The Second Book of Soprano Solos (Vocal Collection) [Paperback] Review

I bought this book with the set of accompaniment cds at a local music store. I used it mainly for my own pleasure, to primarily, "exercise" a classically trained voice that doesn't get much use.Lately I've been using it to practice for auditions for choirs, community operas, etc. Not playing the piano, and not having ready use of someone who does, the discs come quite in handy as it allows me to hear and practice with the actual accompaniment that will be played when I go for the audition.Note: this is accompaniment only.There is no melody line to these recordings, unless they just happen to be part of the original accompaniment. There are no vocal demonstrations either.You will still need to be able to learn the melody on your own. Of course, melody and words are included in the music book. Songs include those in English, German, French, and Italian.
This particular book contains the following:

1. Art is Calling for Me (The Prima Donna Song)--Herbert
2. Bescheidene Liebe--Wolf
3. Les Cloches--Debussy
4. Die Nacht--Strauss
5. Down in the Forest--Ronald
6. Fiocca La Neve--Cimara
7. Hark!The Echoing Air--Purcell
8. Hear My Prayer, O Lord--Dvorak
9. Love's Philosophy--Quilter
10. Mein Glaubiges Herze(My Heart Ever Faithful)--Bach
11. Un Moto Di Gioja--Mozart
12. My Heart is Like a Singing Bird--Parry
13. O Divine Redeemer--Gounod
14. Oh!Had I Jubals's Lyre--Handel
15. A Pastoral--Veracini
16. Shepherd!Thy Demeanour Vary--Brown/Wilson
17. Sleep, Gentle Cherub, Sleep Descend--Arne
18. Song of the Blackbird--Quilter
19. A Spring Morning--Carey
20. The Sun Shall Be No More Thy Light--Greene
21. The Sun Whose Rays--Sullivan
22. Take, O Take Those Lips Away--Beach
23. These Are They Which Came--Gaul
24. To The Birds (A Des Oiseaux)--Hue
25. Vergebliches Standchen--Brahms
26. Villanelle (I Saw The Swift Swallow Flying)--Dell'Acqua
27. Das Verlassene Magdlein--Wolf
28. Vielle Chanson--Bizet
29. La Zingara--Donizetti

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Product Description:
Step up to the next level with more student repertoire, continuing from The First Book of Solos and The First Book of Solos - Part II. The more than 30 songs in each book require a little more vocal range and musical sophistication, but are still decidedly student material.

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The Songs of Irving Berlin: Movie Songs [Paperback] Review

There are too many wonderful songs, each a treasure, to mention them all.It is enough to say that the best from Berlin's movie musicals are included here. Among the many are "Sisters" and the title song from White Christmas, "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails," "Cheek to Cheek," and "Steppin'Out."My friends and I have enjoyed this book so much I am ordering others in the Berlin series.A great collection of songs by one of America's greatest composers.

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Product Description:
30 songs from some of the most-loved movies ever. Songs include: Be Careful, It's My Heart * Easter Parade * Happy Holiday * Cheek to Cheek * Sisters * Top Hat, White Tie and Tails * White Christmas * and more.

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The Definitive Jazz Collection (Definitive Collections) [Paperback] Review

No "fake book", or "real book" this.You get full, well-thought-out harmonizations.This isn't how Jazz pianists acquire their numbers, but hey, this graduate of the weekly visit to the traditional read-the-music-and-play-it-exactly-as-written piano teacher likes it just fine this way.Having played through about 25% of the songs, I'll say there are no really bad arrangements, and quite a few very good ones.The technical difficulty is toward the higher end of the non-classical stuff you find in the music stores -- the average song is about as hard (if you want to play all the notes) as a Chopin Waltz or a Clementi Sonatina.

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Product Description:
A once-in-a-lifetime collection of 90 of the greatest jazz songs ever compiled into one volume. Includes: Ain't Misbehavin' * All the Things You Are * Birdland * Body and Soul * A Foggy Day * Girl From Ipanema * Here's That Rainy Day * The Lady Is a Tramp * Love for Sale * Mercy, Mercy, Mercy * Midnight Sun * Moonlight in Vermont * Night and Day * Skylark * Stormy Weather * Sweet Georgia Brown.

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Songs of the 40's: The Decade Series (EZ Play Today, for Organs, Pianos & Electronic Keyboards, No. 230) [Sheet music] Review

If you like and appreciate great melodies from the 1940s decade then you will like this collection of tunes.

I have bought a number of these Decade Series collection songbooks and like all of them. The selections are always broad and fresh.

I have played out of this particular songbook collection for many years now and still love to play them on my piano.

Contents:

Across The Alley From The Alamo
Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)
Anniversary Song
Bewitched
Blueberry Hill
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
The Breeze And I
But Beautiful
Candy
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Cruising Down The River
Daddy
(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
God Bless' The Child
Harlem Nocturne
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
How Are Things In Glocca Morra
How High The Moon
I Could Write A Book
I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
I'll Be Around
I'll Remember April
I'm Beginning To See The Light
Imagination
It's A Grand Night For Singing
It's A Most Unusual Day
Juke Box Saturday Night
June Is Bustin' Out All Over
The Last Time I Saw Paris
Lilli Marlene
Mairzy Doats
Managua, Nicaragua
Moonlight In Vermont
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'
Oklahoma
Old Devil Moon
The Old Lamplighter
The Old Soft Shoe
Opus One
People Will Say We're In Love
Poinciana (Song Of The Tree)
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
Red Roses For A Blue Lady
Saturday Night Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week
Seems Like Old Times
Shoo Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy
So In Love
Speak Low
A String Of Pearls
A Sunday Kind Of Love
The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
Swinging On A Star
There Must Be A Way
The Things We Did Last Summer
The Third Man Theme
Tuxedo Junction
When You Wish Upon A Star
Wunderbar
You Can't Be True Dear (Du Kannst Nicht Treu Sein)
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
You'll Never Walk Alone

***
I recommend this songbook collection to you!

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Product Description:
61 songs, featuring: Come Rain or Come Shine * God Bless the Child * How High the Moon * The Last Time I Saw Paris * Moonlight in Vermont * A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square * A String of Pearls * Swinging on a Star * Tuxedo Junction * You'll Never Walk Alone.

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Perfect Wrong Note - Learning to Trust Your Musical Self (Softcover) (Amadeus) [Paperback] Review

I am a professional musician, a retired piano teacher of 25 years. In October of 2004, I produced my first cd of pre-Baroque pieces into an album called, "Carry the Light."Recently, I found out about "The Perfect Wrong Note" by William Westney from a friend. The book is stunning, progressive and suffice it to say, it will rub some traditionalist the wrong way.Westney totally challenges traditional teaching methods and rightly so. There is a revealing "Question and Answer" section in the book on pp. 95-97 which provides an astute summary of Westney's teaching philosophy. I found the following Q and A challenging to some very traditionalist teachings on using the metronome; "Is it a good idea to use a metronome?"Westney's replies, "Only for short periods, as a check of tempo consistency.If we use it too much we become passive slaves to it, and our inner rhythm stays dormant."Westney emphasizes that playing the piano is a "whole body, whole brain" experience.In terms of Westney's approach being a "feel good" philosophy, nothing could be further from the truth. When asked (p. 97), "Can your approach be simply stated as, "Just don't fret about wrong notes, after all nobody's perfect.?"Westney's response is clearly direct; "No.This isn't a feel good philosophy: it's a pragmatic problem-solving plan along the road to artistry.Control, accuracy, and refinement are still the goals."Westney takes a groundbreaking approach to teaching piano without killing the hope and aspirations of the student.That is to be herald and this work will be deeply respected by teachers willing to take on new and exciting challenges that take heed to an important ethos Westney holds for anyone practicing the piano."As you practice sense that you are taking care of yourself at every moment.Expect musical performing to be fun and feel good.Question any part of it that doesn't feel that way.Think of yourself as a healty athlete. Relax frequently and take stock." (p.227) I can't think of any performing philosophy that is more hope filled than that.

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Product Description:
In this groundbreaking book, prize-winning pianist and noted educator William Westney helps readers discover their own path to the natural, transcendent fulfillment of making music. Drawing on experience, psychological insight, and wisdom ancient and modern, Westney shows how to trust yourself and set your own musicality free. He offers healthy alternatives for lifelong learning and suggests significant change in the way music is taught. For example, playing a wrong note can be constructive, useful, even enlightening. The creator of the acclaimed Un-Master Class workshop also explores the special potential of group work, outlining the basics of his revelatory workshop that has transformed the music experience for participants the world over. Practicing, in Westney's view, is a lively, honest, adventurous, and spiritually rewarding enterprise, and it can (and should) meet with daily success, which empowers us to grow even more. Teachers, professionals, and students of any instrument will benefit from this unique guide, which brings artistic vitality, freedom, and confidence within everyone's reach.

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15 Composizioni da Camera: High Voice (Vocal Collection) [Paperback] Review

Nice that the publisher is now offering both a "high" and "low" version of the Bellini songs.I have two books that were published some years ago, and most, but not all, of the selections are in mid-range.

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Product Description:
A new edition designed especially for American musicians, with these beautiful bel canto songs available for the first time in two keys, with new line-by-line English translations for study. Includes an introductory article on Bellini's songs. Contents: Almen Se Non Poss'io * Bella Nice, Che D'amore * Dolente Immagine Di Fille Mia * Il Fervido Desiderio * L'abbandono * L'allegro Marinaro * La Farfalletta * Ma Rendi Pur Contento * Malinconia, Ninfa Gentile * Per Pieta. Bell'idol Mio * Quando Incise Su Quel Marmo * Sogno D'infanzia * Torna Vezzosa Fillide * Vaga Luna, Che Inargenti * Vanne, O Rosa Fortunata.

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The Big Book of Torch Songs 2nd Ed. (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook) [Paperback] Review

I have a wide range... can sing soprano and alto quite easily, but when I sing torch songs or other jazz/blues standards, I prefer to sing them in my lower register. This book is great with offering these types of songs, but the keys they are in are HORRIBLE! They must be transposed down to even be comfortable for a woman to sing them in that "sulty-torch-song" style. I wouldn'trecommend it at all... instead, I found a book called "Belter's Hot Standards." This has been my Bible of music! Go find that book if you're a woman looking for low jazz songs.

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Product Description:
Features 75 heart-on-the-sleeve standards, such as: Angel Eyes * As Long as He Needs Me * Bewitched * Black Coffee * Crazy * Cry Me a River * Glad to Be Unhappy * Good Morning Heartache * Here's That Rainy Day * I'll Be Seeing You * Misty * Mood Indigo * My Man * My Old Flame * The Party's Over * Skylark * So in Love * Stormy Weather * When Sunny Gets Blue * and more.

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The Complete Gershwin Keyboard Works (Essential Box Sets) [Paperback] Review

I had to search high and low for Zizzo's edition of the rarer preludes. Here, you have all of the Gershwin keyboard works, including the short preludes I, II and III, as well as those rare preludes "Novelette in Fourths" and "Sleepless Nights." The "I've Got Rhythm" variations are virtuoso--so beware, this book ranges from the playable to the shockingly difficult. But I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to have it all in one book finally. Thank you, Ms. Zizzo. Even if I can't play all of these, it's "S'wonderful" to be able to read the scores.

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Product Description:
Edited by Alicia Zizzo. A definitive edition of all of the Gershwin preludes. Also contains three extremely rare composition. Titles are: Prelude I * Prelude (Melody No. 17) * Prelude (Rubato) * Prelude II (Blue Lullaby) * Prelude (Novelette in Fourths) * Prelude II (Spanish Prelude) * Prelude (Used as 3rd movement of 'Concerto in F' * Prelude (Sleepless Nights.)

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