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Delaware: The First State: Piano Sheet

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Delaware: The First State Cover Image
Delaware: The First State: Piano Sheet

Delaware: The First State: Piano Sheet

By Bernadine Johnson

Level: Late Intermediate

Item: 00-44335
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Delaware: The First State - Piano Suite: Piano

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Description
Delaware: The First State is a musical portrayal of some of our nation's early history. "Liberty and Independence" is bold and distinctive, representing freedom. It includes octaves, full bitonal chords, and a few measures of irregular meter. The middle section represents a more traditional chord structure and simpler harmonies. "The Delaware Coast" is flowing, with a left hand melody throughout that frequently crosses over the right hand. Constantly moving 16th notes depict the gentle simplicity of the breezy coastline. "Peaches and Holly Rag" concludes this suite on a happy, lighthearted note. It begins in F major, moves to B-flat major, and ends in the original key of F major. A Joplinesque feel is achieved through a syncopated melody and steady quarter-note bass line. There are octaves and abundant leaps in the left hand as well as mixed articulations between the hands. A Federation Festivals 2020-2024 selection.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Delaware: The First State: Piano Sheet comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Additional Details
Series: Recital Suite Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 12
ISBN10: 1-4706-2293-9
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-2293-0
UPC: 038081499567
SKU: 00-44335

More about this title

About the Composer: Bernadine Johnson

Bernadine Johnson

Bernadine Johnson earned her B.A. in Music Education from Indiana Wesleyan University and received the Fine Arts Department Alumni Award in 1992. She maintains a piano studio in Fremont, Michigan, where she teaches students across all ages and ability levels, and serves as an active member of the Grand Rapids Piano Teacher's Forum, Michigan Music Teacher's Association, and Newaygo County Piano Teacher's Group. She received the Newaygo County Cultural Programs Award in 1999 and has served as both a faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and an adjudicator for the Michigan State Band & Orchestra Association.

Johnson has collaborated on innovative Alfred publications including A Night at the Ballet and A Night at the Opera, and has authored numerous solo works and suites for piano students. Her compositions combine accessible writing with genuine musical substance, making them valuable additions to recital and festival repertoire.

Why we love this

Johnson crafts each movement with distinct personality and technical purpose. The suite balances contemporary compositional elements (bitonal chords, irregular meters, syncopation) with late intermediate accessibility, and its Festival selection status confirms its quality for both recital performance and adjudicated competition.

What to expect

This suite moves from bold, freedom-inspired declaration through a serene coastal landscape into playful, syncopated celebration. Johnson's writing balances modernist harmonic language with tuneful, memorable ideas, creating a work that feels both substantive and rewarding to perform.

Who it's for

Late intermediate pianists preparing for recitals or festival competition will find this suite immediately engaging. The three-movement structure and varied technical demands offer genuine challenge without exceeding the level, while the historical and programmatic content appeals to students who connect with musical storytelling.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the octaves and chords in 'Liberty and Independence' so they project without sacrificing clarity; these thick sonorities need even voicing across both hands.
  • In 'The Delaware Coast,' let the constantly moving sixteenth notes remain transparent by keeping them light and even in tempo; the left hand melody will emerge naturally without forcing.
  • Treat 'Peaches and Holly Rag' like a genuine ragtime piece: maintain a rock-steady quarter-note bass pulse while allowing the syncopated melody to breathe and swing slightly against it.
  • Mark the modulations from F to B-flat and back in the final movement so you can shape the harmonic journey; these key changes reward thoughtful preparation.

How to use it

Program this as a complete suite on a recital to showcase range and technical growth in a single piece, or extract individual movements to pair with contrasting repertoire. Its Festival selection history makes it a natural choice for competition programming.

Skills your students will build

  • Navigating bitonal and quartal harmony
  • Performing irregular meters (as featured in 'Liberty and Independence')
  • Managing left hand independence when it crosses above the right hand and carries melody
  • Executing octaves and block chords with evenness and control
  • Sustaining steady rhythmic pulse in ragtime style with syncopated upper voices
  • Playing mixed articulations between the hands
  • Executing rapid figuration (sixteenth notes) with clarity and consistent tempo
  • Handling key modulations with musical intent

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