A nice collection of American tunes that we sometimes neglect to honor as a rich part of our heritage. Red River Valley has an easy solo version, and an intermediate solo version, both of which can be played together as a duet. Streets of Laredo has an easy solo version and three other versions of a more difficult nature, any of which can be played together, or one after another for an elongated performance of the tune. Shenandoah has an easy harp solo rendition and a version with large chords in the right hand. They can stand alone or be played in duet form. Arkansas Traveler/Turkey in the Straw medley is a clever stand-alone solo. Camptown Races has a very easy solo adaptation, plus two other versions just a bit more challenging, though not much. For Amazing Grace, there is an easy key of C version, a pedal harp key of C version, and an easy key of G version. There is a lower intermediate key of G secondo part, as well as a modulation to the key of C.
Table of Contents: Red River Valley, Streets of Laredo, Shenandoah, Arkansas Traveler, Turkey in the Straw, Camptown Races and Amazing Grace

The final movement of the Sonata in A major KV 331 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Rondo Alla Turca, is one of the most famous piano pieces of all time. Once only familiar to musical experts, later a universal piece for all piano pupils, its opening melody is now even omnipresent as an alienated sinus tone-like mobile phone ring tone.
Fazil Say\'s arrangement, originally created as an effective encore, follows on from this popularity. After the first eight bars have been presented in original form, typical elements of jazz superimposed on the still recognisable classical foundations can be discovered, such as syncopation of the top notes and ornamentation through chromatic blue notes, embedded in the at times frenzied chains of semiquavers. In the spirit of the work\'s improvisatory character, Say likes to perfom his Alla Turca Jazz in different combinations, for example accompanied by jazz singers of with orchestra.

It may appear strange that Fazil Say, who was born in Turkey and - when not on tour - is still resident in that country, does not bring back Mozart\'s interpretation of genuine Turkish music closer to its own roots, particularly as many of his compositions such as Black Earth or the Violin Sonata are characterised by a subtle amalgamation of the Classical-Romantic tradition, Turkish folk music and elements of jazz. In a further Mozart arrangement, the ballet music Patara premiered in Vienna in 2006, composed on the basis of the Rococo-like theme from the first movement of the same A-major Sonata (wich enjoys almost as great popularity as the Alla Turca theme), Say utilised the connection which was absent in Alla Turca, albeit in the opposite direction. In the ballet music, the piano symbolises Western culture and the Ney flute Oriental culture, communcated atmosperically by austere percussion instrumentation and soprano vocalisation.

The very popular piece was now arranged for harp by Ekaterina Afanasieva.

You just can't beat some of these American folk tunes, and Louise Trotter's editing and arranging skills make them so fun to play and hear. Left hand takes some of the melody for ease in playing. Nicely fingered and easy to read.
Contains: Red River Valley, Arkansas Traveller, and Turkey in the Straw