SKU: ET.PNO24
ISBN 9790207018588.
SKU: ET.PNO29
ISBN 9790207024947.
SKU: ET.PNO67
ISBN 9790207024251.
The time had come to pay homage to someone who has been a faithful companion to me for 65 years and has witnessed of the joy and pain I have endured during the writing of all of my opuses, from 8 to 111. Today he still shares my fervor for jazz music and our wonderful complicity has been preserved on my piano solo album, The Last Call...?* which I recorded at the age of 93. This “someone is my instrument, an old grand piano over 100 years old: Blüthner No. 89293, model 190, constructed in 1910 in Leipzig, Germany, and to which I dedicate this Opus 111, the very last of my series of works for piano. The Blüthner-Variationen were composed starting with a theme I had imagined during recording sessions which were done in my home. I named it Blues in Three, since it was related to the traditional harmonic chord progressions of the 12 bar blues, but in 3/4 time. The simple theme, repeated twice, generates 8 variations, each one requiring different pianistic means. It is my hope that future performers will like the undeniably jazzy orientation of this work. Julien-François Zbinden, Lausanne – Valombré, 23 juillet 2012 * The Last Call...?, piano solo album, TCB The Montreux Jazz Label No. 43102.
SKU: ET.PNO7
ISBN 9790207015471.
This book includes pieces of diverse degrees of difficulty, beginning with the easiest. All are very short, the challenge being to express much in few notes while using a rich tonal texture and remaining accessible. Jazz is the principal source of inspiration for these pieces, but classical forms used as well. Written in traditional manner (both hands are written compared to the jazz where only the chord symbols are given), the pieces are special-ly adapted for classically trained pianists desiring to vary their repertoire and discover other musi-cal horizons.
SKU: ET.PNO26
ISBN 9790207011114.
SKU: ET.PNO81
ISBN 9790207003256.
L’enfance en éclats 2001 [Childhood Shattered] As its title suggests, Childhood Shattered is program music. A simple and graceful tune, symbolizing childhood, is abruptly interrupted by a horrific, dissonant chord. The tune returns ; but the echo of the chord, still lingering in the background, tells us that the memory of the traumatic event persists. Life has darkened. Nothing is as it was before. The initial melody wanders into keys ever stranger and more distant, ultimately arriving at a new theme, obsessive, with grating seconds and thrusting accents. This shattered childhood and its episodes of aimlessness, will it give birth to new certainties? The piece is an exercise in contrasting detached notes with tied notes. Commissioned by the Association Jeune musique. Required work at the International Piano Competition Freiburg - Jeune Musique, 2002. Toccata (2004) This piece by Caroline Charrière issues from the historical lineage of the toccata, traditionally an exercise of dexterity characterized by repeated musical motifs. The introduction is constructed of subtly displaced upper-register chords in the right hand that alternate with two lower notes in the left hand, creating an almost meditative preamble. In the rapid section of the piece, the performer playfully exploits the keyboard's full breadth in the course of spirited dialogues between notes high and low. Commissioned by the Association Jeune Musique. Required work in Category IV at the International Piano Competition Freiburg - Jeune musique, 2004. Irène Minder-Jeanneret.
SKU: ET.PNO49
ISBN 9790207003669.
Armenian Bas-Reliefs is a cycle of 5 short piano pieces written around 1975: I - Ayrivank [famous armenian cave monastery] an Andante sostenuto nel modo antico, II - Blue Eyed Girl (capriccioso con grazia), III - Mountaineers Dance (Allegro vivace con brio), IV - Cross Stones [in armenian: Khachkarer] (Moderato) and V - Grapes Festival (Allegro animato). These very lively, stilized pieces with armenian roots have been performed by well known pianists from Armenia and abroad as well as by young players, since it is included in many piano classes.
SKU: ET.PNO27
ISBN 9790207024527.
As the title indicates, I have based the whole work on the letters of the first name of the dedicatee Marc Pantillon - german and french notations mixed - Mi, La, Re, Do (english E.A.D.C.). In melodic as well as in harmonic use. The musical discourse is maintained by a various set of easy recognisable sequences, but not bearing any resemblance to the traditional variations of the pianistic repertoire. Marc Pantillon has played the world premiere in March 2001 in Neuchâtel (Switzerland). Julien-François Zbinden.
SKU: ET.PNO20
ISBN 9790207015419.
SKU: ET.PNO68
ISBN 9790207009289.
The 3 Impromptus by Richard Lane are excellent examples of a composer in full possession of his craft, an accomplished musician capable of writing beautiful music at any level of difficulty. Lane composed Impromptu I (no specified dedicatee but most likely written for one of his students) in December 1972 at the age of 39. The Impromptu II is dated June 1977 and was written for Eric Neumann who writes: [...] This Impromptu II written for me was a graduation present. I had studied with Richard Lane for three years, starting with composition. After my piano teacher retired, “Dick agreed to teach me piano to prepare for college auditions. With his support, I was accepted at the Eastman School of Music, his alma mater. The work was written as his impression of my finger dexterity in the fast sections and my contemplative spirit in the slower section. The Impromptu III was written 9 years later (Oct. 1986) and is dedicated to Dahwei Kuo, most certainly also a Richard Lane student. A light, elegant piece with an impish sense of humor and some technical challenges thrown in for good measure. The numerous unpublished piano works (including those for 2 pianos or 4 hands) by Richard Lane, composer and pianist, are all marvelous gems to be discovered as we proceed with the exclusive Editions Bim publications planned for the coming years. Pianists interested in these publications can sign up for email information regarding new releases or periodically checking our website: www.editions-bim.com.
SKU: ET.PNO30
ISBN 9790207011336.
An enchanting splendour characterises Ãskell Masson’s work Fantasiestück, combined with considerable emotional depth in the treatment of the piano, which at times somehow reminded the reviewer of Beethoven’s very last piano sonatas, although of course the musical language is different. There is just so much massive power in this work. One other thing made the music very impressive: the brilliant use of the upper range of the instrument.
SKU: BT.MS0455
Spanish.
SKU: ET.PNO14
ISBN 9790207006431.
SKU: ET.PNO102
ISBN 9790207009760.
The first movement has a dreamy and dramatic impressionistic quality, whereas the second movement is deeply melancholy and religious sounding. The third movement is playful with pulsating rhythms, which demonstrate a symphonic jazz feel. In 1963, at the age of thirty, Lane quickly formed up a close friendship with Paul Van Ness through their involvement with the Ridgewood Orpheus Glee Club (NJ), an all-male choir for which Lane was appointed accompanist. Lane maintained the accompanist position for this group for forty-one years until his death in 2004. Lane dedicated his Sonata 2 to Van Ness as a high school graduation present in 1965. During this period Lane also composed a piano suite for four hands, and a fantasy for piano and orchestra, along with other solo instrumental, choral and orchestral works. Van Ness performed the world premiere of Piano Sonata 2 at his Senior Recital in 1969, five years after its conception, at the Eastman School of Music, Lane’s alma mater. Karl Tricomi, another student of Lane’s and also graduate of the Eastman School of Music performed this second Sonata in 1976 at Carnegie Hall (NY) as well.
SKU: ET.PNO66
ISBN 9790207024497.
The composer wrote this basically pedagogical work intended for young pianists. Beginning with each of the seven pitches of the diatonic scale, with the individual pieces having feminine first names, he proposed the following: - to assign a role of equal importance to each hand; - to have the young pianists become accustomed to two voice counterpoint; - to characterize each piece by systematic use of one of the 7 intervals; - to train the ear to comprehend and accept certain dissonances created as the result of the counterpoint; - to liberate the students from the strict tonal system and by virtue of chromaticism, creating a richer sound universe. In order to allow a partial or complete performance of the work by pianists of all levels, the composer has avoided any written references as to specific tempi, expressions or phrasings. The teacher will have to choose a tempo adapted to the technical resources of individual students. For the expressions and phrasings, students can either chose to follow the dictates of their creative artistic imaginations or simply follow the dictates or suggestions of their teachers. Julien-François Zbinden, Lausanne, Valombré, May 18, 2012.
SKU: ET.PNO5
ISBN 9790207012050.
SKU: ET.PNO101
ISBN 9790207009739.
Characterized by impressionistic and modal elements with far-ranging moods, from a whimsical carnival first movement to a sad soul-searching second movement, followed by a cheery, fairytale-like third movement. In 1959, Richard Lane was twenty-six years old and he wrote his first of eleven piano sonatas. At the time, he had just finished serving in the US Army as a musician and was selected to be an inaugural member of the Young Composers Project, which was sponsored by the Ford Foundation. As part of this project, Lane was assigned to compose music for the secondary level (public schools) in Rochester, New York, where he previously graduated from the Eastman School of Music. In 1959, Lane composed twenty pieces, seven of which were for the Rochester public schools, ranging from choral and orchestral works. The remaining thirteen pieces which Lane wrote at this time were vocal and instrumental solos, as well as other orchestral and choral works, and one opera. Of the twenty pieces, three of them were for solo piano, including the Piano Sonata 1.
SKU: ET.PNO103
ISBN 9790207009777.
A bold and invigorating first movement, a mysterious and tender second movement and a third movement with several mood shifts from lyrical to highly rhythmical. In 1971, Lane wrote his Piano Sonata 3 for piano. For whom this piece was intended remains unknown. Karl Tricomi, a student of Lane’s and also a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, performed its world premiere five years later in 1976 at Carnegie Hall (NY), in an all-Lane piano recital. This is the only documented performance of this piece. In 1971, Lane only composed another three pieces which were for tenor saxophone and wind band, soprano voice and piano and a trio for violin, cello and piano, which was dedicated to Paul Van Ness, the dedicatee of Piano Sonata 2.
SKU: ET.PNO73
ISBN 9790207009272.
Richard Lane dedicated with pleasure smaller works to friends or students. All have his caracteristic musical signature, a synthesis between charm and an exceptional sense for melodic and harmonic forms. Few are the composers able to write simple, easier works avoiding any banalities while preserving their personal style. Richard Lane was a great master in that art.
SKU: ET.PNO61
ISBN 9790207003393.
For the young candidates in Grade 1 of the 2010 International Piano Competition in Fribourg (Switzerland), I wanted to exploit the piano resonances by means of the pedal or with harmonics. The “litte secret (Petit secret) is a simple folksong hidden within the voicings of the three-pitch chords at the beginning of the piece, then through the harmonics of the Allegro, and finally within the clusters at the end. Caroline Charrière, November 13, 2009, Fribourg, Switzerland.
SKU: ET.PNO63
ISBN 9790207012135.
Four pairs of words separated by an hyphen suggest a relation between each pair (contrast, refinement, conclusion, etc.). I. Klang - Bild [sound - image]: linear and pointed moments contrasted with a fan-shaped sound. II. Stille - Nacht [silent - night]: Resonating, soft harmonics create the illusion of silence. The title of this section is a literary reference to the famous Christmas carol, Silent Night. III. Spinne - Netz [spider - net]: Through the spider’s activity (part one), the net is constructed (part two). The existing differences in the net's fine threads are infinitesimal. IV. Wald - Licht [forest - light]: Light penetrates sporadically through the branches. And a meadow where there is nothing but light (sounding “A). Jost Meier, May 2010, Basle, Switzerland.
SKU: ET.PNO104
ISBN 9790207009784.
Persistently melodic, with constant forward movement, accompanied by densely chromatic harmonies and many polyrhythmic sections, creating an intensely dramatic work. In 1975 Lane composed his Piano Sonata 4 for piano, which he dedicated to his former student and graduate of both the Eastman and Juilliard schools, Karl Tricomi. Lane composed five other works in 1975, including a suite for two pianos, and instrumental and vocal solos. A year later in 1976, Tricomi performed the world premiere of Piano Sonata 4, Piano Sonata 3 as well as Fantasy No. 1 for piano (1976) in an all-Lane concert at Carnegie Hall.
SKU: ET.PNO10
ISBN 9790207015396.
SKU: ET.PNO48
ISBN 9790207024046.
In her Impromptu, Helena Winkelman conjures an atmosphere of timelessness, employing musical elements variously meditative and percussive, punctuated by shadowy accents in the contrabass register and delicate flourishes in the soprano. This masterful composition, engrossing and adventurous, is a rewarding challenge for the performer. Performing notes Attentive pedaling is key to producing the spectral resonances in this Impromptu. The impressionistic atmosphere of the piece requires a carefully gauged use of all three pedals, even where not expressly noted in the score. Especially with the right pedal many small ad lib. changes are necessary to create this impressionistic atmosphere. The central pedal only holds the bass notes. Care must be taken that the pedals are not changed at the same time to avoid the third pedal affecting notes that should not be. The composer wrote Impromptu with Schubert’s Hungarian Melody (D817) playing in her mind’s ear, and suggests that her Impromptu be programmed to follow it attacca in performance.
SKU: ET.PNO47
ISBN 9790207024060.
Sami's Piece was written for a jazz musician, and should be played with a jazz feel (and a nod to polyrhythmic Balkan folk music). It's an exuberant work, relatively short, but dizzying, full of surprises, musical humor, and changes of atmosphere. It was premiered in 2003 at the Hirzenberg Festival in Zofingen, Switzerland, by the Swiss pianist Samuel Wettstein, to whom the work is dedicated. Performing notes - Attentive use of the pedals to control resonance and legato will prevent blurriness. - When played on an upright piano that is slightly out of tune, the work gains an unexpected charm. - As is customary, accidentals remain valid until the end of the measure in which they appear.
SKU: ET.PNO75
ISBN 9790207010339.
Suite No. 1, written by Richard Lane between his 20th and 22nd year, marks the beginning of the high level music he composed for solo piano. The five movements follow one soul state after another. Polichinelle: Lane skillfully lets the notes run, essentially in two voices, on a Presto rich in changing meters. Nocturne: A slow movement animated with great emotional delicacy. Berceuse: All of Lane’s art is expressed in his mastery of simplicity. Waltz: A moderato 3/4 with rhythmic eighth notes and a clever central passage. Epilogue: An Allegro molto agitato that requires a high level of virtuosic execution from both hands. Suite No. 1 was the first of four works dedicated to Mary K. Green-Traver (Lane’s friend and contemporary at the Eastman School of Music) between 1953 and 1963.
