Piano Solo, Collection /
Songbook - Advanced
Intermediate - Digital
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Composed by Public Domain, as
performed and recorded by
Isadar. Arranged by Isadar.
Neo-Classical, Christmas,
Children's Music, Recital,
New Age. 50 pages. Published
by Mainya Music Publishing
(BMI)Sounds like: Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, Liz Story's "The Gift", George Winston's "December", early Windham Hill solo piano artists, and "A Winter's Solstice" compilations.
Transcribed by: David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording
Contents:
1. Bring A Torch (Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella)
2. Children Go Where I Send Thee / The Holly & The Ivy
3. Star Of Wonder (We Three Kings of Orient Are)
4. Silent (Silent Night, Holy Night)
5. Midnight (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear)
6. What Child Is This?
7. Greensleeves (homage to Liz Story)
8. Three Ships (I Saw Three Ships, Come Sailing In)
9. The Coventry Carol (Lully, Lulla, Lullay)
10. Sing We Now Of Christmas (Noël Nouvelet)
11. Carol Of The Bells
Album & Songbook review by: Kathy Parsons (MainlyPiano.com):
I have discovered a real wealth of great solo piano Christmas CDs this year! Isadar’s In Search For the Meaning of Christmas definitely falls into this category! Thoughtful, introspective, and a bit moody, Isadar’s arrangements are true to the carols (with some small melody changes in “Bring a Torch” and “Carol of the Bells” that bother me just a little) and still seem very personal. “Bring a Torch”, “The Holly and the Ivy”, and “I Saw Three Ships” are given a lighthearted, joyful treatment. “Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)”, “What Child Is This?”, “The Coventry Carol”, and “Sing We Now of Christmas” are all minor, somber, reverent pieces, and all four are given loving arrangements that keep the dark, mysterious nature of the songs and reflect Isadar’s own sensibilities. “Carol of the Bells” and Isadar's take on Liz Story’s arrangement of “Greensleeves” are energetic without losing all abandon. “Silent Night” and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” present us with a very cold, deep solitude - both feel like late night with moonlight reflecting off the snow. Both are moody, but very beautifully so. George Winston’s “December” is one of my all-time favorite holiday albums, and I feel In Search For the Meaning of Christmas holds up exceptionally well next to it. This is an excellent collection of Christmas music, and I highly recommend it!
In Search For the Meaning of Christmas is the companion songbook to Isadar’s 1999 solo piano release by the same name. Meticulously transcribed note-for-note by David Shenton of New York Music Publishing, the music is faithful to the recording in every way (except for the pianist - YOU!). The scores are clear, concise, and easy to read, and also include chord indications for improvisation or the use of instruments other than or in addition to the piano. Isadar’s arrangements cover a whole range of emotions, from very dark and somber to joyful and buoyant. All of the pieces from the CD are here, including Isadar’s homage to Liz Story and her beautiful version of “Greensleeves.” My personal favorites of the eleven songs in this book are the bright and cheerful “Bring A Torch,” “What Child Is This?”, “Greensleeves,” the darkly gorgeous “The Coventry Carol,” and “Sing We Now of Christmas.” Other titles that I really like are “Children Go Where I Send Thee/The Holly and the Ivy,” “Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)," “Carol of the Bells,” and the effervescent “Three Ships.” “Silent” (Silent Night) and “Midnight” (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear) are a bit too dark for my own holiday tastes, but are interesting and very personal arrangements. This book will make a great addition to your holiday sheet music collection and is available from isadar.com and amazon.com.
Isadar is an artist on both Enlightened Piano Radio & Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, the latter featuring some of today's biggest names in solo piano music, including Ludovico Einaudi, David Nevue, Brian Crain, Kevin Kern, Robin Spielberg, Michele McLaughlin, Philip Wesley and over 300 more...
Also available as sheet music in physical songbooks, digital downloads, as well as software for Yamaha Disklavier player-pianos.
For more information, visit his website at: http://www.isadar.com
