SKU: HL.49044170

ISBN 9790001194846. 9.0x12.0x0.123 inches.

The Sonata is one of Erkin's works which the casual listener may fail to attribute to a particular geography at a first hearing. He will however become absorbed by a unique sense of identity, surprising harmonies and rhythms which integrate with such sincerity and authenticity in the flowof the music. At a more attentive hearing, one can discover features of ancient Anatolian music which Erkin always transforms with extraordinary inspiration, enfolding audiences unfamiliar with this culture in a music which is often profoundly spiritual with an admirably woven polyphonic texture in which not one bar seems superfluous or out of place.The first movement Allegro is woven from two contrasting themes. The first is a vigorous progression in the middle register with contrapuntal elements quasi as counterpoint. A luminous second theme evoking folk tunes connects back to the first theme and the movement ends in a brisk tone.In the second movement Adagio molto sostenuto a profound, introspective first theme is developed in variations of exquisite lyricism. The imposing middle section which forms a rondo suggests latent unrest.Imbued with energy and determination, the final Allegro consists of abstracted elements of Anatolian folk music bearing the creative stamp of Erkin. The movement ends with an impressive crescendo.

SKU: HL.14015271

SKU: BT.MI0403

Italian.

Questo metodo si rivolge a tutti i pianisti e tastieristi principianti che hanno voglia di divertirsi da subito. Con non meno di 50 brani facili per pianoforte e quindi accessibili a tutti, ognuno potr non solo divertirsi, ma anche fare notevoli progressi. In effetti il piacere di suonarli permette di superare le difficolt incontrate nell’esecuzione. Questi 50 brani propongono accompagnamenti semplici in cui la mano sinistra suona essenzialmente il basso, mentre la mano destra esegue la melodia, su ritmi facili da riprodurre. Sono comunque brani molto melodiosi e gradevoli da sentire e da suonare. Ogni brano potr inoltre essere interpretato su una base musicalecorrispondente, dando in questo modo al pianista principiante l’impressione di essere in mezzo ad un gruppo, con altri musicisti. Sul disco dati allegato al metodo, troverete quindi 50 basi musicali (a due velocit diverse) sotto forma di file audio nonché i 50 brani ripresi in video per mostrarvi come suonarli.

SKU: PR.110418370

ISBN 9781491135075. UPC: 680160686247.

Composed as an organ solo by the 17-year-old Ives for his own performance purposes, the beloved Variations on America is a treat for any occasion, whether a holiday concert, a serious recital, or other special event. Danny Holt’s transcription for Piano, Four Hands adds a dazzling new option to play at home or on stage, taking best advantage of Ives’ tremendous contrasts in color, dynamics, and texture.
Composed when Charles Ives was a teenager, Variations on “America” is both a convenient introduction to Ives’ body of work, and an early example of his iconoclastic musical voice and creative genius. Just a few years after composing this piece, Ives would leave home to study music at Yale. But until then he had been taught by his father, George (who had been a bandmaster in the Civil War). George subjected the young Ives to experiments such as singing a song in one key while being accompanied in another, or arranging for two marching bands to converge on a town center, with the resulting cacophony that ensued.The Variations exemplifies an early period of experimentation in Ives’ work, spurred on by the unusual pedagogy of his father. The piece is particularly notable for its use of bitonality in the two interludes, subtly foreshadowing more well-known examples by Stravinsky, Bartók, and others by approximately two decades.The bitonal interludes were so ahead of their time, in fact, they were omitted from the first copy that was submitted to a publisher in 1892. (Alas, the piece was rejected even despite these “shocking” elements having been left out, and it wasn’t published until more than five decades later.) There is some ambiguity about when exactly Ives added the interludes into his manuscript copy, though ample evidence suggests he had performed the piece with the interludes around the time he notated the piece in 1891-92. In any case, in light of this piece and his other polytonal explorations from the last decade of the 19th century, it seems fair to give Ives credit for being a pioneer in this area!This arrangement for Piano, Four Hands, closely follows Ives’ original version for organ, setting aside William Schuman’s popular adaptation for symphony orchestra and William Rhoads’ band transcription of the Schuman orchestration. Pianists will find that the piece translates well to the instrument. Ideally, the choreography and logistics of elbow-to-elbow four-hands playing approximates the wild joy one gets from watching an organist play the piece (e.g., the elaborate pedal part in the final variation).In preparing this publication, attention was paid to details in the dual Critical Editions (Presser 443-41003) of both Ives’ manuscript edition and the 1949 publication edited by organist E. Power Biggs (who is credited with discovering what had been a long-lost, forgotten work.) But as with much of Ives’ output, attempting to create a true ‘urtext’ score is a futile endeavor, and especially with a piece such as this one – in which Ives incorporated improvisation in live performance – seems unnecessary anyhow. True die-hards are of course encouraged to consult the critical editions and even find inspiration in the orchestrated version. Generally, performers are advised to be wild, have fun, and not to be too rigid in their interpretive choices.Dynamics in this arrangement mostly follow the organ score closely. Pianists will use good judgment about pedaling throughout, which should be straightforward and intuitive. Courtesy accidentals have been provided frequently – without parentheses – balancing the need for extra clarity in the context of Ives’ murky musical language, and a desire to avoid unnecessary clutter.A few notes that might inform interpretive decisions:mm. 15-16: There are inconsistencies here between Ives’ original manuscript and the 1949 Biggs edition, regarding the top voice in m. 15, beat 3 (C# vs. Cn) and m. 16 (D Major vs. D Minor).mm. 76-84 & 143-146: In both Interludes, Ives emphatically notates extreme dynamic contrast, in order to highlight the bitonality. Although it may seem counterintuitive (or even a misprint, as has apparently been misconstrued by some), performers are urged to follow the composer’s marking!m. 109: Two-note slurs have been added here for clarity and consistency with other similar passages, though they do not appear in either the original manuscript or Biggs.m. 112: The last two eighth notes of Primo appear as 16ths in the original manuscript.mm. 183-186: The original manuscript has a slightly different bass line.mm. 184 & 186: Primo gestures have been re-written to be slightly more idiomatic for Piano, Four Hands.m. 186: The breath mark at the end of this bar does not appear in either the manuscript or Biggs, but is an editorial suggestion – aside from being appropriately dramatic, it will indeed be necessary in a reverberant hall!I would like to thank Steven Vanhauwaert, the other half of my piano duo, 4handsLA, for his input on early drafts of this arrangement.— Danny Holt, April 2022.

SKU: HL.49008369

ISBN 9783795755287. German. Christa Estenfeld-Kropp.

Die Hefte enthalten sehr leichte Bearbeitungen fur Klavier, die schon ab dem ersten Unterrichtsjahr gespielt werden konnen. Bei der Ausgabe mit CD ist jedes Lied in zwei Versionen eingespielt: sowohl mit als auch ohne Klavier. Bei beiden Fassungen konnen die Kinder selbst mitspielen.

SKU: HL.14048162

8.0x11.75 inches. English.

Darling Eve In The Evil Garden is a sequence of five pieces for Piano by Simon Holt. The work was commissioned by Joseph Houston and first performed by him on 10th December 2015 at St John's Smith Square, London. A full performance lasts around 8 minutes.

SKU: HL.49046803

UPC: 196288026426.

The booklets contain very easy arrangements for piano that can be played from the first year of lessons. Each song was recorded in two versions: both with and without a piano. You can play along with both versions.