In the midst of trying to prepare for my LRSM, I decided I needed a break and thought I'd find something fun to learn. Picked up Billy Mayerl's 'Marigold' and thought it would be what I needed. More than several hours down the line, and to the detriment of Beethoven and everything else I was SUPPOSED to have been practicing - it's an absolute nightmare! My fingers are dropping off and my wrists are shot!

Has anyone here given it a go - anyone got any advice?

I'm a huge fan of Billy Meyerl's work, but I have to confess that I too struggle with Marigold.

A lot of his stuff has similar chord progressions and sequences, so why don't you start with some of his easier stuff as a way in. His Autumn Crocus was on Grade 8 a few years ago - his Four Aces suite is playable (especially ace of hearts). My current favourite is the Song of the Fir-tree.

I would try to keep going with Marigold, but take it really slowly. I have a few recordings of Mayerl and I'm often struck by just how SLOWLY people play his stuff (and I wonder why I can't rattle through at a huge speed).

Good luck with Marigold - I think Mayerl deserves to be much better known!

Hey. I performed Marigold last year. It's a great piece to play and always seems to go down really well. the toughest bit that i found was the tremelo section on the second page. Try to keep you wrists relaxed through the whole piece, and remove as much tension as possible. You can get away with lots of rubato in a piece like marigold so if you need time to fit in a jump, run or chord take it. It's a fun piece with loads of jazz influences so enjoy it and dont get too bogged down with technique.

Excellent - another Meyerl fan!!

pianodude have you played any of his other pieces?

Autumn Crocus of course...i'm sure theres quite a few people that have played that over the past few years. I've played through the big book of his stuff just to explore a bit. I think railroad rhythm would be a good one for me to tackle next, its a brilliant piece.

Philip Fowke used to use lots of these as encores. thats how i originially heard of Mayerl. Fans are obviously in good company

Do any of you have a link to where I could hear a snippet of this 'Marigold'? it sounds really interesting and I hope that in a few decades to come I'll be able to play it!

Our excellent choir accompanist Jane Seymour played that at the choir's summer concert last year. Great fun! I couldn't remember ever having heard it before. It sounded pretty difficult. I've owned a copy of Marigold for many years but never performed it - I don't usually play solo repertoire, preferring chamber music, duets or accompanying.

http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Music-Billy-Ma...-1298251#disc_1

try this...its only amazon but you can get 30 sec samples of most of his music

thanks pianodude



uuuuuuuuuu, I've listened to it, itssssssss BEAUUUUUUUTIFUL, lucky you that you can play it! I think I'll buy the CD, it's on my shopping list now