Piano Solo - Level 4 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1224308
By Isadar. By Isadar. New Age. Score. 63 pages. Mainya Music Publishing (BMI) #820403. Published by Mainya Music Publishing (BMI) (A0.1224308).
Sounds like: Â Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, Liz Story, George Winston, early Windham Hill solo piano artists
Transcribed by: Â David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording
Contents:
 1. Joyful Running
 2. Fountain Of Life
 3. Voice Of God (Thanksgiving)
 4. Pocket Change
 5. The Journey
 6. Smoke Signals
 7. Horseman's Thrill Ride
 8. End Of The Line
Album & Songbook review by: Â Kathy Parsons (MainlyPiano.com):
Isadar’s fourth solo piano album is a blend of smooth jazz and new age stylings, showing both his impressive technique and sensitivity to melody. Several of the eight selections are free-form and improvisational, revealing some of Liz Story’s influence on his music. Some of Isadar’s earlier recordings have very dark, moody sections, but this one stays fairly upbeat and optimistic without being ear candy. The music is complex enough to sink your teeth into, and yet is accessible enough to enjoy as a backdrop to a quiet dinner or an evening with a good book.Â
Joyful Running begins the journey with an exuberant and uplifting piece that reminds me a little of some of Spencer Brewer’s bouncier compositions. Fountain of Life is a beautiful piece with a water-like flow that never stops in its 10 1/2 minutes. I listened to this CD several times without realizing that this song was that long. It flows and meanders so effortlessly that it seemed no longer than the other seven selections, most of which are between four and five minutes in length. Unstructured and free, this is one of my favorite tracks. I also really like the title track, which is even more abstract and unstructured. The tone is of searching and moving forward. End of the Line is my favorite on this album. Very introspective and contemplative, this seems to be a very personal piece. It is the most somber track, but one still senses hope despite the ending of something dear and important. Or maybe it’s simply the end of the journey and the dread of returning to real life - I feel this way on the last day of my vacations! It is a wonderful and moving closing to an excellent album.
The companion songbook is expertly transcribed and engraved by David Shenton of New York Music Publishing. The layout of the music is clear and uncluttered, and the notation includes pedal markings and dynamics that allow the pianist to express the music as closely as possible to how Isadar played it on the recording. Â A few of the pieces are quite long and require a more advanced pianist who is able to express the nuances that keep the recording so interesting, but several of the pieces are well within the capabilities of upper intermediate players. Â Some of the rhythms are a little bit tricky, but the majority of the left hand parts are running eighth notes, which make it easier. Â None of the key signatures are difficult, and none of the chords have a reach of more than an octave, making this music very playable for smaller hands. Â My favorite pieces to play in this book are Joyful Running, Voice of God (Thanksgiving), Smoke Signals, and End of the Line.
Isadar is an artist on both Enlightened Piano Radio & Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, the latter featuring some of today's biggest names in solo piano music, including Ludovico Einaudi, David Nevue, Brian Crain, Kevin Kern, Robin Spielberg, Michele McLaughlin, Philip Wesley and over 300 more...
Also available as sheet music in physical songbooks, digital downloads, as well as software for Yamaha Disklavier player piano.
