Sheet Music Reviews – Page 9

David Önaç • Spirituals

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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When Elena Cobb invited me to be an occasional consultant for her EVC Music publishing venture, the project she foremost had in mind was a collection of Spirituals arranged by David Önaç. Already aware of Önaç‘s brilliant work, and excited by this new concept, it was a pleasure to advise in the early stages of the project’s development.

Spirituals has now arrived, and as my early enthusiasm anticipated, I believe it to be a publication of some significance. I anticipate that piano teachers will warmly appreciate this material, and that it will prove popular with learners across the elementary and intermediate range, from Initial to Grade 5.

Rooted in universally beloved melodies, nourished by the distinctive harmonies of the Gospel tradition, and expertly crafted to suit elementary to intermediate piano players of all ages, David Önaç has delivered a gem of a collection that is sure to be treasured by pianists throughout the early years of their playing.

Here is why I think this book deserves a place on the shelves of elementary to intermediate piano players everywhere…

Smetana • Easy Piano Pieces

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Earlier in this, the year in which we mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Czech Romantic Era composer Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884), I wrote an overview of his most significant solo piano works, which are published by Bärenreiter.

Noting that most of Smetana’s output is virtuosic, I mentioned that for those in search of some easier pieces, Bärenreiter were planning a collection in their Easy Piano Pieces and Dances series. That more accessible collection is now available, so I am bringing you this review.

Edition Peters Piano Anthologies

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Following the launch of ABRSM’s 2023-24 syllabus, Edition Peters built on the success of their regular Grade 8 Piano Anthology series by issuing anthologies for Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. At the time, I noted:

“Whatever one thinks of graded exams, there’s no denying that the ABRSM piano syllabus offers a stunning and helpfully progressive view of the rich and varied piano repertoire. And if their own publications open too small a window through which those wondrous joys might be discovered, the widescreen presentation Edition Peters offer with these anthologies must surely be welcomed with the broadest of smiles.”

With the advent of the 2025-26 ABRSM syllabus, which I have reviewed in depth here, Edition Peters (now under the roof of Faber Music) have returned with a new set of anthologies to supplement the latest syllabus.

It should be noted that there is a one-year overlap of syllabi, meaning that the older anthologies will (alongside ABRSM’s own piano exam piece books for 2023-24) remain valid until December 2025.

But what of the new anthologies? Here as always is my first in-depth look at them, including a detailed comparison between the ABRSM and Edition Peters books. For those on a budget, which is the better purchase, and why? Let’s find out…

Pam Wedgwood • Piano Dreaming

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Recognised the world over as one of our most prolific and successful composers of contemporary repertoire for developing instrumentalists, Pam Wedgwood was recently awarded the Art of Piano Education Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her significant impact on piano education over the course of her career.

Rather than resting on her laurels, Wedgwood now returns with a brand new collection of enchanting piano pieces for intermediate players. With Piano Dreaming she has branched into fresh musical territory, bringing us an album of 12 original pieces in a “neoclassical style”.

Let’s see whether this new collection is the dream…

Simply Christmas

The Christmas Shortlist

Selected and reviewed by Andrew Eales
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With Autumn in full flow, a flurry of new Christmas releases inevitably arrive, prospective additions to the already well-stocked Pianodao Christmas Shortlist of sheet music suitable for all ages, levels, and playing styles.

Leading the way in 2024, Simply Christmas is a collection of 24 new arrangements of traditional favourites, billed as for Easy Piano Solo and suitable for late elementary to intermediate players (around UK Grades 2-5).

What makes this collection truly stand out from the crowd is the quality of the arrangements by Christos Tsitsaros, which are exceptional. Read on to find out more…

More Ballads Without Words

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Heather Hammond is well established as one of the most prolific and respected composers of educational piano music, and her publications for EVC Music (which include Grooves for Piano Dudes reviewed here and Ballads Without Words reviewed here) include much of her best work.

Of the latter, I wrote:

“Here is an album that will surely be a “quick win” with players at upper intermediate level who want to play music in a lighter style, but with emotive melodic content.”

It is neither a surprise that it has proved to be a popular success, not that Hammond’s latest publication is a much-anticipated sequel…

There’s Even More to Playing the Piano

Educational Resources

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Reviewing David Hall’s superb music theory primer There’s More to Playing the Piano back in 2021, I noted that most theory publications are structured around the specific (and not always particularly useful) grade exam requirements, and suggested that:

“For those who simply want to understand notation and written music in a way that’s useful and relevant to today’s piano players, the market has long been wide open. Finally we can welcome a simple textbook which is clear, concise, and of practical benefit. “

That book has subsequently proved hugely useful to the various learners I have recommended it to, and I continue to receive messages of thanks from other teachers who discovered it through this site.

How brilliant, then, to tell you about Hall’s follow-up publication, There’s Even More to Playing the Piano, which is billed as:

“An introduction to advanced music theory with practical keyboard activities and video links for each topic”.

Darren Day’s Belfast Heart

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Find out more: About Pianodao Reviews

Darren Day is a pianist, teacher, and composer who is based in Belfast. I have previously recommended his easy piano Christmas arrangements, which were self-published. Since then, he has been picked up by 80 Days Publishing, who now bring us Belfast Heart, an excellent collection of 12 Traditional Northern Irish songs and original solos for piano.

Introducing this new collection, we are told,

“Escape to a world of jigs, sweeping mountains, winding roads and magical kingdoms as Belfast Heart transports you to some of the stunning scenery of Country Down and to the city where people are famous for being friendly and great ‘craic!”

Fasten your seatbelts and let’s check it out…