Piano Player • Classical Pieces

Selected and reviewed by ANDREW EALES
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Faber Music’s The Piano Player series, which launched in Summer 2022, has been a highlight of the last couple of years, delivering a succession of themed anthologies that have enjoyed wide appeal with adult enthusiasts.

The eighth and latest title in the series is now with us, stylishly complementing the set with a collection of beloved (and in a few cases lesser-known) classical pieces from the eighteenth to early twentieth centuries.

I have reviewed all the previous titles in the series, and in this post I will take a look at this new addition…

22 Original Works

The first way in which this new collection distinguishes itself from the Classical Favourites title in the same series is that while that publication included simplified arrangements of music not originally intended for piano, the pieces brought together in the Classical Pieces book are all original piano works.

It’s worth also noting that the pieces here are, on balance, more challenging that those in that former entry to the series. They are:

• Adagio (Piano Sonata No. 13 in G major) [Haydn]
• Allegro (Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K.545) [Mozart]
• Andante (Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 1) [Clementi]
• Arietta (Lyric Pieces, Book 1, Op. 12) [Grieg]
• Berceuse No. 2 [Pejačević]
• Consolation No. 1 (S172) [Liszt]
• d’un Jardin Clair [Boulanger]
• Ennuyeux comme la pluie [Jaëll]
• Étude No. 2 (Op. 50) [Farrenc]
• Farewell to the Piano (Anh.15) [Beethoven]
• Fragments [Rachmaninoff]
• German Dance in D major, D975 [Schubert]
• Gymnopédie No. 3 [Satie]
• Prelude No. 4 [Scriabin]
• Light the Way to My Love [Bartók]
• Nocturne in C# minor [Chopin]
• Prelude in C minor (BWV999) [Bach]
• Rêverie [Debussy]
• Solitude [Chaminade]
• Spring Song [Mendelssohn]
• Träumerei [R. Schumann]
• Une Larme (A Tear) [Mussorgsky]

Bearing in mind that these works are all in the public domain, the value of the collection will to some extent depend on the appeal of the selection, quality of the editions, and the presentation of the book itself.

To answer those questions…

Regarding the curation, it certainly has appeal, bringing together a varied and enjoyable assortment of late intermediate to early advanced piano pieces that range from UK Grade 4-8. While classical anthologies abound for students at the lower and intermediate grade level, there is surely space in the market for such an interesting anthology at this higher level.

When it comes to the quality of the editions, I have more mixed feelings. I spotted the occasional misprint, and the random appearance of pedagogic scaffolding in the Clementi movement (the score being directly lifted from Faber’s Intermediate Pianist Book 2) proved a little disconcerting. On balance however, these are scores that appear to me reliable, and it should be remembered that they aren’t claiming to be scholarly urtext versions.

Turning to the point about presentation, those familiar with the series will already know what to expect. The Piano Player series books all arrive with tasteful matt covers featuring the artwork of Edward Bawden, and include the biography of the artist within. There is, as usual, a pull-out poster of the cover artwork to add to your collection.

Printed on white paper and engraved in Faber Music’s usual house style, the scores all include helpful fingering and are spaciously presented.

Closing Thoughts

For those collecting this excellent series (and they certainly make a very handsome set!) adding this latest instalment is a no-brainer. And those simply looking for a decent collection of classical pieces suitable for players at early advanced level should also include this on their shortlist.

The Piano Player series has become a highlight of the Faber Music catalogue, and although this title completes the set as originally publicised, I suspect we haven’t heard the last of the series just yet.

Regardless, I have no doubt that these books will all be of continuing interest to players in the coming years. The Wintertide and Classical Chillout collections have perhaps established themselves as my particular favourites, but the whole series deserves investigation.

Congratulations to Faber Music for continuing this project in such style, and for coming up with another valuable addition to the pianist’s library!

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