

They were originally published in 1797, and have remained popular with students and teacher alike. The Six Sonatinas are in effect mini Sonatas, each composed as a teaching tool to gradually become more difficult as they progress with the sixth being the most technically demanding. His output of music for the Piano adds a valuable collection of works that are delightful and challenging to play, capturing the spirit of his age. Six Sonatinas (Op.36) by Muzio ClementiĬlementi is sometimes overlooked as a composer of rather superficial music an approach that is somewhat unfair. It is best played without any pedal and not too fast until the staccato is fully under the fingers.ĥ.

This first piece is light and approachable with minimal hand movement. They feature in many of his other compositions bringing a very unique sound world to his compositions. It has been composed with Bartok’s complete understanding of what beginners are capable of achieving.Įach piece is also based on Hungarian Folk melodies that Bartok spent much of his life collecting and cataloguing. He titled the four volumes of pieces “For Children” and this is the first piece from volume one. I have chosen this piece as it is one of nearly eighty that the Hungarian composer Bartok wrote especially for young pianists. Children at Play (Volume 1 No.1) by Bela Bartok There is certainly a dance-like quality to the pieces as they are written with three main beats to the bar, but for me, there is a great appeal in the calm, tranquillity they seem to evoke for both player and audience.Ĥ. Much debate surrounds the origins of the name Gymnopédie, and it is suggested by some that it refers to an ancient Greek dance that was performed by naked young men. The three short pieces were published in Paris around 1888 and have enjoyed immense popularity, particularly in the last fifty years. They are outwardly simple in as much as their melodies and harmonies are not technically demanding for less experienced hands. These pieces require a strong degree of control of tempo and balance. There are many similarities to Bach’s great 48 Preludes and Fugues in this little Prelude and it offers any pianist a good introduction to the music of this Master. There is a feeling of it being improvised throughout and the entire piece is based on a single semi-quaver motive that sounds throughout. It is a charming piece that has all the characteristics, Bach. The exact date of the work is not clear but it was probably somewhere between 17. Various piano arrangements exist freely online. The work was originally composer for the Lute-Harpsichord but has been successfully arranged for many other instruments over the years. It is often played quite quickly which can detract from the harmonic subtleties that lie just below the moving surface. In terms of technical demand, this little Prelude by Bach is a step up from the Ode to Joy above. The original melody was composed in D major, but for ease of performance, many beginner versions are transposed into C major.Ģ.
#The happy farmer piano full
It is a work full of hope and this melody is filled with possibility and brightness. This Symphony paved the way for the creative explosion that was the Romantic movement though it’s innovative use of form and forward-looking harmonic unification. The melody comes from the last movement of his final Symphony the ninth. Ode To Joy (from the 9 th Symphony) by BeethovenĮven though this melody is somewhat overplayed these days, it is a testament to Beethoven’s remarkable ability to create a memorable and very playable tune.

I am going to take a short stroll through some of the options available that will serve as a starting point for further study. Publishers like the Associated Board of the Royal College of Music is a good place to start, perhaps with some Grade One pieces. The good news is quite often these kinds of pieces are published in a single volume, making the price cheaper and giving you a collection from which to explore the piano. Choosing where to start as a beginner on the piano can be daunting, especially if you do not have the luxury of a teacher to guide you.
