Customer Reviews

Joy Of Classics (Joy Of...Series)

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Interesting collection of pieces from the 18th-19th centuries, 1/2 page to 2 pages long, which are presented in their original form with only cosmetic editing (no dumbing down/blandizing).

Includes lots of well known pieces like a Mendelsson Song Without Words, Tchaikowsky's The Doll's Funeral March, a Mazurka and a Waltz by Chopin, John Blow's Air, a Brahms Waltz, and lots of pieces by well known composers like three of the Bach family, Beethoven, Handel, Hayden, Liszt, Mozart, Schumann and Schubert (also numerous others which are less well known). Probably about half or more of the pieces are ones that I haven't come across before - good for sight reading practice and a bit of variety.

An excellent book for beginners in particular, with lots of things of varying difficulty that will keep you busy for a while and give you a taste of lots of composers.

I just picked up this book from our local library and played through several pieces this morning. They are marked easy, but I would call most of these more intermediate/early int.

These are not run-of the mill pieces, there is a "Feuille d'album" by Liszt and Beethoven pieces that are interesting and not the usual fare. A short piece by Pleyel will work excellently for weddings. So these pieces have practical application - short, playable pieces to fit into church services, etc.

I'm a harpist that often uses piano pieces in my gig book, and these are easy to pick up and polish. I have found so many here that are interesting and usable that I have decided to buy my own copy.