Everyone has their hobbies, and composing music is one of my favorites.

In terms of software, I first used Music Masterworks before going with CakeWalk ScoreWriter (now owned by GenieSoft). I later tried NoteWorthy Composer before switching to Finale. Now I use Sibelius, which I've found to be the most impressive, versatile and customizable composition tool.

Here I list a number of songs that I've composed, arranged, or transcribed, a hobby of mine for well over a decade. Most were set for specific instrumentation, though a few of them were put together solely as MIDI files with no intention of being performed.

I list the songs alphabetically, but I described the works in chronological order, so you can see the progression of my arranging ability. Also, keep in mind the latest (and perhaps greatest) works are last.

Please note: If you do not see a sample available, I may not still have a copy of the music anymore. In 2004, my computer crashed and source copies were destroyed. However, most of my newer (better) music exists in either electronic or hard copy form.

Note: I am no longer freely distributing my music arrangements. In the interests of avoiding copyright violations (and the accompanying lawsuits), I will not willingly offer any transcriptions or scores that are strongly based on the original arrangements by other arrangers - especially since all of these were constructed without their direct approval or permission.

As an aspiring music arranger, I hope you will understand and respect my decision.

Arabian Nights - MIDI-based, non-performance
Be Our Guest - A cappella barbershop quartet (TTBB)
Christmas Medley - A cappella quartet (TTBB)
Crystal's Lullaby - MIDI-based, non-performance
Duck Tales - Brass Quintet (Tpt, Tpt, Hn, Tbn, Tba)
Enormous Penis - A cappella quartet (TTBB)
Fields of Hyrule: Quintet - Brass quintet (Tpt, Tpt, Hn, Tbn, Tba)
Fields of Hyrule: Brass - Brass choir (2 Tpt, 2 Hn, 2 Tbn, 2 Tba)
Fields of Hyrule: Honors - Full wind ensemble
Glee of Clubs Entr'acte - Pit orchestra (various)
Hey Pachuco - MIDI-based, non-performance
Kiss the Girl - A cappella sextet (TTTBBB)
The Longest Time - A cappella quartet (TTBB)
Mario Bros: Trio - Trio (same 3 instruments), orig. for clarinet
Mario Bros: Quintet - Brass quintet (Tpt, Tpt, Hn, Tbn, Tba)
Mario Bros: Marching Band - Pep band (full ensemble)
Muppets Theme - Piano and Chorus (TTBB)
Pokémon Theme MIDI-based, non-performance
Prince Ali - Piano, Solo, and Chorus (TTBB)
Stand By Me - A cappella quartet (TTBB)
Super Mario Bros. 2 - Piano
Under the Sea: Quintet - Brass Sextet (Tpt, Tpt, Hn, Hn, Tbn, Tba)
Under the Sea: A Cappella - Brass Sextet (Tpt, Tpt, Hn, Hn, Tbn, Tba)
You Have AIDS - Piano, Lead, and Quartet (TTBB)
Zero to Hero - Brass Sextet (Tpt, Tpt, Tpt, Hn, Tbn, Tba)

A note about all the MIDIs you'll find here, which are provided to give you an idea of the pieces I put together. MIDI can only do so much, and it generally reads the music exactly as written, devoid of any interpretation by the "performer." In other words, I assure you the songs sound plenty better when performed than here on the site.

Pokémon Theme - Music Masterworks, 1995
This was the very first song that I composed using a music writing program. Yeah, I used to (kind of) like Pokémon. But in particular I liked the gym theme, so I decided to give it a go. It was also an experimentation with counterpoint (playing multiple melodic lines at once). Kind of cool. Pretty amateur. But a decent first try at MIDI.

Mario Trio - Music Masterworks, 1998
My first stab at the original Nintendo Mario theme, which is perhaps my favorite theme of all time (you'll see this as a recurring theme). This was the first song I tried arranging for instruments to be played, in this case a clarinet trio (the only instrument I knew how to play at the time. I didn't have any real knowledge of chord structure, so it wasn't so bad for someone lacking music theory.

Hey Pachuco - Music Masterworks, 2000
In Fall of 2000, I joined the North Brunswick Marching Band. That was the first time that I made a MIDI of a song orchestrated for an actual music group. Since it was a simple song, I transcribed it from memory rather than looking at parts. A few bad notes in there, I'm sure, but for early on, it wasn't so bad.

Stand By Me - Score Writer, 2001
The first a cappella arrangement I ever arranged, this being for Theatre Revue 2002. With three other singers, we pulled off this quartet piece and began to solidify my standing as an a cappella arranger at North Brunswick High. This arrangement, modeled after Rockapella's version, wasn't particularly impressive, but I think it was a good start.

Duck Tales - Score Writer, 2001
One of my earliest brass quintet arrangements, based on the theme from that 90's cartoon TV show. Sadly, it's not a particularly special arrangement, but it was one of my first ones and for that reason alone, I'm proud of it.

Mario Bros. Theme: Brass Quintet - Score Writer 2001 (sample)
With a bit of music theory under my belt, I decided to give it a second go. Using my original trio arrangement, as well as a painstaking analysis of the chord progression from the SNES video game, I put together this composition. It's actually a pretty big jump from the previous quintet arrangement, and to this day, I consider it one of my best.

Fields of Hyrule: Brass Quintet - Score Writer 2001
After the success of the last song, I thought I'd stick with video game music and orchestrate the music from The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time. This song is the music played as you travel across Hyrule Field, which I put together for a brass quintet. But in hindsight, I realize that I made the parts a bit unbalanced; that is, the trombone and tuba were pretty easy, but the upper parts where all over. A worthy attempt.

Arabian Nights - Score Writer, 2002
Later on, I arranged this MIDI from a song in Disney's Aladdin, just because I really enjoyed its feel (and a bit of homage to my culture). I suppose I couldn't written it for instruments to play, but at the time I was only concerned with having it as background music for my site. You should know the song if you've seen the movie or TV series.

Crystal's Lullaby - Score Writer, 2002
I originally wrote this with a dedication to one of my closest friends. Modeled after Pachabel's Canon in D, it was the first original piece I've ever composed. Not particularly special, but it managed to get published in my high school's literary magazine. Eh, you might enjoy it (though I'd like to put forth the disclaimer that my musical writing skills has vastly improved since then).

Super Mario Bros. 2 Theme - Score Writer, 2002 (sample)
The first song I arranged for piano, and coincidentally the first song I was unable to play myself. I enjoy its ragtime feel and its cutesy chords. And I know now that there are plenty of simple arrangements out there, but I'm proud to have transcribed this myself.

Fields of Hyrule: Brass Choir - Score Writer 2002
Realizing the difficulty of the arrangement I made for simply five musicians, I decided to extend it to include instruments all across the brass section. With at least two of each instrument, the addition of other voices, and an extension of the previous to showcase some more voices, this became a more manageable piece. Unfortunately, this arrangement was never attempted, though it was based on the players available in the NBTHS band.

Mario Bros. Theme: Marching Band - Score Writer, 2003
Same song as before (can you tell it's one of my favorites?). Only this time it's arranged for marching band (i.e. stand music). I was hoping we could perform it in the stands, but we shifted our focus to the actual marching band music and never got around to it. I'm not really sure if I have the original score anymore.

The Longest Time - Score Writer, 2003
Here's a standard piece in every a cappella group's repertoire. It pretty much sounds like all of the others, though I haven't actually heard another arrangement that sounds exactly like this one. Anyway, it was a jump in terms of difficulty from "Stand By Me" and though it wasn't ever actually performed, it was a nice attempt at transcription.

Kiss the Girl - Score Writer, 2003 (sample)
For Theatre Revue 2003 auditions, I put together this song, based on the song from Disney's "The Little Mermaid." With a clever little skit and five other talented guys, we performed this song a cappella, much to the delight of the crowd. While the song wasn't particularly difficult, it was plenty of fun to put on. Oh, and it was great to get a standing ovation.

Zero to Hero - Score Writer, 2003 (sample)
This is clearly one of my most impressive brass quintet arrangements. Inspired by the music from Disney's "Hercules," it features the theme with a swing feel, while taking advatange of each instrument's full range and qualities. Though not easy, it's pretty fun to play. Certainly enough that Mr. Egan felt the urge to record a demo of the song.

Fields of Hyrule: Honors Band - Score Writer, 2004
Based on the same song, I rearranged this as per the instrumentation in my honors band class (i.e. the top band members in the NBTHS, all in one class). I think we might have even played it once or twice. Anyway, this was the closest to the actual song, since we actually had instruments of all timbre to cover the necessary parts.

Under the Sea: Quintet - Score Writer, 2004
After the success of "Kiss the Girl", I thought we should put select members of the band in the spotlight. So for Theatre Revue 2004, I arranged this popular song from "The Little Mermaid" for a few of my friends. Complemented with a silly skit, we made it and did pretty well. Oh, and I played tuba. That was the best part.

Prince Ali - Finale, 2005
Based on the song from Disney's "Aladdin," the Penn Glee Club wanted to have this as the first song for Act 2 of their 2005 spring musical. As the first song I ever arranged for choir and piano, this was a bit daunting, especially since I don't have much in terms of piano theory; add to it the fact that it would open the second act, and I had a lot of pressure put on me. But I did it. And I'm proud of it.

Under the Sea: A Cappella - Finale, 2005
In my first year of college, I was involved in an a cappella group, the Penn Pipers. That year they wanted to perform a song "Under the Sea," and having already arranged that for a brass quintet, I decided to arrange a song based on that version. Using a clever set of lyrics, I put it together, ultimately in 8 parts. Personally, I like the brass version better, but eh, they wanted it.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday - Finale, 2005
Based on the popular "Boyz II Men" song, I arranged this for the Penn Pipers with a particular soloist in mind. He did get the solo, but unfortunately this song never came to fruition. But it was a decent arrangement, modeled for 5 to 6 people a cappella.

You Have AIDS (from "Family Guy") - Sibelius, 2005 (sample)
If you're a Family Guy fan, you must know this song. Clearly one of the show's most offensive moments, the Season 4 episode "The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire" featured this song where a barbershop group serenades a man who has just been informed that he has been infected by AIDS. Oh, such a great song. And totally worth transcribing. Now if only I could find four guys to sing this song.

Christmas with the Penn Glee Club - Sibelius, 2005 (sample)
In 2006, the Penn Glee Club planned to release a holiday CD by the end of the year. Dissatisfied with some of the arrangements we were recording (in addition to my general enjoyment of Christmas music), I decided to put together my own medley of songs, inspired by our own medley of Penn songs. Arranged a cappella for TTBB, this song starts with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and has its journey's end with "Joy to the World." I really enjoyed arranging and performing this piece.

Muppets Theme - Sibelius, 2005 (sample)
For the opening of the Penn Glee Club 2006 spring musical, they wanted to open it with the theme from "The Muppets Show." I decided to take a stab at it, and I actually enjoyed putting this together. This arrangement isn't impressive by any means, though it was tricky finding a way to integrate four part harmonies (which you can hear toward the end). For the most part its either one line or two line harmonies. Yeah.

Be Our Guest - Sibelius, 2006 (sample)
This is a transcription of the barbershop quartet arrangement of this Disney song, originally performed by Platinum quartet. As one of my favorite songs (and it's Disney - who can resist it?), I thought it would be a testament to my ear training if I attempted to transcribe its fine barbershop harmonies. And overall, I was rather successful, with this arrangement completed. Now if only it wasn't so challenging to perform.

Making Our Dreams Come True - Sibelius, 2006 (sample)
The theme song for "Laverne and Shirley" arranged for the Penn Glee Club spring show. Featuring a quartet on the main verse and the chorus on the background.

Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego - Sibelius, 2006 (sample)
Once arranged for a quintet back in high school, I toned down the arrangement in preparation for the Penn Glee Club 2006 spring show so that a men's choral group could sing the song.

The Glee of Clubs Entr'acte - Sibelius 2006 (sample)
For the 2006 Glee Club musical, I undertook the task of scoring the show for an instrumental ensemble ranging from violin to trumpet. Most of the songs came from other sources (mainly musicals, shows, and choir repertoire), but I had the opportunity to include my original songs. One of the songs I made was the overture (which eventually became the ent'racte instead, i.e. between Act I and II). This is that piece, featuring a tidbit of every single song we performed in the show. Arguably one of the most impressive pieces I've ever composed.

Canon in D for Clarinet and Piano - Sibelius 2006 (sample)
This song, originally arranged for strings is one of my favorite classical pieces. Unfortunately the arrangements that I've found for piano and solo were always less than adequate. In summer 2006, I decided to arrange it myself, not actually for myself but rather for my friend's girlfriend as a birthday gift. It was quite a feat, given the time crunch (I had less than a week), but I got through, and I'd say I'm rather satisfied with it. There's nothing notable about this arrangement except for the fact that I arranged it myself.

Enormous Penis - Sibelius, 2006 (sample)
Sung by the group Da Vinci's Notebook, this ridiculous song describes a guy consoling himself with the fact that he has a - well, you know. It's surprisingly catchy, and the people on my floor really seemed to enjoy it, so I figured I'd transcribe it. Depending on how open-minded you are, you might find it funny. Yeah. I just wanted to reassess my transcribing skills. I swear.

Finite Simple Group - Sibelius, 2006 (sample)
An original song by The Klein Four Group, this song is a contemporary a cappella composition filled with numerous mathematical puns. As of November 2006, I'm still finalizing some parts of it, but for the most part it's complete. My intention is for a few of my friends on my floor to have this as part of our informal repertoire (it's both fun to listen to and perform). Check out the links section to hear the actual song.

Folger's Theme Song - Sibelius, 2007 (sample)
A transcription of the Rockapella rendition of the Folger's theme song, specifically targeted for a men's quartet.

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