At The Leading Note, we are always pleased when we bring in new music from Canadian publishers. This week we received some new books from Red Leaf Pianoworks that will be of interest to piano teachers. Red Leaf Pianoworks is an independent publisher established by a collective of Canadian composers interested in “bringing you the latest in exciting new piano repertoire.” The collective represents composers from across Canada: Maple Ridge, British Columbia; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Kingston, Toronto, and Ottawa, Ontario; and Hantsport, Nova Scotia.
All composers represented by Red Leaf Pianoworks are themselves piano teachers so many of their publications are intended for piano students at the elementary or intermediate level. Here are a few highlights from their catalogue:
Rebekah Maxner: Titanic: A Voyage in Piano Music
|
|
This collection, arranged by Rebekah Maxner of Hantsport, Nova Scotia, tells through music the story of the Titanic famous voyage from 1912. The book contains piano arrangements of popular music from the period as well as original music by Maxner. Famous pieces include Elgar’s Salut d’amour and Lehar’s The Merry Widow Waltz. Each piece is arranged as a solo for the student with an optional duet part for the teacher (or a sibling, perhaps?). Two levels are available: Elementary and Intermediate. This book will introduce the student to some popular classics in the repertoire and offers the opportunity to learn about an interesting historical tragedy. |
Martha Hill Duncan: Cottage Days
|
|
These eleven original compositions by Kingston’s Martha Hill Duncan narrate one of the favourite pastimes of Canadians: summer at the cottage. These pieces are ideal for the intermediate student and include a variety of technical challenges, including rhythmic patterns, playing from three staves, and a few extended techniques. The book is available with or without a CD. |
Teresa Richert: Northern Menagerie
|
|
There is a certain well-established tradition in the piano literature of composing short character pieces to reflect the qualities of animals. Teresa Richert, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, has composed a set of twelve pieces that represent the fauna she encounters in her hikes through the magnificent forests of the west coast. Some classic critters are included like bunnies, bats and bears, but the set also includes the squirrel, garter snake, chickadee, and a conversation between the owl and the sparrow. This collection presents a Canadian perspective on animal character pieces and showcases a variety of techniques suitable for the intermediate player. |
To find more titles from Red Leaf Pianoworks, search our online catalogue to find the list of titles we currently have in stock.
