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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Rhapsody in Blue (Original) (Belwin Edition) [Paperback] Review

Simply said, I am using this as the feature of my senior piano performace recital at my college. This brilliant work is something to behold in its concerto form, something to enjoy it its orchestral form, and something that every one should study in its piano solo form.

Gershwin himself wrote this arrangement, so it can be safe to assume that everything in this piece is exactly how Gerswhin wanted it. I would imagine he would best realize what he original thought to be the important parts...

Ryan

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Product Description:
Two-piano edition, with second piano playing a transcription of the orchestration. Two copies are necessary for a performance.

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The Well-Tempered Clavier: 48 Preludes and Fugues, Vol. 2 [Paperback] Review

I appreciate what the Kalmus press has done to give helpful footnotes for the ornamentation and the score layout is very clean and spaced well. A good "easy" read, that is relatively easy...if you know the pieces in this book you'll know what I'm talking about!

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Product Description:
A newly engraved edition of the 48 preludes and fugues, Volume II for piano was edited by the noted Bach expert Dr. Hans Bischoff. It includes a table of embellishments and a preface from Dr. Bischoff. KALMUS EDITIONS are primarily reprints of Urtext Editions, reasonably priced and readily available. They are a 'must' for students, teachers, and performers.

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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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All-American Patriotic Songbook (Creative Concepts Publishing) [Paperback] Review

If you're looking for a book with just basic notes to play or sing to, this book would be wonderful.It is more like a Hymn book; no fancy arrangements.Probably an early intermediate.

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Product Description:
49 songs that make you proud to be an American: America * America, the Beautiful * Anchors Aweigh * Battle Cry of Freedom * Battle Hymn of the Republic * For Your Country and My Country * Hail to the Chief * On Wisconsin! * Over There * Semper Fidelis * The Star Spangled Banner * The Stars and Stripes Forever * Yankee Doodle * You're a Grand Old Flag * and more.

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Mozart Variations on ""Ah, vous dirais-je, Maman""" (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

I have another same music of different edition. I compared this edition with my book(Alfred), I like the trill suggestion on the first page. But overall I like Alfred Edition more. This edition is fine.

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Product Description:
Variations on "Ah, Vous Dirais-Je, Maman" Brand: Alfred Publishing Model Number: 00-K03701

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Classic Paul Simon: The Solo Years (Paul Simon/Simon & Garfunkel) [Paperback] Review

If you like Paul Simon's music, then you'll love this book.It is a collection of all the music from four landmark Paul Simon Albums. "Paul Simon"; "There Goes Rhymin' Simon"; "Hearts and Bones"; & "Graceland".
Arranged for piano/vocal with guitar frames and has full lyrics. I grew up with Simon and Garfunkel music so I really wanted this book so my son could play them on his guitar.I miss these kind of songs!!

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Product Description:
A collection of all the music from the following four albums: Paul Simon, There Goes RhyminÂ' Simon, Hearts And Bones, and Graceland.

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Sleigh Ride and Other Christmas Songs & Carols [Paperback] Review

I thought this product was the same collection of music we had as a kid... but no.:(Anyway, the collection still has a lot of good songs in it, but I didn't realize that the "Big Note Piano" on the corner meant simplified.It's definitely beginner music (intermediate and advanced players will be rather bored).

I guess they don't make the full collection anymore.It's too bad.I'm looking for some old Christmas songs that were only in this book.

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Product Description:
Thirty-nine big note piano arrangements. Includes: Angels We Have Heard on High * The First Noel * Jingle Bells * Jolly Old St. Nicholas * O Holy Night * Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town * We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

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