SKU: BT.LCM9790570121533

English.

These Piano Anthologies contain pieces which have been carefully selected from previous piano exam lists dating from 1988 to 2006. All of the pieces in these volumes have proved popular with piano students, teachers and listeners, and we are pleased to be able to make them available again in these new collections. Pieces from these anthologies may be chosen as List B and C pieces, allowing students to increase their choice of repertoire beyond the already extensive selection offered in the LCM piano repertoire lists for grade, recital grade and leisure play options. It is hoped that these anthologies will also be of interest to piano students generally. The range of styles broadlycovers the late 18th century to the present. Some familiar pieces are present in these volumes, but they include pieces additionally from composers who have had a distinguished career in the role of teacher or student at LCM. Amongst the former are William Lloyd Webber and Martyn Williams, and amongst the latter are Nicholas Grace and John Guilfoyle, who now have eminent academic and professional musical careers.

SKU: BT.CM168

Twelve Astrological Preludes were written over a period of roughly two years and several were broadcast on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night as well as in other concerts. Aquarius was written in 1994 as a filler to apopular BBC solo piano series of the time called At the Piano. It was named Aquarius for programming purposes and as Elms left the studio the producer called after him 'Only eleven to go' and so Twelve Astrological Preludes cameinto being.

The preludes, which run in the usual cycle, are based upon two melodic strands and there is one piece in each of the twelve major keys. The character and style of each
prelude alludes to certaincharactertraits of its particular birth sign and each piece bears the initials of a friend born under that particular sign.
Each prelude is prefaced by a printed description of some of the general characteristics deemed to beassociated with that sign. These are, of course, generalisations! Some preludes show a little deference to some of my favourite 'masters'.

Elms has recorded Twelve Astrological Preludes for the Herald label and they areavailable on the CD Moody Moves together with other pieces of his chamber music including the piano sextet from which the CD takes its name. More information is available at masterkeyboards.co.uk.