SKU: FP.FBS03

ISBN 9790570500192.

Sarah Baker is Vocal Composer in Residence at Education Music Services, an ABRSM examiner and a well known composer of songs and musicals for primary schools and massed-choral events.

All this experience has come together in the creation of this album of piano pieces, inspired by growing up in the Chiltern Hills. Suitable for players of around grade 4-5 standard, her evocative sound pieces describe a crash-landing hot air balloon, garden invading cows and a even a snake in a pond!

Air Balloon!: One vivid memory I have as a child is of the day that a hot air balloon passed over our house and made an emergency landing on the road in front! The sound of the gas being blown into the balloon to try to keep it high enough to pass the house sounded so loud and intimidating, and then there was the bustle of the neighbours as we all went out into the street to watch. It was both terrifying and exhilarating to watch the balloon float past and then land so near by.

Buzzards Circling: There is something so calming and restful about watching birds of prey circling in the thermal currents of a summer sky. Growing up in the Chilterns gave me plenty of opportunity to watch buzzards and red kites. This piano solo captures the beauty of their flight as they glide so effortlessly through the air.

There’s A Cow In The Garden Eating The Flowers: Inspired by the memory of seeing an unexpected cow in the garden! This surreal image is captured in a quirky waltz, as I portray both the absurdity of the moment and the sense of wonder I felt as a child, looking out of the window and seeing the cow walking round and eating the flowers. The final phrase articulates my longing: ‘I wish it would come again’.

Watching The World Go By: A short, reflective piece, remembering what it was like to have time to just sit and watch the world go by from my bedroom window.

Autumn Skies: A miniature about the beauty of Autumn skies and the poignant sense of loss for a summer gone. Friends I was fortunate to have several children of my own age living close by. We seemed to be forever making dens, playing out in the street and generally enjoying each other’s company. This piece reflects that sense of well-being.

Snake In The Pond: One hot summer I was astonished and scared to see a grass snake cooling off in our garden pond! I watched, both horrified and fascinated, as it rose up from the depths and then disappeared again. Here I portray the sense of the hazy summer afternoon as I peacefully watched the tiny movements of fish in the pond, contrasted with the fear and excitement of seeing the snake appear.

Morning Commute: I recollect many mornings stuck in traffic as my Dad took me to school on his way to work. There is one main road out of the village where I grew up, and that got more and more congested the closer we got to the town. We may not have chatted a lot, but it was always good to be together with my Dad, lost in our own thoughts.

The Witch’s Cottage: My siblings and I had a fascination with a small cottage nearby. It was set back from the road in a dark part of the woods and we called it 'the witch's cottage’. Every time we passed, I imagined I heard the distant cackle of the witch and wished I could catch a glimpse of her.

These pieces are written to complement my other collection, Night Time Impressions, which also draw on childhood recollections, particularly of the woods behind the house where I grew up. - Sarah Baker 2023.

SKU: BT.DHP-1053813-401

ISBN 9789043122276. 9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The following situation may be familiar to you: You’re at a party, visiting friends or hosting relatives and someone asks you to play something on the piano. It’s best to choose a song that people know, but it is often difficult to choose one that is suitable. You are expected to perform on the spot and impress your audience. This book contains thirteen pieces written especially for such occasions. From Lambada to Beethoven, from The Muppet Show to Sting, you’re sure to find familiar songs for your impromptu performances. And best of all, these pieces can be played by anyone who has taken piano lessons for just a few years.

Een stuk spelen op verzoek - van klassiek tot populair? In dit boek staan dertien bekende stukken waarmee de pianist voor de dag kan komen bij diverse gelegenheden. Van de Lambada tot Beethoven en van The Muppet Showtot Sting: By Request is geschikt voor iedereen die een paar jaar les heeft gehad.

Die folgende Situation ist sicherlich vielen vertraut: Bei einer Party oder einem Familienfest wird man gebeten, etwas Nettes auf dem Klavier vorzuspielen. Da ist es oft schwer, das Passende zu finden. Dieses Buch enthält dreizehn leichte Stücke, mit welchen auch Spieler mit wenig Erfahrung bei solchen Gelegenheiten groß herauskommen können. Ob vorgetragen oder zu Hause zum eigenen Vergnügen gespielt: Es ist für jeden Anlass und jede Stimmung etwas dabei!

Lors d’une soirée entre amis ou en famille, on vous demande de vous mettre au piano et de jouer une petite musique sympathique. By Request contient treize moreaux adaptés spécialement ce genre de situation : de la Lambada Ludwig van Beethoven, du Muppet Show Sting, toutes les pièces présentées dans ce recueil sont célèbres et sont accessibles aux pianistes ayant quelques années de pratique instrumentale.

Quando alla sera fra amici o in famiglia, vi viene domandato di mettervi al pianoforte e di suonare una piccola e simpatica musica, la difficolt risiede nella scelta del brano. By Request contiene 13 brani adatti a questo genere di situazione: dalla Lambada a Ludwig van Beethoven, da Muppet Show a Sting, tutti i brani presenti in questa raccolta sono celebri e accessibili a tutti i pianisti con qualche anno di pratica strumentale.