Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Spectrum launched in 1996 with the aim of commissioning serious solo contemporary works by distinguished composers, to be playable by talented amateur, student and professional pianists.
Since its inception, the series has produced six compilations for piano (including Spectrum for Piano Duet) and additional anthologies for cello, clarinet and violin, containing a total of 225 new works.
Continue reading ABRSM: Spectrum 5Pianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Elena Kats-Chernin (born 1957) is an Australian composer, who was born in Uzbekistan (at the time part of the Soviet Union).
Kats-Chernin has won numerous prizes, and her music was featured in the opening ceremony’s of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Her output includes 6 operas, the popular ballet Wild Swans, numerous orchestral and instrumental works, film scores and a large amount of piano music.
Piano Village brings together 25 of her piano solos in a single gorgeously presented volume recently published in the UK by Boosey & Hawkes.
And it’s a stunning book! So here’s the Pianodao review…
Continue reading Elena Kats-Chernin’s Piano VillagePianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Composer June Armstrong has now published more than a dozen collections of original solo piano music through her business Pianissimo Publishing, and is especially known for Toy Box (aimed at beginner to pre-grade 1 standard) and its sequel Paint Box (pre-grade 1 to grade 1), the most popular of her previous collections.
Aimed at “beginner to pre-grade 1 standard”, Safari revisits the level of Toy Box. So let’s grab some insect spray and go on an adventure…
Continue reading June Armstrong: SafariPianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
With the new term getting underway at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, now is surely a good time to mention Hans-Günter Heumann‘s magical collection ‘Fantasy Piano’, recently published by Schott Music.
Continue reading Fantasy Piano: 20 Enchanting Easy PiecesPianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
The Piano Duet is a musical genre that I have explored too little with my students in the past, so a few years ago I decided to stock up on a few duet books.
Finding excellent material for more advanced students was easy enough, given the wonderful works for “One Piano Four Hands” by such classical greats as Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Debussy, Poulenc et al. But finding good material for beginners and intermediate players proved far more difficult.
Fast forward to 2016 and that gap in the market has been addressed by a succession of simply great publications over the last few years. Here is my selection of some of the best, which I hope you will go ahead and explore for yourselves!
Continue reading 8 Great Piano Duet BooksPianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
“Take yourself on a musical journey through the seasons with Pam Wedgwood’s Easy Jazzin’ About the Year: a treasure trove of original and favourite tunes connected with occasions throughout the year.”
Easy Jazzin’ About the Year, new from Pam Wedgwood and published by Faber Music, might just be the perfect book of pieces for children learning the piano who are around UK Grade 1-2 level. Let’s take a look!
Continue reading Jazzin’ About the YearPianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
According to Faber Music:
“Mindfulness: The Piano Collection offers a way to bring mindfulness and playing the piano together by sharpening musical focus and establishing the pianist’s attention in the present moment. The carefully selected repertoire, which is aimed at intermediate level players, is presented with guidance on how to bring mindfulness into piano playing.”
So what does the book include, and how is it different to other piano anthologies?
Continue reading Mindfulness: The Piano CollectionPianodao Music Library
Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
For those who play the piano purely for their own enrichment (rather than for certificates or prizes) the latest series of publications from Schott Music will be of special interest. The Relax With series is aimed at intermediate to advanced pianists who play “mostly at home for their own enjoyment”.
According to British concert pianist Samantha Ward, who put these selections together :
“Schott Music’s Relax With series is designed to help you unwind with some of the piano repertoire’s greatest works, alongside lesser known pieces from the Baroque period right through to the 20th century. I have tried to include as many different styles and techniques as possible, whilst remaining within the boundaries of ‘relaxing’ pieces of music.”
So let’s take a closer look…
Continue reading Relax with Beautiful Pieces
