Piano Festival / Female Composers

“Guide to the Pianist’s Repertoire” by Maurice Hinson: 1st edition, 1973, Indiana U. Press, ISBN 0-253-32700-8; 2nd edition, Indiana U. Press, call # ML 128 P3 H5 1987; 3rd edition due out in February, 2001. Ask your librarian, order from your favorite local bookstore, or try online:

The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers, ISBN 0-393-03487-9, 1995, McMillan Press Limited. Edited by Julie Anne Sadie & Rhian Samuel.

The International Encyclopedia of Women Composers in Two Volumes, 2nd Edition by Aaron I. Cohen.

A practical volume of piano music (intermediate to early advanced) by various women composers:

“At the Piano with Women Composers,” edited by Maurice Hinson, 1990, Alfred Publications catalog #428. (A little “strategy” thought: the Nocturne by Szymanowska in this volume would qualify a contestant for the “FEMALE COMPOSER” award, the “The Kawai America Award for Best Performance of a Romantic Period Work” award, and the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK” award!!)

Alfred also publishes delightful intermediate level music by Catherine Rollin (e.g., “Spotlight on Classical Style; 4 Original Pieces in Classical Style for the Intermediate Pianist,” Alfred catalog #6038).

“Women composers: Music through the ages,” edited by Martha Furman Schleifer and Sylvia Glickman:

---Vol 3, Composers Born 1700 to 1799: Keyboard Music, published by GK Hall, 1998, ISBN 0-7838-1612-X

---Vol 6, Composers Born 1800-1899 : Keyboard Music, published by GK Hall, 2000, ISBN 0-7838-8192-4

These volumes are very expensive, but worth it if you can afford it! Or, ask your local librarian (if they don’t have it, ask to get it by interlibrary loan), or click here to purchase:

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Amazon has used copies for sale!)}^*****

Dianne’s music is generally 20th/21st century in style, but also quite accessible. It runs the gamut from easier “teaching pieces” to wonderful “showcase virtuosic” pieces that appeal to macho teenage technique studs (e.g., “Sonata No. 1”). Her beautiful Chopinesque “Nocturne” was featured in the March/April 1999 issue of Piano & Keyboard magazine and would also qualify a contestant for the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF A LYRICAL AND PREDOMINANTLY SLOW WORK” award as well as the “BEST PERFORMANCE OF AN IMPRESSIONISTIC OR CONTEMPORARY WORK IN ANY STYLE!”

Several CDs of her music are available -- e.g.: - "Music by Dianne Goolkasian-Rahbee"

Compositions are performed by noted pianists Rebecca Raffaelli, Phyllis Alpert Lehrer, Tanya Bartevyan, Elise Jackendoff, Deborah Yardley Beers, Ena Bronstein Barton, and violinist Magdalena Suchecka Richter.

To purchase this CD or inquire about Rahbee's piano music and other CD's, contact Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee at:

(617) 489-1848
45 Common St.
Belmont, MA 02478-3022

The complete piano works of Rahbee are, or will be, published by:

The FJH Music Company
2525 Davie Road, Suite #360
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33317-7424
800-262-8744
or 1-954-382-6061
fax: 954-382-3073
e-mail: sales@fjhmusic.com
www.fjhmusic.com

Newly published by Rahbee: -- "Modern Miniatures for Piano Solo. Volume 1; Late Elementary/Intermediate," edited by Helen Marlais. FJH Music Co., Inc.

Other compositions by Rahbee include the following (if not yet available from FJH Music, please contact Rahbee directly):

Marjorie's CD, "The Music of Marjorie Burgess" is available by contacting Dr. Houle. Jazz, classical, rag & gospel solo & collaborative compositions are performed by pianists Arthur Houle, Del Parkinson & Mark Lutton, cellists Sam Smith & Sandy Kiefer, vocalists Marianne Saunders, Mari Jo Tynon, Brian Ocock, & Leslie Holmes, and xylophonist Mark Lutton.

Marjorie Burgess (1915 - 2005) was a versatile composer from Massachusetts whose works often won critical acclaim. Jazz, rag, gospel, folk, impressionistic, and neo-baroque styles are represented in the CD. Marjorie’s music is mostly at the intermediate level. However, students can “jazz up” and embellish considerably on many pieces -- the tunes are accessible but nonetheless very sophisticated. A good example is her gospel piece entitled “Halleluia!.” You will note that Houle’s recording (on the CD, mentioned above) is quite a bit “jazzed up” as compared to the printed versions (published principally by Willis Music/Hal Leonard).

You may call Willis Music Company toll free at 800-354-9799 or see below for online listings.

SHEET MUSIC BY MARJORIE BURGESS (for piano solo) is available at your local music store or see online at Willis Music/Hal Leonard.

(Strategy tip: a contestant who does something like this would qualify, at the very least, for the “FEMALE COMPOSER” award and the Best Demonstrations of SPONTANEITY AND/OR IMPROVISATION IN A JAZZ, POP OR RAG STYLE WORK” award!!)

Marjorie also has some unpublished gems (some of which are on the CD mentioned above). One terrific example (on the CD) is I’m Growing Far From You," which is essentially a fake chart. The CD has a cello/piano arrangement, but it is originally for piano solo. If Marjorie’s unpublished music interests you and you would like to get the music, contact Dr. Houle.

Alex Shapiro has written three solo piano works that might be of interest to students. Students could feel free to play just a single movement from either the 3-movement "Sonata for Piano," or the 5-movement "Piano Suite," if they don't wish to attempt the entire work.

Below are the links:

"Intermezzo for Piano"
(this is an easy, intermediate level piece that runs 3 minutes):

http://www.alexshapiro.org/ASWorks.html#Intermezzo

"Piano Suite No. 1: The Resonance of Childhood"
(this is an advanced intermediate piece that runs about 12 minutes total; it's made up of five short movements that can be played modularly):

http://www.alexshapiro.org/ASWorks.html#PianoSuite

"Sonata for Piano"
(this is an advanced three movement piece that comes in around 15 minutes; the last movement is a minute and a half scherzo that is a good show-piece):

http://www.alexshapiro.org/ASWorks.html#SonataforPiano

Prize strategy tip: the Intermezzo and the fourth movement of the Piano Suite, titled "For My Father," would also qualify in the category of "Best Performance of a Lyrical and Predominantly Slow Work."

Here are two advanced compositions by Marjorie Rusche, followed by her descriptions:

PIANO PORTRAITS: NIGHTWATCH -- 1. In Memorium 2. Bluesy Cantabile
is a 9 minute composition for solo piano, completed August 8, 2001.

In Memorium portrays the struggle for life of a patient in an intensive
care cardiac unit as well as the loved one's emotional fluctuations during
the night vigil. Rolled cluster chords open the work. A nine-note row motive
is then stated and repeated in varied from throughout the work. Rapid
cluster chord repetitions and arpeggios frame a calmer, more melodic and
tonal middle section. The movement ends quietly, with a varied lyrical
restatement of the first five notes of the row.
Bluesy Cantabile is the calm after the storm, the determination to go
ahead with life mixed with nostalgia. It opens with a melodic line
constructed from a D minor blues-inflected scale. The melody shifts to the
left hand with chords added in the right, then is developed in a more
contrapuntal texture. The music then transforms into chordal passages with
strongly stated expanded tertian harmonies which are then presented in
syncopation and stretto. Mirroring the process of the first movement's
ending, the second movement closes with a wistful and tranquilly subdued
restatement of the opening cantabile theme.

Requires an advanced player, this music contains several virtuosic passages.

For a copy of the score, please contact:

Marjorie M. Rusche
4524 Hickory Road #3-C
Mishawaka, IN 46545
E-mail: mmrusche@aol.com
Tel: (574) 243-1615

Another terrific composer is Melody Bober, a contemporary composer who writes generally intermediate, catchy, sophisticated and accessible music. Here is a list of her published music:

FJH Collections (http://www.fjhmusic.com/): Cyclone, Dynamic Duets Books 1 and 2, Folk Fantasies, Standing Ovations, Romantic Rhapsodies, Traditional Hymns, Tunes in Transit, From the Emerald Isle, The Best of Melody Bober books 1 and 2 and Christmas Encores Books 1 & 2

FJH Sheets: Canyons and Waterfalls, Tokyo Twilight, Summer Romance, Magnificent Monarch, A Reflection of Love, Sleighride Fantasy, Rodeo Roundup, Black Cat Scherzo, Crystal Palace Waltz, Daybreak in Dublin, A Sailor's Journey, Danse Romantique, Morning Vista, Remember When, Sweet n' Sassy, Agent X, Sundance Canyon, Lakeside Reverie, Midnight Rhapsody, Sonatina of the High Seas, Fantasy on Londonderry Aire.

Willis Collections: Melody in Moonlight, Melody in Action, Melody in Motion, Melody in Christmas, Melody in Seasons

Willis Sheets: Irish Suite, Country Frolic, Escapade, Reflections of Autumn, Starlight Starbright, A Song for You, Night Rider, Flight of the Eagle, Spring Rain, Roxanne's Waltz, Reverie (duet), Skating by Starlight, Rhapsody, Dream Interlude, Hungarian Dance, Loch Lomond, I Sing the Mighty Power of God

Lillenas (A Division of the Nazarene Publishing House): Praise in Many Colors

The music of Judith Zaimont, Professor of Composition at the University of Minnesota, is profiled in the April 2003 issue of Clavier. Visit her web site at:

http://www.jzaimont.com

Please note: All terms of this festival are contingent on fund-raising and subject to change.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FEMALE COMPOSITION PRIZE

*^{***** (}*^{$avings tip: see if
Amazon has used copies for sale!)}^*****

INFORMATION ABOUT THE FEMALE COMPOSITION PRIZE

***** ($avings tip: see if Amazon has used copies for sale!) *****

*^{***** (}*^{$avings tip: see if
Amazon has used copies for sale!)}^*****