Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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“Decade birthdays get our attention. I have not been that impressed with any of mine, until this one. Six decades. It seems like a good time to take stock and be grateful. In that spirit, I have written twelve new piano compositions, musical timestamps from my life’s journey.”
So writes Phillip Keveren in the introduction to So Far…, the latest addition to Hal Leonard’s hugely popular Phillip Keveren Series of publications, which largely comprise this superb arranger’s take on popular, showtime and jazz classics, but occasionally also includes his original music.
Previous Keveren originals that I have enjoyed include Piano Calm (reviewed here) and Circles (reviewed here), both superb collections for intermediate players. Now he returns with So Far…, suitable for early advanced players and another surefire winner.
12 Introspective Pieces
The twelve pieces included in this new collection featured on Keveren’s recording of the same name, which appeared in 2021 in two versions: “Concert Piano Performances” and “Enhanced Performances”. Both albums are available to stream on popular platforms, and here is the first:
In this instance, I think it best to let the music do the talking!
Suffice to say that with their range of expression, piano technique, gorgeous runs and lush nostalgia, these pieces are a step on from the aforementioned collections. For those who have enjoyed Piano Calm and Circles, the new collection thus offers a more advanced sequence of pieces that will be enjoyed by players at around UK Grades 6-8 level.
There’s a heartfelt glow and reflective warmth to these pieces, and in his deeply personal Preface, Keveren shares the intimate memories and relationships which have inspired them. The book also includes black-and-white photos of a relaxed Keveren and his family, in addition to those of him playing and conducting.
The Publication
Hopefully most readers will by now be familiar with the Phillip Keveren Series, and know with confidence that they are among the treasures of the Hal Leonard music catalogue.
Behind its marvellously illustrated cover, the book sports 48 pages printed on white paper, with generously sized notation and clear engraving. Performance indications are detailed, but no fingering suggestions are offered:
I have already mentioned the Preface written by the composer, which covers two pages, and photo pages; the scores take up the remainder of the publication.
Closing Thoughts
So Far… is an easy recommendation for players at early advanced level. These pieces are a joy to play, life-affirming even, and offer a delicious contrast to much of the more serious music that developing players might be practising as they progress through the higher grades and into the concert repertoire.
With little else to say, I will leave you with Keveren’s own closing comments, a quotation from the great composer Frédéric Chopin:
“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.”
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