Piano The Books

This is the full version of the music that was used in the Bowie horror flick The Hunger. It really is one CD, and the other CD misses an instrument. It also includes the music sheets, which I am still trying to learn to play on the guitar, though the guitar is not used. This is a very special tune in the history of music.

Gershwin's signature concerto can be daunting with double sharps, block chords and lightning fast arpeggios, but you can always pare the selection down to fit your needs. The orcestral track (both with and without piano) is expertly done and well worth the price.

I've been playing this concerto for 2 years now without any accompaniment. I've always wondered how I would sound with an orchestra. If you've always wanted to play this concerto with a full orchestra, this is a great (not to mention economical) substitute for the real one. Since the score is marked to match the track numbers in the CD for the full-speed and the slow-tempo version, it is quite easy to find oneself in the score at all times. The quality of all the versions in the CD is remarkable. Now if I could only find a way to turn my pages without using my hands... I will definitely consider learning other concerti now using scores from music minus one.

This is a wonderful way to enjoy your piano playing in a somwehat unusual way....a full orchestral accompaniment in the form of a CD.

I consider myself an advanced pianist. I've been playing the piano since I was 6. My last teacher was an Italian concert pianist until she stopped teaching for reasons of health. But I did not pursue the career of a concert pianist in the theatrical sphere, ending up in the medical field instead. However, my love for the piano is eternal.This instrument can stand on its own producing exquisitely beautiful music in a variety of colors.But with orchestral accompaniment,its sound becomes more exciting and to me,the senses are uplifted to celestial heights.

Be sure that your piano is well tuned to A440 so that it would be in the same KEY as that of the CD's orchestra. If not, Music Minus One offers an amazing portable device that can electronically adjust the tune(or key)of the CD's music in harmony with that of your piano.It comes with a lower end $400 dollar model and a higher end $700 or $800 dollar model both including sound sophistications. Check also for promotional/discounted price occassionally offerred.

This Concerto No.12 in A major(KV 414) is not technically difficult as the Rachmaninof or Tchaikovsky concertos, although it is full of tricks. The key is the correct fingering suited to the anatomy of your hand combined with diligent practice until the acceptable sound with the right dynamics is attained. It is recommended that you tape yourself to hear how you sound and note carefully your shortcomings that need improvement. You may be surprised to note difference in hearing how you sound sitting on the piano bench and how you sound sitting on the sofa listening to your tape.

I have completely memorized the 1st Movement(Allegro) and working on the 2nd(Andante) and maybe to the 3rd(Allegretto). But the 1st Movement is just beautiful, more so than the 3rd to me. Here's an except of Mozart's letter to his father in 1782 concerning his Piano Concertos,the K413,the K414( this one) and the K 415:
Vienna, Dec.28,1782. " Dear father, These concertos are a happy medium between the too easy and the too difficult;they are brilliant,pleasing to the ear, and natural without being vapid. There are passages here and there from which connoiseurs alone can derive satisfaction; but these passages are written in such a way that the less learned cannot fail to be pleased,even without knowing why. Your son, Wolfgang."

In closing, I would like to highly commend MUSIC MINUS ONE's idea of bringing the accompanying orchestra to the home. And of course, the pianist David Syme in this CD definitely deserves praise for a wonderful performance.The Sheet Music is easy to read and easy to prop on your piano's music rest unlike thoe highly frustrating thick "rigid" music books whose pages keep flipping very irritatingly and unceasingly. Five stars for this product.

Very well done. It would be even better if one of the two listening tracks (the complete piano and orchestra versions) did not have the timing beats which can sometimes be annoying.

As an amateur pianist and singer, I am very excited by the products offered by MMO (Music Minus One). Any practicing musician would know that it is not easy to find good accompaniments and a full orchestra accompaniment is almost only available to professional musicians. This certainly makes learning any piano concerto from the romantic period or arias from operas less motivating. MMO offers an impressive collection of music from classical to jazz and pop. The Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op.54 contains a clearly printed score, a recording with the soloist and the orchestra and then the whole concerto again without the soloist. Although it may not be the best recording of this concerto I have ever heard, I liked this recording of the Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra with Kevin Class as the soloist. The tempo is also very good, which is important. There are tapping sounds at each of the solo entries for one to get use to the tempo. Of course, for real performances one would like to turn these taps off. I have read that this can be done, because the taps are isolated on the right channel and can be emphasized or reduced by adjusting ones stereo's balance control. MMO also offers specialized CD players and recorders which allow their products being played in variable speed while maintaining proper pitch. They are also very helpful and quick in responding to requests.
In short I think this is really an excellent product for practicing, auditions and private performances. I do not think I would ever get the chance to 'play with' Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra otherwise. ;-) Hope you will enjoy this product as well!

Conlon Nancarrow was a creative genious. Although quite possibly the most rhythmically complex and original music ever composed in its time, his music sounds pleasant enough to appeal to those who have no (vested) interest in the science of music. In addition to introducing the man behind the music, this book provides a thorough and accurate analysis of the numerous rhythmic/melodic devices first used by Nancarrow. I believe many of the concepts (such as the hypermeasure) presented in this book point toward the inevitable future of World Art Music. Reading this book has inspired numerous of my own compositions, as well as rhythm etudes which have liberated my sense of meter as a jazz improviser. This book is essential reading not only for Nancarrow enthusiasts, but also for those searching for new directions to explore, and those interested in the convergence of Western Art Music and World Music (such as North Indian classical).

This outstanding book is on par with The New York Library collection of Scott Joplin and the emerging ragtime collections being published on Joseph Lamb, Tom Turpin, Arti Matthews, and others.

Unless you're unhappy with the song selection, I don't think anyone would be disappointed by this book of piano scores. The music is well notated so you won't have to strain your eyes while playing, and they didn't over do it with the dynamic indications. They didn't include pedal markers, but that shouldn't be a problem. As for the level of difficulty, most of the songs are pretty simple, but it can get a little tough at times. But if you're good at fast paced arpeggios with your left hand, you've got nothing to worry about. Also, I've been transcribing Tim's music to supplement my university ear training courses. I would highly recommend anyone with an interest in tuning up their ears to buy some of Tim's CD's and use this piano score as an answer key for your transcriptions.

This text is a great resource for any teacher who wants or needs to use music in their classroom. Many times as music educators we are expected to teach in areas we do not feel the best at. As a music teacher this will add to your confidence and give you creative ideas for class. As a classroom teacher, it will help you understand music and music notation beyond what your students need so that you feel confident to teach the basics to your students and use music as a supplemental tool in your teaching. I highly recommend this text.