Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Earlier this year I reviewed Scottish composer Brian Davidson’s Music Box, published by Kevin Mayhew, and wrote that,
“This is truly worthwhile music, equally rewarding for player and listener alike, and an enjoyable addition to the developing pianist’s repertoire.”
You can read the full review here.
Now Davidson is back with another collection, again from Kevin Mayhew. His Nursery Suite delivers five original piano pieces aimed at late intermediate adult players, and its evocative reimagining of traditional nursery rhymes could have wide appeal.
Read on to find out more and listen to a couple of the pieces…
Cherished Childhood Memories
Introducing this collection, Kevin Mayhew invite us to,
“Embark on a delightful musical adventure through cherished childhood memories with Nursery Suite. This enchanting piano book, thoughtfully composed for adult players, invites you to rediscover the whimsical world of traditional nursery rhymes in a captivating and sophisticated way.”
Here’s the composer playing his charming rendition of Rock-a-Bye Lullaby, which closes the collection:
The five movements of the Suite are as follows (and I am sure you will guess the melodies that each are based on):
- Baa Baa’s Prelude
- Hey Diddle Riddle
- Hickory Dickory Rock!
- Bo-Peep’s Tarantella
- Rock-a-Bye Lullaby
Here is another of Davidson’s recordings:
The concept and its delivery are by now undoubtedly clear. So what impresses me about this collection?
Well, two things, the first and most important of which is the quality of the arrangements themselves.
These are beautifully done, capturing a range of moods perfectly while also honouring the musical legacy of the Suite as a group of pieces beginning with a prelude and continuing with dances in different styles. Calling the movements “original compositions” is perhaps stretching the point, but Davidson’s handling of this material is certainly superb.
Secondly, these pieces are surprisingly useful as pedagogic material, thanks to their introduction of common figurations of the contemporary popular piano style, as well as using key signatures that players at this level might not easily encounter elsewhere. Specifically, the five pieces are in G flat major, F# major, G major, E flat major and D flat major.
Supporting all this, Davidson is himself a master pedagogue, with a background teaching at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Music School and extensive experience as an examiner and adjudicator.
The Publication
Publications from Kevin Mayhew don’t always catch my eye, but Brian Davidson’s Nursery Suite arrives in tremendous style:
Beyond the matt card cover, the publication is a simple affair, including basic title and copyright pages, a short biography of the composer, and the scores themselves, which take up 9 of the total 16 pages.
The music engraving is as clean as a whistle, nicely spaced and easy on the eye. Bo-Peep’s Tarantella is the only piece that includes a page turn (and a slightly awkward one at that). The other pieces range from one to two pages.
Helpful fingering suggestions are included throughout, but pedalling is largely left to the player’s discretion.
Closing Thoughts
This is another simple recommendation, and having also listened to the pieces I hope readers will be able to make up their mind whether Brian Davidson’s Nursery Suite is for them.
Handing back to the publishers, they enthuse:
“Whether you perform these pieces in the comfort of your home or on a grand stage, the audience will be captivated by the unique blend of nostalgia and artistry that this collection brings to life.”
I certainly was!
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