Mazurkas [Paperback] Review

This book is based on FR. Kistner Leipzig edition. Editor is Chopin's pupil Carl Mikuli foreword dated 1879, 30 years after chopin's death.
There are many other editions of Mazurkas which I personally prefer to this available but I rate this book as a important reference to learn what the composer was intended. The editor Carl Mikuli was Chopin's piano pupil and many times he witnessed the performance of composer himself which were only to those of close to him. (Chopin did only a handful of public concerts and recitals in his life) However, intimate accounts of how his (Chopin)fingers were shaped during the passages could only be used as a sentimental knowledges which has little use for today's performance standard.
Nonetheless, we could keep in mind that what composer himself tried to express and teach his students his music as a great way to express our feeling through these beautiful works. Many Mazurkas have only a few pages and many could be played by begining students.
There are discussions of how the Mazurkas should be played, outside this book but Mikuli himself did not address this matter. (Where should the Mazurka's accents have to be placed--and there is a accounts of Chopin and Meyerbeer arguing reported by other pupil von Lenz who was taking lessons of Mazurka.)
Convenient package of 1 book with this inexpensive price, with the cover portlait by Eugene Delacroix, also Chopin's close friend is a great buy for the piano students of all levels.

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Product Description:
Features 51 best-loved compositions, reproduced directly from the authoritative Kistner edition edited by Carl Mikuli, a pupil of Chopin. Editor's Foreword, 1879.

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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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All Sondheim, Volume 1 [Paperback] Review

As a fanatical Sondheim lover and singer, this book was awonderful addition to my collection. Among some of his best earlytitles, this book includes songs like "I Remember", "Losing My Mind", and "Another Hundred People". These are wonderfully written pieces which deserve many books like this one. They are a joy to listen to and even more to play, and I hope everyone will enjoy this book as much as I do.

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Titles include: Send in the Clowns * Another Hundred People * Being Alive * You Must Meet My Wife * One More Kiss * Losing My Mind * Could I Leave You? * Pretty Lady * Anyone Can Whistle * The Ballad of Sweeney Todd * By the Sea * Comedy Tonight * I Remember and more.

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The Complete Preludes & Etudes: For Solo Piano [Paperback] Review

Speaking of correcting misinformation, this is definitely *not* the Paderewski edition. The Mikuli and Paderewski editions are certainly not the same, although if you look in the commentary in the back of any Paderewski Chopin score, you will find that the Mikuli is one of the many sources that were consulted for the Paderewski.

Dover used to publish a reproduction of the Paderewski edition years ago, and it was wonderful. Unfortunately, they no longer seem to do so.

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Product Description:
Chopin's piano works are of such uniformly high quality that they are all absolutely essential in the repertoire of any aspiring pianist. The Preludes and Etudes are exquisitely beautiful examples of his genius. Numbering 52 pieces in all, they are reproduced here from the authoritative Mikuli edition and are available for the first time in a low-priced, one-volume publication. The opus listings are: 25 Preludes-Op. 28, Nos. 1-24; Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 45. 27 Etudes-Op. 10, Nos. 1-12; Op. 25, Nos. 1-12; and Trois Nouvelles Etudes Unabridged (1998) republication of works from an authoritative early edition. New unified table of contents.

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Avenue Q - The Musical (Piano/Vocal arrangement) [Paperback] Review

This score, from "Avenue Q", a show described as a combination of "South Park" and Sesame Street", is truly excellent. Be warned--the performers on the CD and in the show may make it seem simple, but some of the songs are hard to play. Believe it or not.

This reduction for voice/piano/guitar is pretty good---it would have been better if they had used an arrangement for vocal line with piano accompaniment. Incorparating the vocal line into the accompaniment works for some of the songs, but the quality of most of the songs is hurt by it. Nonetheless, this score is very playable (although sometimes hard to play) and contains many great songs for recreational use or performances and auditions.

This book contains every song from the show and not one note has been cut (although not all dialouge said in the songs is included). The certain gem of the score is "There's a fine, fine line" the "folk rock" ballad that ends the first act. Simple and melodic, it certainly steals the show. "If you were gay," "Purpose," the "Manilowesque---"Fantasies Come True," and "The More you Ruv someone" are all uniquely composed with a different style in mind. Also very melodic and enjoyable. The upbeat and very similar "It Sucks to Be Me," "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist," and "For Now" are also delightful highlights.

Hilarious, witty songs are contained in this collection. You would be wise to purchase the CD for inspiration on how to perform these songs, if you haven't already. You definately should also see the musical anytime you're in New York for a fun-filled evening or afternoon.

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Product Description:
2004 Tony® Award winner for ßBest Musicalß, ßBest Original Scoreß and ßBest Book of a Musicalß!¶Playbill.com describes °Avenue Q°,a decidedly adult puppet/human show, as a meeting of °Sesame Street° and °South Park°. Our deluxe songbook features all 20 songs in standard piano/vocal format (melody in the piano part), more than 20 fabulous full-color photos from the production, and a bio of the writing team of Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who've scored big with their first Broadway show! Tunes include: The Avenue Q Theme · Fantasies Come True · I Wish I Could Go Back to College · I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today · If You Were Gay · The Internet Is for Porn · It Sucks to Be Me · Mix Tape · The Money Song · Purpose · There Is Life Outside Your Apartment · What Do You Do with a B.A. in English · and more. PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT LYRICS

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Complete Songs for Voice and Piano [Unabridged] [Paperback] Review

This is a wonderful collection for all admirers of Rachmaninov. While the 14 or so songs without opus numbers are not included in this edition, the majority of Rachmaninov songs are and they form a strong part of his creative output (spanning nearly 20 years).
An affordable and easily obtainable book, it is good not only for general study and performance, but also for comparison and study of pianist Earl Wild's brilliant transcriptions of thirteen of the songs (and Arcadi Volodos' two song transcriptions).

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Rich collection of 71 compositions, including some of the most hauntingly beautiful passages in vocal literature. Exciting treasury of glorious songs-Opp. 4, 14, 21, 26, 34, and 38-have been reproduced from authoritative sources in a convenient, one-volume edition;most lyrics in Russian (Cyrillic) with English translations. A superb collection to be prized by pianists, vocalists, and countless lovers of fine music everywhere.

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Etudes, Children's Corner, Images Book II, and Other Works for Piano [Paperback] Review

For years, due to copywrite issues, "The Children's Corner" suite was only available in a French edition. Now it's here, in an affordale Dover edition, along with some rarer piano solos.
"Children's Corner" ranges from playable ("Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum" and "The Little Shepherd" and "Doll's Lullaby" to the evilly tricky "Snow is Dancing" made famous by Tomita in an electronic version. The suite was written for Debussy's daughter and is utterly charming and really fun to play. The etude's from Book II are incomplete here, but have some of the nices works, along with a beautiful berceuse.
If you play piano and love the Impressionist composers, this is a must-have.

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Product Description:
Many of the most admired of Debussy's piano works, reprinted from authoritative French editions, among them the Etudes (1915), a late work that richly displays the full range and depth of Debussy's genius for the piano, and the magical Children's Corner (1906-8). Also included: Nocturne (1892), Piece pour piano (1903-4), Images, Book II (1907), Hommage a Haydn (1910), The Little Nigar (1909), La plus que lente (1910), Berceuse heroique (1914), Six epigraphes antiques (1914) and Elegie (1915).

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Ballades: Piano Solo (Piano Collection) [Paperback] Review

This edition of Chopin's Ballades is great. Notes are printed clearly. Fingerings are not confusing. Ballades are quite difficult so this book is suitable for late-intermediate to advanced pianists.

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Product Description:
In this edition, Palmer provides fingering and offers suggestions for the performance of ornaments and other markings as revealed through the study of original sources. The introductory material includes a helpful discussion of ornamentation in Chopin's music.--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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