Soundtracks and Media

Piano Player • Anime

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

Faber Music’s Piano Player series has been a welcome success of recent years, each handsome collection in the growing set showcasing the distinctive artwork of Edward Bawden (1903-1989) while offering an appealing variety of music within.

For information about previous titles, read my reviews here.

The cycle appeared to run its course with the release of all titles originally announced, but now enters a new era with two new collections. These no longer sport Bawden’s artwork, but otherwise retain the series aesthetic.

Likely to be particularly popular, Piano Player: Anime curates nineteen themes from Japanese anime soundtracks, arranged for solo piano…

Piano Player • Movie Soundtracks

Pianodao Music Library

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

Faber Music’s Piano Player series has established a strong identity since the first volume, celebrating British Classics appeared back in 2022. The series is aimed at adult players at intermediate level, each tastefully presented title offering an imaginative selection of around 20 pieces (a mixture of originals and arrangements) around a specific concept.

Originally, seven titles were advertised, each sporting the artwork of Edward Bawden on its cover (and as a mini posted pullout included within), but somewhere along the line a Christmas Time collection was added and now, bringing the list up to nine titles thus far, a new collection of arrangements of film music.

This arrival is clearly an indication of the popularity these publications have already gained, and as always it delivers an interesting and appealing selection of music…

Rachel Portman • Beyond the Screen

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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British composer Rachel Portman refers to the piano as her best friend, and tells us,

“I spend all day with it, most days. I think probably I’m pianistic in my soul.”

Her superb 2020 album Ask the River, the music publication of which I reviewed here, certainly seems to confirm this. At the time I wrote,

“These consummately composed pieces offer a beautiful and evocative sound world, at once accessible, but with plenty of personality… One of 2020’s best “new classical” releases, this is not simply a soundtrack in search of a movie. In a year which has seen many of us compelled to live less frenetic, more localised lives, I suspect that many will find Portman’s latest music gives serene expression to both our outer and inner worlds.”

Certainly it was a recording I listened to on repeat for months, and a music book which several students have loved, so I was excited to see a new piano album appear from Portman a couple of months ago, the music book of which is now available.

The Morricone Collection

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Italian maestro Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) is undoubtedly one of the great names in the firmament of film composers. Rising to global fame for his scores to the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns of the 1960’s, he went on to compose for more than 400 movies, including such classics as Cinema Paradiso, The Mission and The Untouchables.

In a year that has seen several new solo piano collections of film transcriptions, Hal Leonard have recently brought out The Morricone Collection, including tasteful arrangements of thirty of the composer’s best themes.

Being something of a fan of Morricone’s work, I am certainly pleased that this publication didn’t slip under my radar, because it is excellent…

STAR WARS Piano Anthology

Pianodao Music Library

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

There has lately been an influx of new film anthologies for piano solo, recent publications including collections of music by Ennio Morricone, Michael Giacchino, Danny Elfman, Clint Mansell, and the Harry Potter Piano Anthology which I very recently reviewed here.

For me, the film score which first caught my attention growing up was unquestionably Star Wars: A New Hope. Like so many children of the seventies, I was gripped by the film’s release in 1977, equally enamoured by the score, and before long owned the gatefold 2LP Original Soundtrack Recording. It was to prove the first of many John Williams soundtracks added to my growing vinyl collection as a teen.

Perhaps no surprise, then, that the arrival of an impressive gift book including music from all nine episodes of the saga immediately excited me, and I am now pleased to bring you my review of this brilliant addition to the Pianodao Music Library…

The Harry Potter Piano Anthology

Pianodao Music Library

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

The arrival of a beautifully presented new Faber Music Piano Anthology has become something of a tradition as the nights start to draw in each Autumn, and happily this year’s new collection doesn’t disappoint.

While Faber’s previous bumper books have each focused on a genre, their classical, jazz standards, pop ballads, Christmas, contemporary, soundtracks and easy piano collections all featured in the Pianodao Music Library, the latest has a more specific focus: the music of the beloved Harry Potter movie franchise.

Produced in partnership with Alfred Music, The Harry Potter Piano Anthology is a truly sumptuous affair, and promises:

“The best-loved themes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts soundtracks magically arranged for intermediate piano solo.”

With 56 pieces, including tracks drawn from the soundtracks of all eleven movies in the franchise to date, the book is an obvious must for Potter fans, and a gorgeous gift book. Let’s take a closer look…

The Cinematic Piano Playlist

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Faber Music’s Piano Playlist series is developing at pace these days. After the success of the first book, published in 2019 and reviewed here, the Christmas Piano Playlist appeared in late 2022, reviewed here, followed just weeks ago by the Peaceful Piano Playlist Revisited, reviewed here.

Now, hot on those heels, they have yet another title joining the series. The Cinematic Piano Playlist promises,

“Over 30 incredible themes from the biggest film soundtracks, games and television shows, all arranged for intermediate piano.”

Let’s find out what the collection delivers…

John Williams • The Fabelmans

Pianodao Music Library

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

“Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret, and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.”

Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed 2022 movie The Fabelmans, loosely based on his own adolescent years, was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score). That score, composed by the peerless John Williams, is now available transcribed for piano solo from Hal Leonard.

Suitable for players at late intermediate to early advanced level, the sheet music folio is the subject of this review.