80 Days Publishing

Darren Day’s Belfast Heart

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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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…

Jennifer Bowman • Jazz Nocturnes

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Jennifer Bowman will be known to some readers as the composer of one of the many highlight pieces in the 22 Nocturnes for Chopin collection reviewed here last year.

Those who appreciated her piece in that collection will be delighted to learn that she has composed another eight nocturnes, suitable for early advanced players at around UK Grade 8 level, and all imbued with tinges of jazz.

The aptly named Jazz Nocturnes for piano collection is published by 80 Days Publishing, and is the subject of this mini review…

Christopher Norton’s “Connections” Series

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Connections started life as a series of eight repertoire books, offering a staggering 185 original compositions by the popular educational composer Christopher Norton.

First published for the North American market by Frederick Harris Music, the series had recently been re-published worldwide by Norton’s own company, 80 Days Publishing. The series now also includes books 9 and 10, each including a further nine Norton originals suitable for more advanced players.

Let’s take a look…

Christopher Norton’s “Idaho Suite”

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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A few months ago I shared news here of Christopher Norton’s new in-house publishing company 80 Days Publishing, reviewing the first piano solo work to emerge, the excellent Jazz Piano Sonata.

Since that review, Christopher has been busying himself both as a composer and publisher, collating piano works and other compositions for publication through this growing business.

In this review I will highlight my favourite so far, the recently published Idaho Suite for solo piano.

Christopher Norton’s ‘Jazz Piano Sonata’

Pianodao Music Library

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

Christopher Norton’s educational piano music – from the bestselling Microjazz series for beginner and elementary players through to his acclaimed series of Preludes Collections (the most recent of which I have reviewed here – Eastern Preludes and Pacific Preludes) his music has delighted millions of players and listeners of all ages around the world.

It’s great to be presented with a more substantial work from this ever-popular contemporary composer: the Jazz Piano Sonata follows the traditional three-movement form, and is a significant concert work for the advanced pianist.

Originally written for, and premiered by US pianist Jovanni-Rey de Pedro in 2013, the work has been performed in several countries already, and is now published by Christopher’s own company 80dayspublishing, courtesy of Boosey & Hawkes.