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Twelve Compositions: Piano Book

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Twelve Compositions: Piano Book

Twelve Compositions: Piano Book

By John Blow

Item: 00-K03224
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Blow: Twelve Compositions: Piano Book

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Description
John Blow (1649--1708) was an English Baroque composer and organist, appointed to Westminster Abbey in 1669. His pupils included William Croft, Jeremiah Clarke and Henry Purcell. This collection includes: Almand I in A * Almand II in D * Chacone I in G Minor * Chacone II in F * Courante in C * Fugue in C * Ground I in E Minor * Ground II in G * Ground III in G * Prelude in C * Preludium in C * Preludium in G.

Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Twelve Compositions: Piano Book 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: Kalmus Edition
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 40
ISBN10: 0-7579-8271-9
ISBN13: 978-0-7579-8271-2
UPC: 654979027706
SKU: 00-K03224

More about this title

About the Composer: John Blow

John Blow (1649–1708) was a central figure in English Baroque music and one of the most influential organists of his generation. Appointed to Westminster Abbey in 1669, he shaped the musical life of England's most important cathedral while composing prolifically across sacred and instrumental genres. His teaching legacy proved equally significant: he mentored William Croft, Jeremiah Clarke, and most notably Henry Purcell, who would become England's greatest Baroque composer.

Blow's instrumental music, including the works in this collection, demonstrates the sophisticated harmonic language and structural clarity that defined his compositional voice. His keyboard works synthesize French and Italian influences while establishing distinctly English characteristics, making them essential repertoire for understanding the development of Baroque keyboard music.

Why we love this

This collection showcases the harmonic sophistication and structural variety that made Blow indispensable to his students and peers. Each piece spans different Baroque keyboard forms (almands, chaconnes, grounds, preludes, fugue) in a manageable 40-page volume, allowing pianists to explore multiple genres without overwhelming length. Programming these works alongside better-known Baroque composers reveals how deeply English keyboard music influenced the composers who followed.

What to expect

These works balance intellectual rigor with genuine lyricism. The almands and courantes sing with restrained elegance; the chaconnes and grounds build cumulative intensity through repetition and harmonic exploration; the preludes establish moods with economy and grace. Throughout, Blow's voice remains clear: methodical but never dry, ornamental but never fussy.

Who it's for

Intermediate to advanced pianists seeking substantial Baroque keyboard repertoire beyond the standard Bach and Handel selections. Teachers building curricula around English Baroque music or composers who influenced Purcell will find this collection both practical and historically grounding.

How to get the most out of it

  • Approach the chaconnes and grounds as harmonic laboratories. These forms work variations over a repeating bass line, so clarity in the accompaniment figure allows the upper voice inventions to emerge naturally.
  • Shape each almand and courante with the rhythmic sophistication of French dance idioms. Resist modern evenness; gentle inequality and strategic rubato honor Baroque performance conventions.
  • Use the fugue to clarify voice independence. At this harmonic density, clean part writing and rhythmic precision prevent muddiness more effectively than pedal.

How to use it

Feature individual pieces as recital openers or interludes between larger works. A prelude paired with a fugue creates a focused program unit. For educational contexts, compare a Blow ground with a Purcell ground to illuminate the student-master relationship.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading figured bass notation and realizing harmonic implications
  • Maintaining rhythmic integrity in dance forms while applying historical ornamentation
  • Sustaining musical interest through variations over a repeating bass
  • Balancing multiple voice lines in contrapuntal writing
  • Understanding how French and Italian keyboard idioms shaped English Baroque style

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