The pieces in this volume were inspired by my students and intended for practical music making. My goal in composing them was to create melodious, instructive works that are fun to learn and practice, and which prepare students for the works of the great masters. Although the collection is intended for those starting their musical journey (the pieces were written with children in mind as there are no octaves in any of the works making them ideally suited for small hands), they can be played by pianists of any age and ability.
The pieces are written in a variety of forms and genres, from old dances (such as the Menuet and Waltz) through to polyphonic pieces and technically challenging works like the Toccatina and Tarantella. They cover key pianistic techniques and most important musical concepts (such as phrasing, structure, playing in various keys, use of pedals etc...). Further information on the works can be found in the NOTES section at the end of the volume, which serves as a guide to the pieces.
The title Clavier-Büchlein (which could be translated as “Little Piano Book”) is borrowed from J. S. Bach. His Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach is one of the earliest and most important collections of pieces assembled for instruction. It is a collection of remarkable quality, with a real breadth in the choice of repertoire as well as of the compositional and keyboard techniques that are explored in the works. It was a source of inspiration for this volume, with several pieces directly inspired by J. S. Bach. There are also pieces inspired by A. Vivaldi (A little concerto grosso), L. van Beethoven (Bagatelle 1), R. Schumann (Melody), F. Mendelssohn (Scherzo) and B. Bartók (Folk Dance), while other works evoke different moods and scenes (one of my absolute favourites is First Snow).
Ensemble playing, apart from being fun, is extremely important for a beginning musician, therefore my Clavier-Büchlein contains 11 pieces for piano four-hands, where the student can explore both the primo and secondo parts to improve reading in both treble and bass clefs. Several of these duet pieces also appear in solo versions, with the duet version serving as an easier introduction to the piece. I sincerely hope that the works in this book contribute to the available teaching and performance repertoire, and that pianists enjoy making music and playing pieces from this Clavier-Büchlein!
"This is wonderful new repertoire for students which is appropriate to their level - basically tailored especially to them. The collection of works is an excellent pedagogical tool and should be used by many teachers to great benefit for their students. Attractive, well-crafted, well-designed compositions." - Dr. Jeanell Carrigan
