Recessional: Piano
Recessional Sheet Music Preview

Recessional: Piano

Music by Randy Newman

Item: 00-PS-0016151
Digital Download
$3.99
Description
Randy Newman wrote this piece for Nonesuch Records' I Still Play, an album of 11 solo piano compositions written by label artists to honor Nonesuch's longtime president, Bob Hurwitz, on his 2017 shift to the Chairman Emeritus role after running the label for 32 years. I Still Play features works by John Adams, Laurie Anderson, Timo Andres, Louis Andriessen, Donnacha Dennehy, Philip Glass, Nico Muhly, Brad Mehldau, Steve Reich, Pat Metheny, and Randy Newman. The pieces have been recorded by Andres and fellow Nonesuch artist Jeremy Denk, as well as by Mehldau and Newman themselves.

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SKU: 00-PS-0016151

More about this title

About the Composer: Randy Newman

Randy Newman has spent decades crafting sophisticated pop and rock compositions that blend wit, harmonic complexity, and emotional directness. His work spans film scores, concept albums, and theatrical pieces; he has received multiple Academy Award and Grammy nominations and brings the same narrative sensibility to instrumental writing that characterizes his vocal work.

Why we love this

Newman's piano writing carries the melodic clarity and harmonic invention you'd expect from a master songwriter, without ever feeling like a reduced arrangement. The piece works equally well as a recital closer or as part of a contemporary music showcase, and it offers pianists a chance to engage with a major popular composer's instrumental voice on their own terms.

What to expect

The piece carries a reflective, graceful quality that honors its purpose as a tribute while maintaining Newman's characteristic warmth and melodic charm. There's an understated sophistication here; the music moves with quiet confidence, neither seeking to dazzle nor retreating into sentimentality.

Who it's for

Pianists seeking accessible but musically substantial contemporary repertoire will find this piece direct and rewarding. It suits recitalists programming modern American composers and works particularly well for advanced students or professionals looking to expand beyond classical and jazz idioms.

How to get the most out of it

  • Listen to Jeremy Denk's or Newman's own recording of the piece to absorb the phrasing and harmonic weight; this helps you locate the emotional architecture beneath the surface.
  • Attend to tempo flexibility and rubato as interpretive tools rather than strict metronomic adherence; Newman's pop sensibility allows for natural breathing and subtle rhythmic give.
  • Balance the melodic line with accompanimental textures so the harmony remains audible without overwhelming the main ideas.

How to use it

Program this as a standalone contemporary work on a mixed recital, or pair it alongside other pieces from the I Still Play album to create a thematic concert exploring how major composers approach solo piano writing. It also serves beautifully as a concert closer or as a bridge between classical and popular music contexts.

Skills your students will build

  • Interpreting contemporary popular music with harmonic sophistication
  • Balancing melody and accompaniment in minimally notated contexts
  • Developing sensitivity to rubato and phrasing without metric rigidity
  • Understanding how film and theater composers approach instrumental storytelling

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