Debussy Estampes (Kalmus Edition) [Paperback] Review

Walter Gieseking's Debussy was ideal and Kyoko Tabe is a marvelous pianist in the Gieseking tradition.Her Debussy, like the late master's, is imaginative, evocative, shimmering, sometimes mysterious, sometimes filled with delight. She is more than able to meet technical challenges and get inside the music.I suppose the question could come up--why not just stick with Gieseking himself, to which my response would be that I am always interested in hearing what other pianists have to say.Being under a great influence such as that of Gieseking is as it should be. Tabe is certainly a worthwhile and individual enough voice in her own right. Plus, even modern technology cannot do that much for the limitations of 1940's and early 1950's recorded sound.Chandos has given Tabe wonderful sound.

Actually, I am not sure that Gieseking's influence on Debussy pianism is really so widespread anymore.I've heard more than one performance of L'isle Joyeuse that made it sound like a straightforward showpiece--all display and no sense of exoticism or mystery. I also recently heard Thibaudet on the radio playing Gardens in the Rain and he made it sound like Liszt.I think Liszt is great and some of his music even looks ahead to impressionism, but still, Debussy should not sound like Liszt, even in music that calls for as much technical prowess as L'isle and Gardens. Coming back to Kyoko Tabe--I'm delighted to report that she gets it. She feels this music and her playing has a wonderful touch. This is how Debussy should be played and I highly recommend this CD.

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Product Description:
A collection of advanced piano pieces by Claude Debussy.

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Playing Bach on the Keyboard: A Practical Guide (Amadeus) [Hardcover] Review

This book summarizes many artistic elements of performing Bach, but in a very objective, matter-of-fact way. I found much useful content, but the delivery is very academic, and, in many cases, boring. A sense of humor or story-telling would ease reading, and this book has very little of either.

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Product Description:
In this concise and accessible volume, a noted keyboard artist and Bach specialist takes a fresh look at the performance of J. S. Bach's keyboard music. Addressing the nonspecialist player, Richard Troeger presents a wide range of historical information and discusses its musical applications. The author shares accounts of the musical styles Bach employed and the instruments he knew. In direct and pragmatic terms, he clarifies the importance of notational and style details as guides to the composer's intentions, particularly emphasizing changes in notational norms between Bach's time and the present. Troeger offers core information on dynamics, articulation, tempo, rhythm, ornamentation and accompaniment. He considers controversial issues as well, establishing the importance of the clavichord in Bach's milieu and examining the link between baroque music and rhetoric - a dramatic relationship that can bring great vitality to performance.

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Sammy Cahn's Rhyming Dictionary [Paperback] Review

I've written over a hundred songs and never used a rhyming dictionary! But a couple of weeks ago, I had an inferior rhyme, and a poet friend suggested using a rhyming dictionary. I kept Sammy's book next to my bed because he was a very cool guy, and a great lyricist. I reluctantly reached for his book, found the right page, and GOT A GREAT RHYME! Lots better than the original rhyme. That one cool rhyme was worth the cost of the book and then some. If you are a lyricist - get this book.

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Product Description:
No other rhyming dictionary has been put together so carefully with the song writer's needs particularly in mind.The 50,000 words contained in this dictionary a rearranged phonetically, according to their vowel sounds, rather than alphabetically.

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The Mikado in Full Score [Paperback] Review

Any lover of this Gilbert & Sullivan masterpiece will gain a fuller appreciation of it by being able to follow the lyrics and dialog while listening to the operetta. The score also has a nicely written preface and synopsis of the story. Although knowing how to read music is not essential to the enjoyment of this Mikado full score, buyers that do read music will gain an even greater appreciation of it by being able to follow each instrumental line along with the lyrics of the songs. The Dover score is beautifully printed at a very bargain price to boot. Everyone can derive a great deal of pleasure from this score, no matter what level of musical training they possess. Highly Recommended! (P.S. I understand that the full score of The Pirates of Penzance is due for release this fall)

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Product Description:
The tale of Nanki-Poo and his passion for Yum-Yum has charmed audiences since its 1885 debut with graceful, well-loved melodies such as "Three little maids from school are we," "The flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la," and many others. Now available in a newly edited, newly engraved full-score publication based on Sullivan's autograph and the first edition of the full score, this new performing edition by Ephraim Jones and Carl Simpson corrects many errors and incorporates Gilbert's later libretto changes.

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Notebook for Nannerl (Schott) [Paperback] Review

I purchased this book to view some of the first musical notation Nannerl and Wolfgang may have used themselves, and to get a glimpse into the mind of Leopold, their father, as a teacher. It starts with very simple pieces and moves to harder pieces. Fun to play as well.

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Product Description:
In 1759 Leopold Mozart compiled a notebook as a present for his daughter Maria Anna (usually called "Nannerl"). It was intended as a series of instructive exercises and practice pieces. The notebook though wasn't used solely by Nannerl but also by her younger brother Wolfgang, and the talented boy didn't just use it for piano practice but soon started to compose his own little pieces. Either Wolfgang himself or his father wrote them into the remaining empty pages of the notebook. This new edition contains only compositions by Leopold and Wolfgang Mozart. It is a companion volume to 'The Young Mozart' by H. Schungeler, which contains the first and easiest compositions by Wolfgang (ED 9008). Edited by Stefan Simon.

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Stageline - X-Type Padded Keyboard Bench KB51 Review

Nice firm seat, much wider than I thought it would be. Great for a higher seat. It appeared for $59, bill arrived printed for $79 which was confusing. Arrived very quickly in perfect condition.

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Product Description:
Heavily padded for maximum comfort. Four adjustable height levels. Easy to set up. Height from 20.875" to 26". Seat 12.5" x 23.75". 4 position deluxe.

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Belter's Hot Standards - Updated Edition: 45 Classics Transposed Down for Women Singers (Vocal Collection) [Paperback] Review

This is my second copy of this book.It has usable keys for belter's some that are not available anywhere else.

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Product Description:
How many times have we heard women pop singers complain about the printed keys of standard songs? 'They're too high for me!' is the predictable comment. Here's a new collection that addresses that concern, transposing great songs down into a comfortable belting range. 42 timeless standards, including: Cry Me a River * God Bless' The Child * He Touched Me * The Man That Got Away * More Than You Know * On A Clear Day * Stormy Weather * and more.

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