Hi.

Have been looking at British PIano music - and Stanford in particular.
I have also noticed the neglect with his piano music.

I was wondering have any of you recollections of teaching/ playing any of his piano music before and what standard were any of the pieces at. The only one I could find in a collection for a particular grade was lullaby - Grade 1.

I know that some of his pieces appeared on old syllabi, for example scherzo in 1919 but I don't have access to old syllabi.

Looking forward to hearing your opinions on his music if you have any but also details of the works for particular grades.

Cheers!

I play some of Stanfords pieces which are included in the ABRSM More Romantic Pieces and Short Romantic Pieces series. As I'm not at home I can't quite recall the names of the pieces but they're attractive, and around Grade 5 to 6. To my knowledge, there are no recordings available of his solo piano music. I don't keep a pc at home but I'll get back to you about the names of the pieces. I think one is an etude and the other maybe be called Aria in B, but not quite sure.

Thanks - I look forward to hearing your comments.

BTW there are two recordings of his piano music - op.92, op.132, op.163 and op.179

Quite interesting stuff I have to say , if a little dull at times.

It appears that I got a little confused, there is only one piece by Stanford, a prelude. I was getting him confused with a composer called Sterndale Bennet, who has several in the series, and he's really worth checking out. i ldid learn the Stanford piece, and it's a nice one, the book says the pieces are Grade 6 to 7. Thanks for the info about the recordings. You may be aware of a piece by Medtner called The Organgrinder, off topic I know, but I'm learning some of his pieces and that's one of them.

That's a shame - but still one piece is better than none at all.

I actually saw one of the recordings on ebay yesterday. They are difficult to come by.

A piece named after me - I will have to look into that.

Is there an opus number or something? or just simply called 'Me'???

It's from his Romantic Sketches for the Young Op 54, and it has a bit of a jazz/ragtime influence. Even though these pieces are for ''the young'' they look quite hard, and the easiest of them would be about grade 6. It's on the recent Hyperion double CD release of Medtners 'Skazki'(Tales) played by Hamish Milne. I bought it after getting Marc Andre Hamelins Hyperion recording of Medtners Forgotten Melodies, which is an amazing CD.

Hiya - have found it on naxos and listening to it now - I like it!!!!

Thanks for the suggestion!!


Doesn't sound the easiest though.

I'll put it on the list of to-buys!!!!

Have had to make a list as I went mad buying music and books in the last month!!!!!!!!!