Classics for the Advancing Pianist: Edward MacDowell 1-3 (Value Pack) Cover Image

Classics for the Advancing Pianist: Edward MacDowell 1-3 (Value Pack): Piano Packet

$19.00 USD
$19.00 USD
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Classics for the Advancing Pianist: Edward MacDowell 1-3 (Value Pack) Cover Image
Classics for the Advancing Pianist: Edward MacDowell 1-3 (Value Pack): Piano Packet

Classics for the Advancing Pianist: Edward MacDowell 1-3 (Value Pack): Piano Packet

Ed. Nancy Bachus

Level: Intermediate / Advanced

Item: 00-106585
$19.00
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Description
The Classics for the Advancing Pianist series provides motivating, enjoyable literature of substantial quality for developing keyboard artists. The pieces in these books, written by Edward MacDowell and ordered in a logical progression from volume to volume, help the performer work within his or her abilities while developing playing and listening skills. This standard teaching repertoire will help build technique and musicianship, as well as offer hours of personal enjoyment.

Book 1 titles: Alla Tarantella, Op. 39, No. 2 * Beauty in the Rose Garden, Op. 4, No. 3 * Bluette, Op. 7, No. 5 * In Autumn, Op. 51, No. 4 * Song, Op. 55, No. 5 * A Tin Soldier's Love, Op. 7, No. 1 * To a Hummingbird, Op. 7, No. 2 * To a Wild Rose, Op. 51, No. 1.
Book 2 titles: The Brook, Op. 32, No. 2 * Hungarian, Op. 39, No. 12 * Improvisation, Op. 46, No. 4 * Scotch Poem, Op. 31, No. 2 * Shadow Dance, Op. 39, No. 8 * Sung Outside the Prince's Door, Op. 4, No. 1 * To a Water Lily, Op. 51, No. 6 * To an Old White Pine, Op. 62, No. 7.
Book 3 titles: Arabeske, Op. 39, No. 4 * Étude de Concert, Op. 36 * Praeludium, Op. 10, No. 1 * Rigaudon, Op. 49, No. 2 * Witches' Dance (Hexentanz), Op. 17, No. 2.

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Additional Details
Series: Classics for the Advancing Pianist
Publisher: Alfred Music
UPC: 038081217819
SKU: 00-106585

More about this title

About the Creator: Edward MacDowell

Edward MacDowell (1860, 1908) stands as one of America's most significant composers of the Romantic era, bridging European classical tradition with distinctly American artistic voice. A virtuoso pianist and respected teacher, MacDowell spent his career elevating keyboard literature while maintaining a deep commitment to composition that balanced technical brilliance with genuine lyricism. His pedagogical approach shaped generations of pianists, and his works remain central to piano curricula because they demand musicianship alongside technique.

MacDowell's output spans ambitious orchestral works and intimate character pieces, but his piano compositions reveal his genius for concise, evocative storytelling. Pieces like "To a Wild Rose" and "To a Water Lily" showcase his gift for capturing mood and atmosphere without sacrificing harmonic sophistication. His influence on American music education runs deep; teachers continue to assign his work because it develops serious players while remaining genuinely enjoyable to perform.

Why we love this

This three-book collection lets advancing pianists work through substantial MacDowell repertoire in a logical sequence without hunting through scattered editions. The variety across these volumes is exceptional: you get character pieces, études, and dance forms that build technical and musical demands incrementally while maintaining the kind of melodic appeal that keeps students engaged.

What to expect

MacDowell's world is intimate yet colorful, full of natural imagery and gentle storytelling. These pieces evoke gardens, forests, and quiet moments of reflection, yet they never feel precious or slight; there's genuine harmonic sophistication and emotional depth beneath the lyrical surface. Playing them transports you into a distinctly late-Romantic sensibility infused with American character.

Who it's for

Intermediate-to-advanced pianists ready to explore substantial Romantic repertoire by a major American composer. Teachers assembling curriculum will appreciate having three graded volumes that allow students to progress through MacDowell's catalog systematically while building both technique and interpretive independence.

How to get the most out of it

  • Bring out the descriptive titles as interpretive guides. "To a Hummingbird" benefits from lighter touch and clarity in the rapid passagework; "Shadow Dance" invites you to explore rhythmic independence between the hands.
  • Pay close attention to MacDowell's harmonic language, which often shifts color subtly within phrases. These shifts anchor the emotional arc of each piece and reward listeners who hear them clearly.
  • In the more technically demanding pieces like "Étude de Concert" and "Witches' Dance," balance passage work with the underlying melodic intent. Technical display means nothing without musical purpose.
  • Respect the tempo indications and character markings. MacDowell's notation is precise, and honoring those details reveals how carefully he constructed each work.

How to use it

Use these volumes to anchor a studio or classroom focus on American Romantic composers, or weave individual pieces into recitals throughout the year as students progress through the books. The character pieces work beautifully in school concerts and community performances; audiences respond immediately to the melodic and descriptive qualities while musicians appreciate the compositional craft beneath the surface.

Skills your students will build

  • Pedal control and harmonic color in a richly chromatic harmonic language
  • Phrasing and rubato within structured forms
  • Technical independence between hands (particularly in character pieces with independent rhythmic lines)
  • Interpretive choices based on descriptive titles and musical context
  • Understanding of late-Romantic keyboard writing and texture
  • Sight-reading confidence through systematic exposure to varied MacDowell idioms

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