Impromptus, Op. 90 (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Paperback] Review

I was quite disappointed in this product. I'm not sure if it's just the copy I got, but the printing/stapling went awry and one side of the music did not print on page 20. I would ask for a refund of this product if I hadn't gotten it online. Save yourself the trouble and get a copy of this music that doesn't look like the printer was having an off day.

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Product Description:
This concise edition contains four expressive and lively impromptus that will challenge advanced pianists. To clarify the composer's original notations on tempo, dynamics, fingering, pedaling and ornamentation, Dr. Baylor has included notes on performing each piece and provided footnotes for difficult passages. These editorial suggestions make preparing for a performance both enjoyable and educational.

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Mozart 21 of His Most Popular Pieces: Alfred Masterwork Edition [Paperback] Review

The Alfred Masterworks Editions are my favorite piano music books. I've been playing the piano for about 20 years, and these are the best series of books I've used. They have very good, clear notations, the arrangements are really well presented and put together, the fingering recommendations are the best I've seen (with the little numbers by the notes), and the biographical information and performance recommendations are a nice touch.

I only wish they had more books in the series.

This Mozart book is a good starter for someone who hasn't played Mozart before, and is looking to get better acquainted with his music.

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Product Description:
Some of Mozart's most popular works are contained in this volume, including the "Fantasia in D Minor," the "Sonata in C Major" (first movement) and the "Turkish March" from the Sonata in A Major. Other selections include intermediate-level transcriptions from operas and orchestral works. Arranged in the order of difficulty, each piece is prefaced by a short description. A biographical sketch of the composer is also provided.

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Complete Lyric Pieces for Piano [Paperback] Review

I have enjoyed flipping through the book and playing pieces at random. The pieces are so beautiful and unique. Some of them are easier to play than others, but most of them could be played at first sight. It's a great addition to my classical sheet music collection.

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Product Description:
All 66 works from the ten sets of little mood pictures created for piano by the Norwegian composer from 1867 to 1901, reprinted from the authoritative C. F. Peters edition. Technically uncomplicated and reasonably easy to master, these popular works have been favorites of generations of pianists, both amateur and professional.


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Anthology of Classical Piano Music: Intermediate to Early Advanced Works by 27 Composers (Alfred Masterwork Edition) [Plastic Comb] Review

I recommend this for any serious piano student, who needs to challenge their skills and move to a more advanced level.

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Product Description:
Works by 27 composers are included in this 248-page comprehensive survey of piano music written between 1750 and 1820.The pieces in this collection range in difficulty from intermediate through early-advanced levels and cover the widest range of styles and idioms of the Classical period.Historical and biographical background, performance notes and suggested realizations of ornaments are also provided by Dr. Hinson.

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Playing the Beethoven Piano Sonatas (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

Beethoven's 32 piano sonatas, along with the two books of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, form the summit of the pianist's art.These are works that all pianists must confront and, to a greater or lesser extent, master.The greatest pianists, the true artists, indelibly stamp these works with their own personalities and performances.The rest of us struggle to learn them well enough not to embarrass ourselves in front of others and, even more importantly, to satisfy our own inner drives to make music and to make this glorious music our own.Robert Taub's book, "Playing the Beethoven Sonatas," is a welcome addition to those books that seek to enlighten other pianists--both professional and dedicated amateur--on how best to perform these superb but very difficult compositions.
It may be useful to point out initially what this book is not:It is not a musicological analyses of the Beethoven sonatas.It is not a Beethoven biography, although Taub does not hesitate to use events from the Master's life to illustrate his performance suggestions.It's not a collection of "war stories," or inspiring anecdotes for struggling pianists or harried piano teachers.It's not Taub's memoirs.And it is not a substitute for Charles Rosen's masterpiece, Beethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companion.Indeed, as another reviewer has noted, Taub is best seen as complementary to Rosen.As I've noted in other reviews, I consider Rosen to be one of America's true public intellectuals; his vast erudition and wit grace every page he writes.But these same qualities sometimes obscure the point he makes; they often overwhelm the dedicated amateur pianist who's seeking a quick solution to a phrasing or fingering problem.Taub, on the other hand, writes not only with precision and clarity; he writes for the working pianist.While it is incorrect to call this work a textbook, Taub's careful, precise, measure-by-measure suggestions as to touch, pedaling, dynamics, tempi, fingerings, and tone come close to being just that.What separates this work from the mere textbook is the very personal nature of Taub's suggestions.It is obvious he has lived with the Beethoven sonatas for most of his life, struggling over decades to discover and lay bare their inner meaning.In this work, he makes the reader privy to that struggle.
And what a struggle it is!Beethoven is notorious in his disdain for the technical difficulties his sonatas present to amateur and professional alike.I have three different editions of the Beethoven sonatas from which I perform: an urtext edition, the Artur Schnabel edition, and the Bulow edition published by Schirmer.In many places, these editions can only agree to disagree, even as to the fundamentals.The value of Taub's book is that, for a fraction of the price of conservatory training, the aspiring pianist (and here I include myself) may find out how one of the greatest living Beethoven interpreters goes about his work.Where is the pianist who would not find such help invaluable?
Other reviewers have commented on the structure of this book; there's no need to repeat that information here.Taub is scrupulous in his reverence for the printed text, insofar as he can determine what the authoritative text is.Among the most useful features of this work is Taub's careful edition-by-edition analysis of problematic passages in Beethoven's sonatas.The author usually provides a satisfactory resolution of the textual problem he highlights, in the process imparting valuable information not only as to correct performance practices, but also giving advice as to how the reader might resolve other textual conflicts she might encounter.
In the last analysis, it is Taub's reverence for the text, his scrupulous attention to the tiniest detail, that makes this book so valuable.By this, I mean the difference between telling a pianist to play a passage with feeling, and showing the pianist how she may best articulate and communicate the deep feelings that Beethoven's music inevitably engenders.An example:the opening chord of the Pathetique Sonata, Op. 13 in Cm, is marked "fp."How to play it? Taub tells exactly how to do so.His solution involves touch, pedaling, sensitivity to dynamics, and careful listening; he tells you exactly how to apply these tools to achieve the desired result.And his explanations are clear and precise, easily understood by anyone with score in hand and a piano at the ready.Here it is obvious that Taub has not only had quality instruction, he himself is a master pedagogue.
Which leads me to my last observations:First, this book isn't bedtime or casual reading.You need to have a good, reliable edition of the Beethoven sonatas at hand, or at least the sonata(s) on which you are working.It's helpful if the edition is numbered by measure; otherwise, take the time to number each measure in your score.You will save yourself a lot of frustration.Second, your work with this book will be more rewarding if you have access to a piano that is capable of replicating the full panoply of effects Beethoven's sonatas demand--in other words, it works best with a good grand piano.Consoles or (shudder!) spinets or (double shudder!!) electronic keyboards just won't cut it.If you're talented enough to play Beethoven sonatas, make your experience more rewarding and play them on a quality piano.
Amazon's rating system only goes to five stars.This book deserves unlimited stars--the diligent pianist will find a lifetime of help in this book.Robert Taub is to be commended for producing such a fine volume, and for his unselfishness in sharing his formidable talent and considerable investment of time and energy with all of those desiring to climb the summit of the pianist's art.Bravissimo!

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Product Description:
Acclaimed pianist Robert Taub offers the insights of a passionate musician who performs all 32 of Beethoven's well-loved piano sonatas in concert worldwide, bringing a "fresh perspective on Beethoven," as the New York Times put it. In this book, he shares his intimate understanding of these works with listeners and players alike.

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Fantasy in F Minor, Barcarolle, Berceuse and Other Works for Solo Piano [Paperback] Review

Chopin's music is usually published by category--i.e. Mazurkas, Polonaises, Walzes, Etudes, etc. There are a number of works that don't fit into any of these categories such as the glorious and technically horrific Berceuse and the surprisingly easy to read but showy Tarentelle--not only gorgeous but a good exercise for technical proficiency.
This book is worth having just for the Berceuse and Tarantella, and also for the Barcarolle, another brilliant and showy work that is all too rarely played. This is a great addition to any piano music library, especially if you adore Chopin. Easy to read edition, clear print.

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Product Description:
Features 15 works, including one of the greatest of the Romantic period, the Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49, reprinted from the authoritative German edition prepared by Chopin's student, Carl Mikuli.

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Sonatas, Vol. 1: Nos. 1-15 (Urtext Edition, for Piano) [Paperback] Review

In a snobby music world, where editions like Durand and Henle are too quickly deemed top dog, it's very nice to be able to find an edition like this one for so cheap.It's the urtext, so one has a lot more confidence in this edition than say, the Schirmer edition.(NEVER buy a Beethoven Schirmer if you ever want to play REAL Beethoven!)
Beethoven is always a joy, and the top sonata in this volume is the Pastorale, of course!Get volume 2 if you want to enjoy op. 78 (a favorite) and the Waldstein.

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Product Description:
A collection of advanced piano sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven, urtext edition.

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Beethoven: The 17 Sonatas, Volume 1 (Paperback) [Paperback] Review

I didn't realize the binding of Vol. 1 of Beethoven Sonatas 1-17 published by Alfred was poorer than the
Simon and Schuster edition.Both volumes are edited by Artur Schnabel....my main concern....and I love
the Bellotto painting reproduced on the Alfred cover, but it has a glued rather than sewn binding, and
the pages tend to separate too easily from the binding, and it's harder to get the pages to lie flat without
injuring the binding. But, I liked the fact that I could get the sonatas edited by Schnabel at a good price,
and attractive volume.You get what you pay for....and I'll make do, happily.

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Product Description:
Re-engraved, corrected editions by Artur Schnabel, with Schnabel's notes and comments in five languages. Volume One contains Sonatas One through Seventeen and Volume Two contains Sonatas Eighteen through Thirty-Two. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Complete Hungarian Rhapsodies for Solo Piano [Paperback] Review

Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies are challenging, demanding pieces. Ideal for those of you who are advanced/experienced professional pianists. Not suitable for beginner/intermediate pianists because you won't be able to play any piece. I use this book for both teaching and playing. Good layout, good fingerings. The book stays flat on the piano thus you don't need a clip to make it stay still.

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Product Description:
All 19 Rhapsodies reproduced directly from an authoritative Russian edition. All headings, footnotes translated to English. Bestone-volume edition available.


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Ludwig Van Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas Volume 1 (Nos. 1-15) [Paperback] Review

This book is an excellent value! For only about 10 bucks you receive over 350 pages of music in a high quality book.It opens flat, and doesn't fall off the piano while you're using it.The binding has not cracked or split,and shows no signs of doing so.I would pay twice as much as I did forthis book.

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Product Description:
Volume 1 of authoritative Schenker edition includes Op. 2, Nos. 1-3; Op. 7; Op. 10, Nos. 1-3; Op. 13; Op. 14, Nos. 1-2; Op. 22; Op. 26; Op. 27, Nos. 1-2; Op. 28.

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Complete Sonatas and Fantasies for Solo Piano [Paperback] Review

Pianists beware: the sonatas/fantasies in this book are reprints of the old Breitkopf & Härtel edition, which is not a very "faithful" or "authentic" printing of Mozart's works.Certain markings, like long phrase slurs and use of the word legato, arevery un-Mozartean: they are clearly the work of the editor. Other edits,like appogiaturas written as regular notation, and certain post-trillornaments, may also cause concern among Mozart purists.
Despite thesealterations, this edition -- like all other Dover piano books -- isexcellent for playing. Once you open out the pages and press them intoplace, they won't drift back. The notation is printed clearly; the onlysonata with readability issues is the 9th in D major. The inclusion of two"new" Sonatas (which did not appear in older editions) is aninteresting surprise, but not necessarily a good or bad one.
If youreally can't stand to see Wolfgang's work altered by editors, then avoidthis book and buy an Urtext edition instead. If, on the other hand, yousimply want to play some melodious, intermediate piano music, then go aheadand buy this book -- it's the cheapest one out there. However, you would bewell advised to check out an urtext version just to see where the editingchanges are.

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Product Description:
Authoritative, inexpensive volume contains all 19 sonatas and 4 fantasies, ranging from the relatively easy Sonata in C Major, K. 545 to the profoundly moving Fantasy in D Minor, K. 397. Reprinted from the reliable Breitkopf & Härtel's Complete Works. Indispensable for serious pianists at all levels.


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