SKU: ST.C463

ISBN 9790570814633.

This volume contains contrasting works by Federico Ruiz spanning quite a large and rich period of his compositional output that goes from his early Micro-Suite (1971), to lilting, sweet and rhythmic Venezuelan waltzes passing by the mysterious, intimate, and intense Nocturno (1994) plus pieces originally composed for film, and theatre. Real eclecticism in styles, moods and atmospheres that show Ruizâ??s talents and scope.

The Nocturno is a deep, intriguing, substantial piece presenting a satisfying length which moves from different paths of the mind and the heart written in an abstract, chromatic idiom, that does not dissociate itself from the Venezuelan waltz and the joropo. One could perhaps say that there is a deconstruction of the latter. For the interpretation, the composer has suggested to me that it is allowed to have some flexibility in the tempo. Ruiz kindly dedicated it to me, and I have had the pleasure of performing it in many concerts.

Although all highly expressive, the Three Venezuelan Waltzes present in this collection as well as the piece titled Aliseo, are works that are close to the colourful Venezuelan folk tradition. Federico Ruiz had given me two of them when we first met: â??Tu Presenciaâ?? (1981) and â??Eloísaâ?? (1989) and then I attended a performance of the play â??Office Number Oneâ?? by Miguel Otero Silva with a fantastic actor, Elba Escobar in the role of Carmen Rosa and, I just fell in love and was very moved by the incidental music that I later discovered, by reading the programme, had been written by Federico Ruiz. Later that evening, I called him and asked to please make a piano score of the composition, so I could have the desired piece in my hands. That is how â??Carmen Rosaâ? waltz (1987) came to exist in a piano version.

â??Eloisaâ?? is another Venezuelan waltz with more jazzy harmonies where precision in the rhythm and elegant playing is also essential, as it is in most of his pieces.

â??Tu Presenciaâ?? was dedicated to his mother, Margarita. It is written with the structure of the Venezuelan waltz, which consists of a nostalgic subject that leads to a faster, happier middle section where the typical graceful rhythm is given by the left-hand accompaniment figure of a dotted crotchet followed by a quaver and a crotchet.

The craft and magic found in the five movements of the Micro-Suite is based on a dodecaphonic row by Ernst Krenek. They remind us of the idiom of the Second Viennese School. These real miniatures seem to tell short stories. The â??Preludioâ?? is full of humour. I imagine dancing figures given by the jumps all over the keyboard and extreme dynamics; the phrases give the impression of a conversation with many questions and answers. The â??Invenciónâ?? is a kaleidoscopic piece where the hands mirror each other. The â??Passacagliaâ?? is the longest movement, at just over a minute where the prime motif is repeated three times on the bass line. For its construction Federico Ruiz uses as well the retrograde and the retrograde inversion of the twelve-tone series. It must be played expressively with dynamic contrasts between pianissimo and louder events. The â??Scherzoâ?? has repetitive motifs of a minor third in both hands and the â??Finalâ?? displays virtuosic passages for the pianist.

Aliseo was originally written for the film â??Aire libreâ? (1995), by Luis Armando Roche. It contains elements of diverse types of Venezuelan joropo. In the film, the character of Aliseo Carvallo is played by the composer himself who performs this piece on a harpsichord to welcome scientists Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland one day at the turn of the 1800â??s, as a sample of the new music from the South American land. It presents the refinement of the late European classical era in fusion with Venezuelan folk music.

SKU: ST.H470

ISBN 9790220222283.

The Partita for trombone and piano is the latest example of Bryan Kelly's genius for writing bright and idiomatic miniatures for a range of instruments. From the stately opening 'Fanfare', melodious 'Song' and sombre 'Chorale Prelude' to the genial 'Burlesque', and soulful 'Envoi', no aspect of this most characterful member of the brass family is neglected. Both treble clef and bass clef parts are included with the score. The five pieces of this new Partita will be attractive to all trombonists, especially to adventurous young players of around Grades 3 to 5 standard who are keen to explore new repertoire.

SKU: BT.WMP2217

ISBN 9789810924102. English.

Teachers’ Choice, Selected Piano Repertory & Studies for grades 6-7 is compiled to provide teachers and students with good options for the 2015 & 2016 ABRSM Piano examinations.

- This collection ofinteresting and appealing Piano pieces contains editorial suggestions for pedagogical purposes. Most teachers will find the performance points helpful in developing stylistic awareness in the students.

-Examinationrequirements aside, details on articulation, dynamics, fingering, pedal marks and tempo serve to provide a directed approach for students to strive towards achieving musical excellence and perfection.

-Effectivetechnicalstudies suited to each level have been carefully selected, forming in themselves, supplementary materials to enhance technical competence.

-Most important of all, enjoy the high standards of music typography suchclear, professionally laid scores supported by modern publishing technology and musical semiotics. The digital print on quality cream-coloured paper ensures comfort in the reading of musical scores.

SKU: HL.49018680

ISBN 9790001178648. 9.0x12.0x0.095 inches.

The composer and violinist Johanna Senfter (1879 1961) from Oppenheim concerned herself with piano-accompanied chamber music for strings all her life. Max Reger valued her 'extraordinary compositional talent' and first taught her privately, later at the Leipzig Conservatoire. Senfter wrote five piano trios, her first piano trio (opus 7) being composed during her studies in Leipzig. Kleines leichtes Trio in F major, opus 134, published here for the first time, was written about 50 years later and probably is one of the last, if not her last finished composition. The late Romantic miniature is rewarding as a technically simple, yet musically demanding work for lessons and concert performances.