Pianodao

Brian Davidson’s Music Box

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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The Music Box is a new collection from Scottish composer Brian Davidson, published by Kevin Mayhew, and suitable for late intermediate players. The tastefully produced book is described by the publishers as offering,

“9 beautiful and original pieces for piano.”

Fair play. These pieces are certainly lovely, for player and audience alike, and sufficiently original to merit the phrase “distinctive voice” and carve their own space in the library of late intermediate repertoire.

With an appropriately warm recommendation, I could happily sign off here with these very words. But I am sure you would like to know more, listen to one or two of the pieces, and get more of a flavour of what this collection offers… so here goes.

Putting the PLAY back into Playing the Piano

Pianodao Articles • Full Archive

Supporting Your Piano Pathway
Written by Andrew Eales

A Radical Manifesto for Piano Education

According to Plato, “life must be lived as play”.
How might this attitude to life benefit piano education?
We teach others to play the piano, but what do we really mean by play?

Calming Piano Solos

Pianodao Music Library

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

Hal Leonard recently issued two editions (respectively offering 35 “Piano Solo” pieces and 19 arrangements for “Easy Piano”) of the unambiguously named collection Calming Piano Solos.

I can guess what some readers are thinking, and yes, I Giorni and Una Mattina are present and correct. But before you jump to the wrong conclusion and give up reading further, it’s worth noting that these books are something of a surprise, offering a wealth of fresh and appealing titles.

The first clue that these books would be different was, for me, the front cover promise which reads,

“…beautiful solos including:
The Approaching Night • Butterfly Waltz • Love’s Return • Sea Change • When Morning Comes • Winged Melancholy…”

Hmm, excuse my ignorance, but… say what?

Adrian Lord • Piano Postcards

Pianodao Music Library

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

It’s rare that I include self-published material in the Pianodao Music Library, but I was quick to make an exception for the exceptional Piano Meditations by Knutsford-based pianist and composer Adrian Lord, which I reviewed here a couple of years ago, writing:

“There’s no denying that these pieces want a seat at a crowded table, but nor is there any escaping the point that Lord’s music ascends to a higher altitude than most. And significantly, his pieces are not simply evocative and relaxing to listen to but are no less engaging and rewarding to sit down and play.”

Lord has continued to extend his loyal fan base, and is now back with a new collection, which builds on his approach of blending the aesthetic of Einaudi with a pastel pastoralism redolent of the music of these Isles.

Piano Postcards is now available on CD, streaming services, and as the sumptuous sheet music collection which is the subject of this review…

Celebrating Bärenreiter

Pianodao Music Library

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

The year 2023 marks the 100th Anniversary of the hugely respected publishing house Bärenreiter, and they certainly aren’t missing the opportunity to celebrate!

The company published its first song sheets in Augsburg in 1923, and was officially founded by Karl Vötterle in 1924. Today, Bärenreiter is one of the largest music publishers worldwide, but remains a family business managed by the daughter of the founder, Barbara Scheuch-Vötterle, her husband Leonhard Scheuch, and their son Clemens Scheuch.

With scholarly-critical complete editions of the works of Bach, Handel, Mozart, Schubert and many other great composers from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods, the publisher has consolidated a growing international reputation since the 1950s, their scores enthusiastically endorsed by many of the world’s leading performers.

Today, Bärenreiter Urtext editions regarded as a gold standard by musicologists, and welcomed by students and music lovers on every continent.

Explore my reviews of Bärenreiter publications here

To celebrate this milestone in their company’s history, Bärenreiter have released a series of “Jubilee editions at Jubilee prices”, including seven piano scores which I will look at below. They have also launched a Jubilee website packed with behind-the-scenes insight into the history of this most revered publishing house, which is well worth an extended visit.