The 48 Preludi of the Venetian composer Renato de Grandis (1927-2008) were created, in large part, in the years 1998-2002. It was only subsequently that he arranged them in 4 cycles of 12 preludes each, while also drawing back on older compositions. Written in a traditional pianistic style, they are short sketches which are sometimes characterized by musical thoughts, sometimes by moods or natural phenomena. The fourth volume presented here is once again divided into two cycles of 6 preludes each, with the first cycle paying tribute to the landscapes and towns of Friuli north of Venice.

Song List: Song of Joy Postlude on Old Hundredth Holiday Jesus Shall Reign We Come As Guests Invited Prelude on Deo Gracias Grand Processional

Orginal scores from the Rainer Fabich`s CD PIANO PUR played by Michaela Puehn.
Piano solo, 80 pages.

About the music:
In Piano Scenes musical associations are reflected, strung together in a loose sequence of imaginary pictures, such as Water Visions, Waves, Fallen Angel. Images of abstract, musical style (Gradus Ad Parnassum and Homage To Satie) refer in an idealistic way to musical precursors of piano literature.
In the very emotional Four Nocturnes there are both exuberant and flirtatious moments, such as the night walk of a lady (Promenade D `une Dame) and Valse Pour ... Thoughtful and sometimes brooding moods sound in Songes De La Nuit (Night Thoughts ) and Une Illusion.
The sonic world of Latin America appears in the Impr�siones Latinas. Short snapshots characterize the typical, playful pride and charm of female sex in Cuba (Haba�era) or they evoke the untamed vitality of Brazil (Impresi�n Brasiliana).
In addition to the new compositions for piano, the music edition also includes a commissioned composition for Bavarian Television, Piano Reflections and excerpts from a film score for the short film Queen of the Night (directed by Hans Lang, HFF 1996, actors and others by Juliane K�hler). In the dance of puppets, Mozart's famous aria sounds like something from the distant world, slightly alienated.
All pieces of the CD Rainer Fabich - Piano Pur, were recorded on a Steinway grand piano (D) in 2005 by the Munich concert pianist Prof. Michaela Puehn in the Great Concert Hall of the Academy of Music and Theater, Munich. Recording, editing and mastering: Prof. Ulrich Kraus. The notes for the film music of the CD, Memoirs of a Frustrated Hedonist (ISBN: 9783737578295) have been published in an extra volume.
The first live premiere and American premiere of the two pieces Bulgarian Dance / Bulgarian Dance and Homage to Satie took place in 2018 (The National Opera Center, New York) by Tania Stavreva (piano).
Szenen f�r Klavier / Scenes for piano

01 Opener 1:18 
02 Visionen im Wasser ? Water visions 2:33
03 Wellen ? Waves 2:43
04 Fallen Angel 2:36
05 Gradus ad parnassum 2:09
06 Wiegenlied ? Lullaby 2:41
07 Bulgarischer Tanz ? Bulgarian dance 2:02
08 Hommage an Satie ? Hommage to Satie 2:31
09 Just an affair 4:33

Vier Nocturnes / Four Nocturnes

10 Songes de la nuit ? Night muses 2:18
11 Valse pour ? ? Waltz for ? 2:37
12 Une illusion- An illusion 2:25
13 Promenade d?une dame ? Promenade of a lady 3:38

Impresi�nes latinas

14 Habanera 2:04
15 Canci�n triste ? Melancholic song 1:28
16 Impresi�n brasiliana - Brasilian impression 2:23

Filmmusik ?K�nig der Nacht? / Filmmusic ?Queen of the night?

17 Tanz der Marionetten ? Dance of the marionettes (Piano) 2:06
18 Tanz der Marionetten ? Dance of the marionettes (Celesta) 2:00

Piano Pur

19 Piano reflections 3:16

ISBN 9781513455099. 8.75 x 11.75 inches.

LES REFLETS DE L'OBSCURITE is an original collection of four pieces for solo guitar, ranging from intermediate to advanced skill and of a total duration of approximately fifteen minutes. Secrets dune ombre, Ecume orange, Parfums declipse and Sables stellaires tell the story of a journey in a suspended and colorful universe, projecting the listener into a soundscape of many horizons. The combination of traditional music writing and an impressionistic language allows the musician expressive freedom, while guiding them in the interpretation of their playing. This collection was performed and recorded by Johan Smith, winner of the renowned GFA guitar contest (37th Guitar Foundation of America, Rose Augustine Grand Prize 2019). LES REFLETS DE LOBSCURITE est un recueil original de quatre pieces pour guitare seule, de niveau intermediaire a avance et dune duree totale denviron quinze minutes. Secrets dune ombre, Ecume orange, Parfums declipse et Sables stellaires racontent ainsi une progression dans un univers suspendu et colore, vous projetant dans un paysage sonore aux horizons multiples. Lecriture traditionnelle liee a un langage impressionniste permet une liberte expressive au musicien, tout en le guidant dans linterpretation de son jeu. Ce recueil est interprete et enregistre par Johan Smith, laureat du celebre concours de guitare GFA (37th Guitar Foundation of America, Rose Augustine Grand Prize 2019).

These beloved melodies have been arranged in progressive key order so that the book can be played as a continuous set of background music at a gig. However, individual tunes may be selected as separate musical renditions and selections omitted as desired. Wonderful repertoire that your audience will LOVE! Fully edited with fingerings, dynamics, lever and pedal changes.
Contains: Grand March from ?Norma?, Gavotte, Doretta?s Song from ?La Rondine?, Che far� senza Euridice?, Allegretto, Emperor Waltz Themes, O Sole Mio, Laughing Song from ?Die Fledermaus?, Papageno?s Aria from ?Magic Flute?, Premi�re Gymnop�die, Nessun Dorma from ?Turandot?, Spring Dance, Waltz from ?Coppelia?, March of the Priests from ?Magic Flute?, Tra�merei, La Ci Darem La Mano from ?Don Giovanni?, Morning from ?Peer Gynt?, Cradle Song, Moonlight Sonata Theme.

Contains:
"Greensleeves 2012"
- taken from the Isadar solo piano collection, "O Christmas" (also available on SMP)

Sounds like: Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Liz Story's "The Gift," George Winston's "December," legacy Windham Hill solo piano artists, "A Winter's Solstice" compilations.

Note: ?Greensleeves 2012? is a revisited and evolved arrangement which like my earlier version, was inspired by ? and also pays ?homage? to ? Liz Story?s brilliant take on this timeless piece.

Transcribed by: David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording

Album review by: Michael Diamond (http://michaeldiamondmusic.com):

Fresh on the heels of his highly acclaimed chart-topping CD, Reconstructed, Isadar gifts us with a sparkling new album of holiday-themed instrumental music for solo piano, entitled ?O Christmas.? Given the proximity to his recent release, one might assume that this one was quickly produced, but in reality O Christmas has been 7 years in the making. Various circumstances including other recording projects, a segue into the field of video production, and a cross country move from NYC to the west coast and later back again, created delays with the completion of the album. But as they say, ?good things come to those who wait.?
One of the most interesting things about this album is the fact that the selections are traditional Christmas songs, yet some were chosen because they are less well known, or ?off the beaten path? as Isadar characterizes them. This follows the pattern set by his 1999 Christmas album ?In Search For The Meaning Of Christmas,? yet this new CD mines even deeper in its quest for interesting and unusual choices.

The album begins with a track called ?Good Christian Men.? Steeped in history, the song dates back to 14th century Germany and its Latin title was originally ?In Dulci Jubilo? before it was translated into English in the 1800?s. Isadar?s interpretation creates a lively and festive air that makes a perfect portal to the recording. The high-spirited mood continues on the next song, ?Teddy Bears Picnic,? which although not technically a Christmas song, has been interwoven by Isadar with ?March Of The Toys? to tie it in with the holidays ? a clever arrangement of these intriguing melodies. One of the more well-known carols on the album is ?O Christmas Tree? and is sure to have listeners humming along with it?s familiar refrain.

A track entitled ?Still? is an innovative rendition of the classic ?Still, Still, Still? which Isadar has put his own spin on, or as he jokingly puts it ?jazzed up shamelessly.? No such liberties were taken on the classic ?O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,? however. This song provides a showcase for Isadar?s accomplished grand piano work, featuring lush left hand arpeggios creating a strong foundation for his more delicate right hand melodies to dance upon ? a powerful and moving combination. Another of the less well known, yet equally inspiring tunes is a Puerto Rican carol entitled ?Song Of The Wise Men.? It has been said that: ?Christmas is, above all, a children?s holiday, and many hymns are addressed to children, reminding them that the real reason for the sugarplums and Christmas trees is the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child.? This theme is well reflected in Isadar?s choice of ?O Come Little Children,? based on a carol from the 1800?s.

Among my favorite tracks on the album are the wistful strains of ?Greensleeves 2012,? which Isadar interprets with elegance and grandeur and also pays ?homage? to Liz Story?s brilliant take on this enduring composition. This is followed by a rendition of ?Masters In This Hall,? which can best be described as, well? ?masterful.? The song dates back to the sixteenth century, and is another of the less well-known tunes that Isadar has chosen to feature. The album draws to a close with Isadar invoking artistic license on what is perhaps one of the most unique and liberal versions of a classic carol heard here yet. Based on ?We Wish You A Merry Christmas,? Isadar characterizes it as ?an uninhibited melancholy arrangement.? While I don?t know if ?melancholy? is the word I would use to describe it, it does have a pensive quality and is presented more as a nocturne than usual lively carol it is known as. I really liked the interpretation and respect Isadar?s creativity and distinctive rendering of the song.

?O Christmas? is an exceptional holiday collection, not only for Isadar?s elegant grand piano artistry, but as well for the interesting and sometimes unexpected repertoire contained within. Like ornaments on a tree, the songs adorn the album, enhancing its beauty with their diversity, individuality, and timelessness. Given the well-deserved accolades and popularity of Isadar?s distinctive piano style, I?m sure that fans will want to include ?O Christmas? in their collection and make it a part of their holiday tradition.