Piano Concerto No.4 Barcarole by W. Bennett

I remember reading an interview with Joseph Brodsky, where he said that he doesn’t know any writers or poets who were incredibly talented, being unpublished in vivo. That may be correct in regard to composers either. But what is really bad, despite works of many of them were praised for some time, now they are overlooked. This happened to William Sterndale Bennett, one of the most innovative and passionate Romantic composers. Bennett doesn’t have a tenth of fame of his contemporaries, and it’s a real shame – I believe that his Piano Concerto No.4. Barcarole is just amazing. Sheet music of this piece is available for download here: Piano Concerto No.4. Barcarole.

Alpine Flower by Carl Bohm

Born in Germany, Carl Bohm was one of the key German composers. His chamber music and songs were always in demand and indirectly helped Brahms to gain recognition – works of the latter were published in virtue of Bohm’s earnings. Carl Bohm was well-known while alive, and, ironic as it is, while his namesake (Karl Böhm) is regarded as one of the most acknowledged conductors of the previous century, he is unfairly forgotten nowadays.

Bohm's Alpine Flower. Edelweiss is leisurely and mellow solo piano piece, salon music at its finest. It is available for download here: Alpine Flower. Edelweiss, Op.279 No.1.

Kikimora by Anatoly Lyadov

Kikimora is a symphonic poem of Anatoly Lyadov. Russian folkore is naturally a storehouse of curiosities, and many composers borrowed from it: both Lyadov and Mussorgsky have program pieces named after rebarbative old woman, living in a forest (Baba Yaga). Kikimora is another legendary villain, pygmy and meager. She is a wrecker, misanthrope, and exceptional vermin – one may die only seeing it. Kikimora is less reclusive than Baba Yaga, but having never heard of hygiene routines they spot the same fashion: dirty clothes and unkempt hair.

Watch devilishly spellbinding performance of Lyadov's piece below.

Full score is available here: Kikimora, op.63 sheet music.

Piano sheet music

Piano is a musical instrument like no other. No one has doubted its importance and unlikely ever will: piano is ageless, and that says it all; it’s hard to imagine what qualities instrument should possess to supplant piano. Expressive and versatile, it may sound vociferous or whispering, strident or restrained, depending on a performer’s mood and choice of composition. There is an incredible amount of piano sheet music to suit taste of everyone now: exercises for beginners, complicated etudes, and heartfelt compositions. You can browse the most popular scores and discover new names here: piano sheet music.

Nocturne in A Major by Alexander Mackenzie

Today we’re going to talk about Alexander Mackenzie, but before that I want to write a few words about Ignacy Jan Paderewski. What’s interesting about him? He was a composer and the second Prime Minister of Poland. What he has to do with Mackenzie? Well, Mackenzie was a composer and the second Prime Minister (only of Canada), too. Some people however disagree, thinking he wasn't a composer but Prime Minister only. Third parties claim that he was born in Scotland in 1847, composed oratorios, pieces, and folk music, and never visited Canada, not talking about any political activity which was alien to him.

Ambiguous as it is, everybody’s right. Alexander Mackenzie really was a Prime Minister of Canada, but there was another Alexander Mackenzie – Romantic composer, conductor, and character of our story. Thanks third parties, we know main facts of his biography. The only mismatch is a statement about him never crossing the border of Canada: Alexander Mackenzie visited several cities in 1903.

Mackenzie’s works inspired Canadians to found 11 choral societies and created incentives for musical renaissance in 19th century Britain. For all his merit he was knighted, even though he wasn’t a second Prime Minister of Canada (who was offered the same title but refused it thrice).

Sheet music of Nocturne in A Major, his classical piece, is available here:
Nocturne in A Major, Op.15 No.2.

A Night in Spring by Leopold Godowsky

People who don’t have much time to read biographies of composers think that case of Mozart who started composing when he was five years old is unique. But many wunderkinds were born since then – take Leopold Godowsky. By the age of five he had written several pieces and was accomplished violinist and pianist – mostly self-taught, by the way.

Godowsky is mainly known for his transcriptions of Chopin’s etudes; he attempted to make them more difficult and had success in that. He was one of the most respected pianists – his skill was admired both by listeners and colleagues. Busoni, for example, thought that no one but Godowsky contributed to piano technique and writing to such an extent after Liszt. For all that he did Godowsky deserves a greater recognition than he already has.

A Night in Spring, one of his classical pieces, is available for download here: A Night in Spring, Op.15 No.2

Polka for Piano by Mily Balakirev

Mily Balakirev was a virtuoso pianist, composer, and leader of The Five – a circle of composers united by intention of playing music which doesn’t borrow elements of European music and refers to traditional Russian motifs. Balakirev’s creativity was appreciated among the most talented of his colleagues: his Islamey was one of Franz Liszt’s favorites due to its challenging difficulty. Balakirev defined Russian orchestral music and used innovative techniques of composition. His pieces are melodically rich, subtle and beautiful.

Polka for Piano is an excellent introduction to Balakirev's legacy – score of this marvelous composition is available here: Polka for Piano.