Masters of French Piano Music

SKU: AP.36-M276191

ISBN 9781682962732. UPC: 660355014994. English.

A reprint edition of this important piano work by the turn-of-the-century French composer, Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944). Affiliating herself with nationalist composers such as Saint-Saëns and Gounod, her style was very much rooted in both Romantic and French tradition, her tuneful and highly accessible works were also tremendous favorites in the United States.

These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.

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: AP.36-M376591

ISBN 9798888523933. UPC: 676737675813. English.

A reprint edition of this important piano work by the turn-of-the-century French composer, Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944). Affiliating herself with nationalist composers such as Saint-Saëns and Gounod, her style was very much rooted in both Romantic and French tradition, her tuneful and highly accessible works were also tremendous favorites in the United States. Étude romantique was composed and published in 1909.

These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.

SKU: AP.36-M225791

ISBN 9781638872603. UPC: 735816105204. English.

The word tombeau is a musical term from the 17th century, meaning a piece written as a memorial. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) composed LE TOMBEAU DE COUPERIN as a six-movement suite (based on those of the Traditional Baroque suite) for solo piano, with each movement dedicated to the memory of a friend who had died fighting in World War I. The Couperin referred to in the title is François Couperin the Great (1668-1733), although Ravel's intentions were to pay homage to the sensibilities of the Baroque French keyboard suite in general, not one composer in general. Often light-hearted rather than sombre as one may suggest, Ravel responded, The dead are sad enough, in their eternal silence. Movements: I. Prelude, II. Fugue, III. Forlane, IV. Rigaudon, V. Menuet, VI. Toccata.

These products are currently being prepared by a new publisher. While many items are ready and will ship on time, some others may see delays of several months.