Three Pieces for the Young Pianist

(1) SHADOW RIDGE RAG - A spirited dance with infectious syncopation and some charming harmonic surprises.
(2) THE RIVER - An elegant new setting of a lovely English folk song.
(3) FLASH and DASH - A showy, extroverted piece filled with energy and unexpected glissandi.

Genre: Solo Piano | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium Easy | Duration: 4:30

Instrumentation
Solo Piano

Program Notes
As a young composition student at the Curtis Institute of Music, my teacher, Gian Carlo Menotti, suggested that I write some music for children. He believed that, when writing for children, a composer would soon discover what was true and honest and what was shallow artifice. I was soon to discover that he was right. One of my first published works was a children’s ballet entitled The Enchanted Lake. In 1966, I published my first series of piano pieces for children, A Lexicon of Beasties. They were dedicated to my daughters. I now have a 12-year-old son. It seemed fitting that I now write some pieces for him. He plays and enjoys these. It is my hope that they will give pleasure to many others.

(1) SHADOW RIDGE RAG - A spirited dance with infectious syncopation and some charming harmonic surprises.

(2) THE RIVER - An elegant new setting of a lovely English folk song.

(3) FLASH and DASH - A showy, extroverted piece filled with energy and unexpected glissandi.