Masters of French Piano Music

SKU: BR.EB-8029

ISBN 9790004174326. 9 x 12 inches.

This series of easy piano music for teaching purposes presents pupils in the lower and lower middle grades with a carefully chosen selection of well-known and lesser-known compositions by important masters. The volumes are deliberately kept small in extent, since it is more stimulating for children to change the teaching material frequently. There are four existing harpsichord books with a total of 226 compositions by Francois Couperin le Grand (1668 -1733). His works are as unknown to pianists as they are famous among harpsichord players. The grace and imaginativeness of his works lend themselves especially well to the sound of the harpsichord, which is why the piano interpretation of works by Couperin, Rameau, Scarlatti and other composers of that time has been categorically rejected. But, after all, the works of Bach and Handel were written for the haipsichord and clavichord, and no one would dare question their intetpretation on the pianoforte. In order to introduce these lmpressionists of the Baroque Era to piano instruction, the editor has added to this series a folio of both Couperin's and Rameau's (EB 8033) music. The selection of the pieces is based on two criteria: 1. relatively modest demands made on technique, 2. various musical forms of expression. The Butterflies and the Windmills are both especially typical of masterful character pieces. The demands made on technique certainly correspond to a level of moderate difficulty. The simplifications made are restricted to the artistically realized twopart accompaniment (eg. p. 4 f. and p. 8 f.) with regard to finger stretch and to the profuse ornamentation of the original. The indications for phrasing and articulation are those of the editor. The first two pieces have been precisely elaborated on in this respect to serve as a model, whereas the remaining pieces contain only suggestions. As in other folios of this series; what is here to be stressed, is the importance of working out independently the phrasing and the dynamics. Directions for this are given by the respective footnotes; these directions, however, are not obligatory. lndications pertaining to dynamics and tempo have been omitted completely; the clearly recognizable character of the individual pieces should be direction enough. The tonal possibilities of the piano should in any case be used subtly. The very precise fingerings have been adapted to the suggested phrasings and to the corresponding realization of trills (according to the table). Heinz Walter, Salzburg, Spring 1980.

SKU: BT.EMBZ14253

Hungarian-English-German-French.

The volume comprises works by classical and romantic masters for beginners. The chamber ensemble includes violin, viola, violoncello and piano, but if the viola is missing, its part can be played by a second violin from the version enclosed in the appendix. The string parts do not go beyond the first position. As opposed to the basso continuo part that children are less fond of, the piano assumes a soloistic role alternating with the strings. A certain part of the pieces can already be played after two years of serious studies. The colourful music containing dance movements and larger forms alike offers possibilities of common music making for string players andpianists.

SKU: HL.50566030

ISBN 9798350104448. UPC: 196288168393. 9.0x12.0x0.147 inches.

Debussy composed the Sonate for cello and piano in Normandy, in July 1915. At the age of 53, distressed by the war and afflicted by an illness that prevented him from composing, he resumed his work with the writing of this Sonate. Though his intention of assertinga French style in the tradition of the great masters of the 18th century, Debussy repeatedly affirmed the absence of a programmatic idea in the sonata: “I have written nothing but pure music. [...] in the old form, so flexible (without the grandiloquence of modern sonatas)”. This volume is part of “Musique française”, a series designed for students and teachers as well as professionals; it offers historical introduction and performance suggestions by the notable cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand.

SKU: AP.36-M283191

UPC: 660355174605. English.

"L'horizon chimerique," Op. 118 is a four movement song cycle for voice and piano. It is based on four poems from the collection of the same name by French poet Jean de La Ville de Mirmont. This piece premiered at the Societe Nationale de Musique in 1922 by Swiss born French baritone Charles Panzera, to whom the work was dedicated.

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