 3. O Lord, Our Father 4. These annual bills! 5. Warm summer sun Words: Public Domain. Music: © Copyright 2025 by Stanley M. Hoffman. www.stanleymhoffman.com All rights reserved. The sheet music is available for licensing from the composer, and for sale from Sheet Music Plus. Here is a link to a synthesized scrolling score music video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/rCoFJGi9q44 Thanks for listening!
Stanley M. Hoffman
Nov 20, 20251 min read


I’m There Inside Your Heart - Funereal piece for TTBB chorus unaccompanied
Right now I’m in a different place' And though we seem far apart I’m closer than I ever was… I’m there inside your heart. I’m with you when you greet each day And when the sun shines bright I’m there to share the sunsets, too… I’m with you every night. I’m with you when the times are good, To share a laugh or two, And if a tear should start to fall… I’ll still be there for you. And when the day arrives That we no longer are apart I’ll smile and hold you close to me… Forever i
Stanley M. Hoffman
Nov 20, 20251 min read


WALTZ-SCHERZO for Piano Solo (2025)
"Waltz-Scherzo" is inspired by Chopin's scaler chromatic waltzes. Since the call for one-minute scores for which this title was composed involved a virtuoso pianist, I did not hold back regarding the difficulty level of the music. Accompanied chromatic scales are shared between the hands in the two outer sections. The middle section features accompanimental figuration doubled in octaves. Link to scrolling score music video on YouTube. https://youtu.be/KVxPe_9XnBE
Stanley M. Hoffman
Nov 3, 20251 min read


Post-cancer update
I’m pleased to be back at editing sheet music for customers, and to composing new music after eight months of fighting and apparently defeating a particularly nasty case of malignant, internal cancer of the head and neck. Among my freelance editing clients are the NYC-based choirs Empire City Men's Chorus, and Choral Chameleon. Both groups are conducted by Vince Peterson. Among my projects are editing his transcription of the opening movement of J. S. Bach’s “Christmas Orator
Stanley M. Hoffman
Oct 20, 20251 min read
bottom of page
