Selected and reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Armenian-British composer Kristina Arakelyan is rapidly gaining recognition as a leading voice in contemporary classical music, with works performed by top artists in concert halls worldwide. She is also an accomplished concert pianist, and in my view her 2025 album Dreamland, featuring her own solo works, confirms her as an important pianist-composer for our time.
Readers may recognise Arakelyan from the updated Piano Time method series reviewed here, and be familiar with her beautiful piece Daydream, which appeared in the ABRSM Grade 2 syllabus in 2023-24. In this review I will consider her latest foray into piano education, a slim publication from publishers Stainer & Bell.
The Musical Vegetable Patch bears the lofty subtitle ‘introducing the classical music periods to early-grade pianists’, and includes at its heart six elementary pieces suitable for players at around UK Grades 1-2. Each showcases a different musical style, and is blessed with a title that mixes the name of a famous composer with, erm, a vegetable.
This highly imaginative and educational collection aims to enthuse youngsters while gently introducing them to music periods, styles, and composers. And each page includes a quirky, hand-painted ink and watercolour illustration by Rosie Brooks (also of Piano Time fame). Let’s find out how this distinctive and nutritious concept plays out…
Musical Vegetables
Stainer & Bell are a well-established music publisher with a distinguished history, so it is perhaps surprising that this is the first time I have reviewed one of their releases (an oversight that I plan to rectify).
The Musical Vegetable Patch proves to be a beautifully crafted book, with a glossy, thick card cover, and a superb, full colour presentation within, printed on cream paper. The composer, illustrator, and publisher’s shared commitment to excellence is certainly beyond doubt.
Accompanying learners through the book, and credited with its introduction, Sir Edward Elgarlic (geddit?) is a dapper, moustachioed clove of garlic, who prepares learners for the “delightfully nutritious collections of piano pieces” which follows:
“You’re about to discover a garden full of musical vegetables, each one representing a different style from classical music history… these characters will help you explore the sounds, moods, and features of music from the Baroque period to the 20th century, with surprises along the way. The pieces are designed to tickle your fingers and your imagination, while introducing some of the main ingredients of each style…
Wash your hands, warm up your fingers, and ‘lettuce’ begin!”
Following this introduction, the six pieces appear in turn, namely (if my spell-checker will allow me):
- Miss Baroccoli
- Master Mozartichoke
- Mr and Mrs Muschumann
- Monsieur Claudegette
- Señor Avantcardo
- Madame Jazzparagus
Feel free to take a moment to absorb the various puns here…
Each piece is delivered as a two-page spread, the right-hand page presenting the score, while the left includes a letter of introduction in which the named vegetable character outlines the basics of their style and character.
These are written in age-appropriate language, and include helpful historical context, laced with a sprinkling of good humour. There’s plenty to whet the child’s appetite and unlock curiosity, while a good teacher will also want to expand on the content by playing and suggesting suitable pieces by the classical composers referenced.
A nourishing diet?
There are a number of reasons why I think this is a brilliant book (and a potential must-have for children at elementary level), but ultimately the value depends on the music itself being good. So I am happy to report that Arakelyan’s pieces don’t disappoint.
First up, Miss Baroccoli tells us that she is “rather fond of a good musical conversation”, and sure enough the piece includes plenty of imitation and shared melody between the two hands/parts. The player also learns simple ornamentation, skilfully introduced, and sooner than is otherwise likely.
Master Mozartichoke explains his taste for graceful melodic music, regular phrases, and simple harmony (outlined using Alberti bass figuration). Hairpin crescendo and diminuendo marks outline how to shape melodic phrases in the classical style, subtly preparing players for later repertoire in which they will need to work this out for themselves.
Superbly heralding the Romantic Era, Mr and Mrs Muschumann offer a flowing minor-key melody, richer harmony, and invite deeper expressive engagement. While intervals never exceed a seventh, there are several four-note chords which will delight many, but could prove challenging for the youngest players with smaller hands.
Monsieur Claudegette (just say it aloud with a soft ‘g’) introduces the dreamy sounds and softer colours of the impressionistic French music of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with rich blurry pedalling indicated throughout, whole-tone scale phrases, and some crossing of hands.
Firmly in the twentieth century, atonality rather improbably rears its head with Señor Avantcardo, whose final cluster chords will no doubt amuse learners, while Madame Jazzparagus inspires us to swing our way toward the end of the collection.
Perhaps the best news of all is that these pieces, while introducing the styles and techniques of the core repertoire they allude to, have a contemporary feel which avoids dreary pastiche. The collection is never a pale imitation, nor are these pieces poor relatives to greater masterpieces.
An added whiff of garlic
An unexpected bonus is introduced by Sir Edward Elgarlic in his final concluding remarks:
“There’s just one last thing to mention, and you’ve probably wondering already but… where’s my piece? I am, after all, the greatest of all the bulb vegetables!
Well fear not: all you need to do is scan the QR code to get a free PDF of Sir Edward Elgarlic, my very own piece which Ms Arakelyan has written just for you!”
This proves to be a gloriously melodic, if unexpectedly dissonant extra, and should certainly not be missed!
It remains to say that for each of the six pieces in the book itself, Elgarlic further adds a listening list within the book, encouraging young players to dig deeper discover the great music which has influenced the collection.
In an age where most have access to wonderful recordings via streaming platforms, but too few listen to classical music with intention, this is an inspired and highly commendable initiative. When using this book with students (and I undoubtedly will be) I will make it a priority to encourage this listening homework, and monitor responses in lessons.
Closing thoughts
By now, you’ll have sensed that I’m rather smitten with this collection: I think The Musical Vegetable Patch is among the most interesting, educationally rewarding, and genuinely enjoyable elementary piano titles to arrive in quite a while.
Too often, young players are served up lacklustre arrangements and bland educational pastiche, so it’s a genuine joy to welcome music of such substance, so wonderfully and expertly crafted to pique imagination, instil stylistic awareness, and promote genuine musical progress as a pianist.
Kristina Arakelyan’s Musical Vegetable Patch is fresh, original, and really quite brilliant. I can neither fault it, nor think of any comparable publication for young, elementary pianists.
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