Twelve Timely Pieces (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780949683175)

Twelve imaginative and tuneful pieces by composer Margaret Brandman, exploring time signatures ranging from 2/4 to 7/4. Beginning with tunes in easy keys, the set of pieces gradually extends the musical skills required up to the final pieces in grade 6. The collection presents a piece in each major and relative minor key up to two sharps and two flats. Many of the compositions are included as examination set pieces in various Australian examination syllabuses.

Each tune is catchy and melodic, using such devices as the fun sound of parallel fifths, the unusual qualities of modes and modal harmonies and some intriguing rhythmic twists. Some pieces are vigorously rhythmic while others are quite ambient in nature, incorporating modern jazz oriented chord sounds such as major sevenths or chords which incorporate the extension degrees of 9th, 11th or 13th.

The tunes lay well in hand position and area changes are indicated by 'key fingering', making them not only easy to read, but also facilitating the technical aspects required to play them. The pieces provide supplementary material and consolidation of the areas covered in Books 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B of Brandman's Contemporary Piano Method.

Recordings of the pieces are available on the CD IMAGES. For a detailed description of each piece go to the IMAGES page on www.margaretbrandman.com

Contents and keys:

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, (C Major)
Mongolian Knights ( A Natural Minor - Aeolian Mode)
Charlie's Cheerful Chune (C Major)
Sammy's Sad Soul (A Minor)
Celtic Country Dance ( G Major)
The Lonesome Bat (E minor)
No.5 is Alive ( F Major)
Spider on the Mirror ( D minor)
Minnamurra Rainforest Dreaming ( D Major)
Sleepy Creepy Ghost Story (B minor)
Code B ( Morse Code) (Bb Major)
Snow Gums in the Moonlight ( G minor)