Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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In my earlier review of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic titles in Hal Leonard’s Classical Piano Sheet Music Series, I concluded,
“Those in the market for a solid collection of established pieces from each of these eras will find these books offer excellent value. For around £12 a throw, they include a wealth of well-established musical material, sympathetically edited and nicely put together.”
Since then, further titles have been added to the budget-friendly series, the most recent of which has particularly piqued my interest…
French Favourites
In common with the previous titles reviewed, Intermediate French Favourites presents its wares alphabetically by composer’s names:
MÉLANIE BONIS
The Sewing Machine
CÉCILE CHAMINADE
Gavotte in A minor, Op.123/5
Gigue in C major, Op.123/6
Rigaudon in A minor, Op.126/3
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Arabesque No.1
Clair de lune
Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
La fille aux cheveux lin
Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir
The little shepherd
Rêverie
LOUISE DUMONT FARRENC
Etude in C major, Op.50/1
Etude in A minor, Op.50/2
Impromptu in B minor
GABRIEL FAURÉ
Improvisation, Op.84/5
Romance sans paroles, Op.17/3
CÉSAR FRANCK
The Doll’s Lament
MAURICE RAVEL
Pavane pour une infante défunte
Prélude
ERIK SATIE
Danse de Travers No.2
Gnossiennes 1-3
Gymnopédies 1-3
Readers familiar with this repertoire will immediately spot that, while the earlier titles in this series offered music suitable at early to late intermediate level (UK Grades 3-6), this new collection is better suited to late intermediate and early advanced players (Grades 5-8). Note also that none of the works have been simplified; these are the originals.
And what a selection! Developing players will surely not be disappointed by this feast of music, which offers a balanced selection of so many of the most immediately recognisable and beloved piano works of the French repertoire.
The Edition
The publication itself retains the aesthetics of the previous titles, meaning that the points I made in my earlier review equally apply here. The 84 white pages are bound with a high quality coil, and covers are laminated card. The publication is certainly tastefully presented, and is not at all flimsy.
Music engraving is mostly spacious, if sometimes seeming a little small for my ageing eyes (particularly the finger numbers). During the review period I spotted no issues with the editing, except that in a few items, standard Italian terms replace the French directions originally included by composers.
The editorial fingering is not credited, but is very useful. A case in point, the suggestions in Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum include a more musically convincing redistribution of notes between the hands, which I learnt as a teen and have advocated ever since, despite it departing from the original layout.
Elsewhere the fingerings aren’t always those I personally use, but they seem to be consistently well devised, and can be adopted with confidence.
Closing Thoughts
The Classical Piano Sheet Music Series is a quiet triumph, and this latest edition will surely be of particular interest to players and teachers.
At risk of labouring the point about value for money, here is a publication that surely offers it in spades, and while many of these pieces are in the public domain, there is an obvious added value to having them printed and presented in such a handy anthology as this, and with such well-considered editing and fingering.
Professional performers and academics alike will undoubtedly find value in the much more costly urtext and scholarly critical editions on the market, but for players encountering this music for the first time, the practical appeal, quality and range of this publication is unquestionably stunning.
I have no doubt that this collection is one which I will frequently recommend and teach from in the coming years: simply put, it offers the best introduction to the wonders of the French piano repertoire that I know of.
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