Early Intermediate Repertoire – Page 15

A Schumann Rediscovery

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

It is certainly a wonder that even today we are rediscovering lost treasures composed by the great masters of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. Rarely does a year pass without another “lost” manuscript finding its way into the daylight after decades – even centuries – gathering dust in a library basement, museum attic or private collection.

And such was the case with the recent rediscovery of a small solo piano miniature, Ahnung – Albumblatt for Klavier, composed by Robert Schumann (1810-1856), which was found in the Leopold-Sophie-Bibliothek in Überlingen by librarian Roswitha Lambertz whilst cataloguing the bequest of one Leo Allgeyer.

Schott’s Easy Concert Pieces

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Easy Concert Pieces is a brand new series of three piano collections edited by Monika Twelsiek and Rainer Mohrs, published worldwide by Schott Music, and including selections of core piano music from the Baroque to the present day.

According to the Preface,

“The Easy Concert Pieces series presents easy piano pieces in progressive order. These pieces are intended to complement a piano tutor method and are particularly suitable for performance and auditions, concerts, competitions and examinations. They offer varied repertoire in a broad selection of pieces from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras.”

This is hardly a revolutionary concept, and aside from the many exam-music spin-off books on the market I was immediately reminded of the collection My First Concert, also edited by Monika Twelsiek and published by Schott last year. Indeed, several of the pieces from that collection are included again here, albeit in an enlarged book series, and organised more effectively into order of difficulty.

I must admit that I far prefer the presentation here, too, which I think is very classy indeed. Printed on cream paper and to the same well spaced and clean engraving standards enjoyed in other recent Schott publications, the books are saddle stitched, have simple but very attractive covers.

Schott have generously included professional recordings of all the pieces. These initially appeared as an included CD, but are now digital downloads. They are well produced, enjoyable to listen to, and learners will find them helpful for selecting pieces, and hearing good models of phrasing and style. They feature pianist Vera Sacharowa, who is joined from the second volume by Wilhelm Omen.

Alison Mathews: Treasure Trove

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Regular readers will know that I have huge admiration for the independent publisher Editions Musica Ferrum, whose publications consistently bring high-end quality and creative originality.

In recent months EMF have been adding to their range of publications for intermediate pianists, building on the significant success of their best-selling Cool Beans series by Ben Crosland.

Among the most recent releases, Treasure Trove by Alison Mathews is a standout collection for intermediate players, which is already finding popularity with my students…

Ultimate Easy Piano Songlist

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Here’s a book that I suspect many will rush to buy – a bumper collection of easy piano arrangements of great popular tunes, from the contemporary to the classic.

With (according to the cover) over 90,000 units sold, the hits that make up this “Ultimate Songlist” plunder the charts across many decades, from Cilla Black to One Direction, from Nat King Cole to Elbow, and from Wham! to Radiohead. Movies are well represented too, with The Hanging Tree (from The Hunger Games series) and Let it Go! (from Frozen) standing out as welcome highlights.

In theory there should be something here for everyone, and in practice … there probably is!

Of course any collection of this kind can be “miss” as much as “hit”, and I suspect that the best market for this collection will be families that want to gather around the piano for a sing-song, or which have more than one player in them, and from different age groups.

But you can see the full track list here for yourself, and make up your mind whether it appeals to you.

Faber Music Piano Anthology

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Faber Music launched their deluxe Faber Music Piano Anthology with impeccable timing, just a few weeks before Christmas – but it makes a wonderful gift book for enthusiastic pianists, all the year around!

Bartók • Definitive Collections?

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

It is 1975. In the living room of a Victorian house in the middle of Bedford sits a nine-year-old boy at the piano. Fired by a life-changing encounter with the music of Mozart he recently started lessons, and dreams of one day “going in for” music.

For now though, he stares quizzically at the somewhat forbidding book on the music stand – 32 Klavierstücke by somebody called Béla Bartók. His piano teacher has set the first two pieces this week: The Little Lane and Game. But what kind of music is this? Very odd… but enchanting!

Four decades later, and one of the greatest joys and privileges I experience as a piano teacher is to see – time and time again – piano students young and old experience this same epiphany, this first discovery of the beguiling beauty and brilliance of Bartók’s extraordinary music for piano.

June Armstrong: Stars

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Stars: Fourteen Constellations for Piano is a recent publication from piano teacher and composer June Armstrong’s Pianissimo Publishing. The pieces are for piano solo, in a contemporary style, and the level of difficulty is aimed at between grades 3 to 5.

The book joins the growing library of works from June, which include some dozen books to suit players from beginner level (Toy Box and Paint Box) up to and including the higher grades (Causeway Coast Fantasy, The Girona Suite and Strangford Sketchbook).

Taken as a whole, June has produced an impressive, growing catalogue of piano music written in a modern musical language which will appeal to players of all ages, and which reflects her motto “Music of the Imagination”.

My First Schumann

Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales

Schott Music, the German publishers founded back in 1770, are maintaining an impressive commitment to new piano music publishing projects, including a wide range of resources and publications for players of all levels.

Of special interest to intermediate players will be their ongoing My First Composers series. The first two issues (Bach and Mozart) have recently been joined by My First Schumann, which I am delighted to review here.