A good place to start with Bax's piano music.
349897
Most people discover Arnold Bax through his early, impressionist tone poems or his later, more northerly inspired symphonies. That he even wrote piano music is often not known. The piano was his instrument throughout his days at the Royal Academy of Music where he was noted for his ability to sight-read a full orchestral score and immediately play it. He chose not to pursue a concert career but the piano remained the place where he composed his orchestral works. His piano works fall into three groups: short works mostly composed before 1920 in an impressionistic style, Four piano sonatas composed in the twenties and thirties in a modernist style, ans a small group of piano duets mostly composed for the piano duo of Rae Robertson and Ethel Bartlett, who were his friends.

The short works are more accessible than the sonatas and many were popular in their day. Short piano works were highly sought after by music publishers because they were the principal source of sheet music sales, and Bax's works were usually published immediately. This was not an issue for Bax, who was independently wealthy, but he was happy to get his music played in the early years of his career. Mostly light and airy, often noted "Floating" by the composer, they are influenced by Debussy and among English composers are reminiscent of Cyril Scott. Many of the works including four here were written in the early days of his infatuation with the pianist Harriet Cohen and are dedicated to her. Of these four, two were essentially love songs to her: The Maiden With the Daffodil (his first impression of her at a tea party) and The Princess's Rose Garden. He wrote other such tributes to her (Nereid and A Romance) as well.

The two other works dedicated to Harriet were no about her but were dedicated to her because he liked the way she played them. These are A Mountain Mood and What the Minstrel Told Us. The latter was one of several works he wrote after the disaster of the 1916 Easter Uprising in Ireland, an event that, given his intense love of the country, was a traumatic event for him. It's the longest and most serious work here and an unusual choice to begin the program but very worthwhile though I believe it requires a few hearings to be appreciated. Ashley Wass brings out its Celtic character better than any other version I've heard.

Two of Bax's earliest compositions are here as well. The Two Russian Tone Poems go back to 1909 when he became so totally infatuated with the Russian ballerina, Natalia Skarginska,(or at least infatuated with some idealization of her)  that he followed her to the Ukraine where she promptly married a local youth. At least it produced the luscious May Night In the Ukraine with all its gentle beauty and the charmingly folk-like Gopak. Paean and Mediterranean are two brief works better known in their later, orchestrated versions. The first is a brassy, barbaric march; the second a musical postcard of a trip to Majorca with Balfour Gardiner, Gustav Holst and Bax's brother Clifford. The orchestrated version included castanets and is closer to British Light Music than anything else he ever wrote.

We're living in a time when most all of Bax's compositions are available for listening thanks to the Chandos and Naxos labels. I'm one of those who feel this composer deserves to be heard and was not deserving of the almost complete oblivion into which he had fallen. The availability of Cd's should remedy the problem's encountered in the concert hall by the fact that the rather free structure and complex orchestration of his orchestral works requires them to be heard a few times to apprehend them. As for the piano music, this disc is a good place to begin as is the similar program on the third volume of Eric Parkin's series for Chandos. Both pianists are committed to this music and I won't say one is better than the other. Ashley Wass is a bit more expansive on the two longer pieces, What the Minstrel Told Us and May Night in the Ukraine. Parkin tends to play more delicately overall.
2086661
"The Bells of St. Genevieve" is a compilation of Baroque pieces that would serve as an excellent introduction for someone who would like to hear more of the Baroque style beyond "Spring" from "The Four Seasons" or "Canon" by Pachelbel.  Granted, this cd does contain "Canon" (what Baroque compilation could resist including it), but it doesn't stop there.
I'm not an expert when it comes to Baroque music, but I am something beyond a beginner; I guess I'd consider myself a moderately knowledgable amateur.  However, before purchasing this album, I had never heard the title piece, "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba," or track # 10 "Guitar Concerto" by Vivaldi.  Some of the other tracks were familiar but not well-known to me.  I was also pleased to see the inclusion of the turbulent Presto from "Summer" instead of the ubiquitous "Spring."
Compilations are often quite useful in helping neophytes get a better understanding and appreciation for classical music (I know they've helped me over the years).  Not all compilations are a good mix or contain decent recordings; many seem like carbon copies of each other.  This one, however, has good sound quality and great recordings from the likes of James Galway, Pinchas Zukerman, Canadian Brass, and James Levine.
I recommend this album to anyone wishing to branch out a bit in Baroque music but who is not sure where to start.  I've discovered new favorites from listening to this album.
1896437
I have gone through the first five books of The Complete Piano Player, with the guidance of a teacher. This organ course is similar - everything appears to be there and it is not hard to understand. I think you still would need the help of someone who has learned a piano or organ from time to time though. I like all the songs in it too. I have done the first book of the Organ player and found it very pleasant to do.
3639779
If you can find this rare book,I totally recommend it for adults coming back to the piano after several years. Concise, compelling, good advice, and a wonderful compendium of repertoire to consider. Mind you, don't be a slave to these recommendations, but all in all, it's a good kick in the pants to get back to the dang dusty instrument in the corner  yeah, you know who I'm talkin' to  and start playing again. Do it, for Gawd's sake!
4549639
This is a series of musical letters two composers have written to one another.  It is meant to be played with two adjoining pianos. The "letters" build on common themes, all in moods that are at once romantic and minimalist.  I liked most of the letters at first, and over time I have grown to love some of the letters.  A few are overly repetitive and not that interesting melodically.  As a whole, it is a very good piece. The nice thing about the digital recording is that the tracks are separate and one can cease listening to the few so-so tracks if you care to.

I believe these are played by the composers.  I have heard two versions online where I thought the pianism was a little better, but the sound was too reverberant and the pianos did not seem like the best. So this is a good choice.

I wish a few duo-pianists would record this -- and for me the dream team would be Val Lisitsa and Gryaznov. (Lisitsa's husband, an excellent pianist, seem to have retired from public playing.)
1195404
All the best piano music included but thought the quality of the individual pianist was generally good - but not great
3752760
I got this used for a great price.  The highlights and notes in the margin on this particular copy gave it charm and actually proved to be helpful.  Bought to learn "The Child is Gone" specifically, but ended up enjoying this album all over again from this purchase.
The content musically was enough for me to work on, as I usually go by the guitar chords and go from there.  Can't say yet if the music part itself is hearty enough to satisfy a seasoned piano player who can read music fluidly.
2006927
My kids as well as my husband love this piano.  It is a good way to tell if your child will be interested in learning piano and getting the basics down.  It won't replace lessons but it is a good place to start.  Even if they aren't bound for piano greatness, it is fun.  The 49 key station is definately the way to go. The other would be too small.
1958758
I bought this book because it has La Boheme. There are a couple of other good classics in here as well.  It is well presented for piano and voice but lyrics and music can be on  different pages so until you know all lyrics you will have to deal with that.  Otherwise a decent book.
1743918
I can partially share one reviewer's opinion that much of this music seems repetitive and certainly that is somewhat the case, but I only listen to one disc at a sitting.  It takes time to get to know these sonatas.  The Mozart sonatas are more widely performed, and therefore known to the music listening public.  At this point in my experience, I must admit that I prefer the Mozart sonatas, but I am gaining an appreciation for those of Haydn.

The quality of the recording is good with very little background noise or noticeable distortion.  The piano seem OK for the type of music and if one reviewer thinks these are twangy, listen to these sonatas on an eighteenth century pianoforte.

Mr. McCabe is a competent player without any idiosyncracies which seems in keeping with these sonatas.

I received a boxed set that had two disc sixes and no disc three.  Ah, German precision.
560407
this is a nice edition with lots of discussion, including discussion by the author, prefacing the music at the beginning. mikrokosmos is a great way to learn piano and be exposed simultaneously to a modal oriented harmonic language
3415666
William Alwyn once said that he "loved the piano with an enduring love" and this fine anthology of his piano music certainly reflects that. The program opens on a strong note with the Sonata alla toccata (1946) a three movement work that reflects some of the neo-classical approach Alwyn adopted post-1939, blended with a healthy dose of romanticism. The three appealing works that follow, Green Hills, Cricketty Mill and Prelude and Fugue formed on an Indian Scale, have an English impressionistic cast to them. All of this music is immediately approachable and wears repeated listenings quite well.

Frankly the next four pieces, Haze of Noon, Harvest Home, Fancy Free and April Morn, are far less substantial, and after my first hearing I was not surprised to read that they are teaching works. They are trifles compared to what comes before, and especially after, which are the Fantasy Waltzes (1956), a set of eleven pieces that Alwyn wrote after an inspiring visit to Grieg's home at Troldhaugen. The Waltzes are very impressive and it's obvious Alwyn put a great deal of attention into composing them. Not surprisingly they owe some debt to Grieg's Lyric Pieces, but also Tchaikovsky's Seasons not to mention Ravel, Debussy and of course Chopin. None of this makes them derivative-sounding; quite the contrary, as Alwyn speaks in his own musical language.

All of this music is new to me - indeed none of the pieces excluding the Sonata, Green Hills and Fantasy Waltzes have been recorded before - so I have no basis for comparison with other performances. Ashley Wass is a fine pianist who specializes in works from the British repertory, so his expertise in this material is assumed. The recorded sound is also excellent.

I hate to award only four stars, but in my opinion the educational pieces do not warrant inclusion in an anthology as fine as this. Otherwise five stars all the way.
1426384
Some of the songs didn't quite feel right and some of the music is quite difficult but overall this music book for piano is a pretty good interpretation of the orchestral arrangements.  It includes all the popular songs from Chess.
4304537
Nice collection for someone (like myself) who is beginning to learn more about classical music.  Most is very common (well known) pieces.
2815742
This is great collection of classic piano music, from early to modern. I use it to introduce children to this music world.
168649
This is another of my favorite piano albums. The selections are good and the piano quality is great (bass and treble).
1649825
I find the selection great and have used this anthology for two different concerts of Frank Sinatra Songs.  The music is very clear and succinct.  The only problem I find is that it is large to work well with on the piano.  As I do all the songs I use from memory, it is not a problem for me, but for my pianist it is a major hassle in the size it is printed in.

But, nevertheless, the selection is great.  I will try to get more selections of his in different books as long as most of the selections are new ones and not repeats of what is in here.