Well-Known Piano Solos; How to Play Them (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1915 edition. Excerpt: ...superfluous, but which, from experience, I find necessary. The first two measures are part of the dance and give the tempo. How curious is the D sharp at the beginning of the second score, and the A sharp on the next; yet more surprise is felt when the flats come in. Here the consecutive fifths in the droning bass and the squeaking eighth-notes surely suggest grotesque shepherd pipe music. It reminds one of the Dance of the Trolls in the Peer Gynt Suite--romantic mountain music, full of caverns and rugged rocks from which the imps leap with uncanny dexterity. The Puck is full of consecutive fifths which Grieg affects so much--see the sustained notes on the third score. What droll music is in the fourth score with its final clash What mystery at the double bar Low, suppressed mutterings and grumblings, rising higher and mounting up like hill fairies then the sudden dolces and that curious moan (last note on the page), which is most safely struck by the right thumb; all these give the romantic coloring in which Grieg excels. One word of caution, however; that is, "keep strict time," even on those descending, halting quarter-notes of the bass, which, like steps taken with difficulty, become further apart, as though groping into the heart of a mountain. Yes metronome time here, even if you cannot reach the printed speed. Norwegian Bridal Procession, Op. 19, No. 2 GRIEG In this humoresque, which is taken from country life, you may imagine yourself within hearing of a cavalcade passing over the mountains. All its jollity, noise, and festivity; the "perky" violin melody is proof enough of this. At the double bar another violin joins in, and the left hand accompaniment is that ever-present figure of unceasing vitality which dominates the whole piece....