SKU: A0.1138387

Bulbul the Bird is the first in a series of fifteen original contemporary compositions for piano, titled 15 Animal Compositions for Piano and created to musically describe the movement and habits of specific wildlife creatures. From music notes to words: Bulbul the bird leaps from one branch to another, searching for sunlight through the leaves of the trees. The warm sunrays on his beautiful body delight him when he sits quietly for a moment, every now and then fluttering his colorful wings and feathers as a sign of satisfaction. A heavy feathery fellow joins him for a few fleeting moments of dialogue before flying off to another acacia tree, leaving Bulbul to continue his morning exercises as he reaches for the highest branches, in an effort to be closer to the African sun..

SKU: A0.1239400

From Bradley Sowash’s “We Gather Together� solo piano recorded album and associated sheet music (also available here).

Calm and beautiful…
This quietly sweet arrangement includes forays into All the Pretty Horses and Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child. Play it for baptisms or when a water theme is mentioned in the readings.

Learn more about this artist at https://bradleysowash.com.

SKU: A0.1363465

Dance of the Lanna is a portrayal of a festival in Northern Thailand; Lanna refers to the people there, and the festival celebrates rebirth of their heritage.  The festival is comprised of several dances depicting events of nature; this piece portrays two of the dances: Dance of the Silk Weaver and Water is Life.  The piece opens with portrayal of expressive Thai flute solo, proceeding to portrayal of Thai string orchestra and the PiNai oboe, leading to fast-paced announcement of dancers, moving into the themes of each dance. The style is slow, dramatic, unique movements, appearance of simplistic (but difficult) dances, using piano techniques unique to the style of Thai music.  The piece was written for a piano student who wanted to portray music of his country on the piano. The mp3 is from computer notation.  Please see the YouTube link for performance where pianist adapted opening to flute and added a dancer.

SKU: A0.1368475

The Soldier's Pass by Vladimir Rebikov is a piano composition that reflects the composer's innovative style and emotional depth. Vladimir Rebikov, often spelled as Rebikoff, was a Russian composer and pianist known for his exploratory approach to harmony and his contributions to the early modernist movement in music. Born in 1866, Rebikov was a contemporary of composers like Rachmaninoff and Scriabin and is noted for his expressive and at times, unconventional musical language.

While specific details about The Soldier's Pass may not be widely documented, we can infer certain characteristics based on Rebikov's general compositional style and the thematic title of the piece:

Evocative and Programmatic: Rebikov was known for his programmatic approach to composition, often seeking to convey a narrative or depict a scene through his music. The Soldier's Pass likely tells a story or captures a mood associated with a soldier's experience, perhaps reflecting themes of journey, conflict, or reflection.
Innovative Harmonies: Rebikov was an early innovator in exploring new harmonic structures, including whole-tone scales and unconventional chord progressions. The Soldier's Pass may feature interesting and unexpected harmonic shifts that add depth and complexity to the music.
Expressive Melody and Rhythm: Given the military theme, the piece might incorporate rhythmic elements that evoke the idea of marching or movement. The melody could be strong and pronounced, conveying a sense of determination or solemnity that aligns with the soldier's narrative.
Emotional Depth: Rebikov's music is often characterized by its emotional intensity. The Soldier's Pass would likely embody this quality, offering a rich tapestry of feelings that resonate with the listener and invite introspection.
Pedagogical Value: Despite his innovative approach, Rebikov's music is accessible and has been used for educational purposes. The Soldier's Pass might serve as a valuable piece for developing pianists, offering insights into early modernist techniques and expressive playing.
Atmospheric and Descriptive: Rebikov had a talent for creating atmospheric music that paints a vivid picture in the listener's mind. The Soldier's Pass would likely be descriptive and immersive, drawing the performer and the audience into the scene it portrays.

SKU: F0.W9379

UPC: 674398227655.

This fun and spirited piece portrays the story of the excitement of riding on a train. Written in C Major and in 4/4, students will have fun playing this enthusiastic piece! Contains a teacher duet part.

About FJH Written For You Piano Solos

Sparkling and lyrical pieces which promote musical expression.

SKU: A0.966494

This advanced work is the first of a collection of Fantasies or miniature tone poems for piano . The piece is in three sections and has numerous influences, some Impressionistic, some Romantic and it always is difficult to try and fuse these styles while keeping them congruent. 

The shimmering opening portrays a fairie being chased by something or someone, which seems to gets closer and closer to her.  This section ends with a series of dominant seventh/nine chords and a rallentando.  The slower middle segment introduces a new melody and is where she is able to hide and catch her breath which then segues (via an accelerando) leading to her discovery and the chase resumes until her escape at the very end (I hope).

The challenging left hand is the main engine for the melody, which is stated in the first measure and is presented again and again in different keys and accompaniment styles.    The arpeggiated figures are influences of Ravel and Liszt but I tried to imbue it with a sense of delicacy even in some of the more powerful moments.  This produces a light, which I imagine would coruscate in the evening forest.  

This work is appropriate for all pianist.  The duration is approximately 6 minutes and 35 seconds.

copyright 2017 davekenneymusic

SKU: A0.859686

Contact: sydneystevenspianostudio@gmail.com

Dawn: Beautiful, dreamy instrumental that evokes compassion, comfort and warmth. Arranged for solo piano. Includes chord symbols above the staff. Composed by Sydney Stevens (ASCAP).

Sounds like: Paul Cardall, John Fluker, Jennifer Thomas, Jim Brickman, Michele Mclaughlin, Greg Star, Doug Hammer, Steven Cravis, Rachel Currea, Laura Sullivan, A la Windham Hill

From Album: Seasons

Theme: Music that portrays the peaceful hour of dawn.

Mood: Peaceful, romantic, meditative.

Musical Traits: Left hand rhythm is a repeated broken chord pattern throughout the piece. The right hand plays a strong, but simple melody. Contemporary Classical (tonal with strong themes), New Age acoustics, Romantic, Easy listening.

Performance Time: 6:42

Sydney Stevens music is available on: Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, AllMusic

More Links:

https://sydneystevenswatermusic.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-stevens-532a113a/

Review of Seasons CD by Kathy Parsons (mainlypiano.com):

Seasons is a beautiful collection of original pieces by pianist/composer Sydney Stevens. Some of the pieces are solo piano and others feature duets with Mitch Iimori on English horn, oboe, and guitar (but not all at the same time!). The two musicians are obviously exceptionally comfortable and in tune with each other, and the results can be stunning. Very classical in scope and structure, the music is reflective of the natural surroundings of Ms Stevens’ home in the Colombia Gorge region of northern Oregon. The first eight of the fourteen tracks make up the Seasons Suite, a group of lyrical compositions inspired by the various times of year in a remote area of eastern Oregon. The other six pieces also have themes of nature and serenity.

The Seasons Suite begins with Colors Change, obviously about the transition of summer into fall, but also about the concept of change as we grow. Reflective and subdued, the interplay between Stevens’ piano and Iimori’s oboe is effortless and flowing. Autumn Wind picks up the pace a bit, but continues the easy flow, bringing images of leaves swirling in the ceaseless wind of that area. Signs of Winter is a bit darker and more mysterious. Iimori is a big fan of Paul McCandless, and that musician’s influence is very strongly heard in these first three pieces - a very good thing!

In Clouds, Iimori switches from oboe to English horn. This duet with the piano is a dramatic musical depiction of the gathering clouds and anticipation of a coming thunder storm. I really like it a lot! Snow is tranquility set to music. Sparrow’s Song brings us to the beginnings of spring - the freshness in the air, and the joyful songs of birds in the yard. July reflects the laziness of a hot summer day. Season’s Reprise brings together the themes from the various seasons, creating a lovely closing to the Suite. On Summit, Iimori trades his woodwinds for guitar in a gentle, sweeping duet with the piano.

Waning Star is a gorgeous piano solo that has a peaceful grace and quiet serenity - a favorite. Reach For the Stars is a piano solo that has an uplifting sense of moving forward and reaching out. Dawn closes the CD with a warm and soothing confection. The piano is accompanied by light percussion, bass, and washes of synth strings. Full of hope and optimism without being sugarcoated, this piece is spellbinding in its gentle way.

SKU: A0.1239353

This song is from the ever-popular The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan. It has been notated as simply as possible yet the arrangement doesn't miss anything.

Martin Neill is a professional composer and arranger based in the UK. He has won many international composition competitions, and his music is published by Starshine, Chichester Music Press and others. 
His arrangements show great attention to detail, including phrasing, dynamics and fingering suggestions, which is why they are popular with tens of thousands of musicians around the globe.