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Songbook Review: The Warmth of the Sun EP
Chris Nole
Cover image of the songbook The Warmth of the Sun EP by Chris Nole
The Warmth of the Sun EP
Chris Nole
2021 / Strathmere Music
Review by Kathy Parsons
The Warmth of the Sun is the companion sheet music for Chris Nole's solo piano EP by the same name. A tribute to Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys, the four songs are "In My Room," "The Warmth of the Sun," "Surfer Girl," and "God Only Knows." Originally recorded and released from 1962-1966, these timeless classic rock songs are transformed to show their beauty and their essence as piano solos. Chris Nole's arrangements are not simple, but they are not overly difficult either, relying on expression and emotion to convey the meaning of each piece. I would put all four of the songs at a late-intermediate/early advanced playing level. The sheet music has been transcribed note-for-note from Chris' recording (I proofed it, so I know this to be true!) and are not transcriptions of the original Beach Boys recordings. All four songs are slow, expressive ballads, and Chris did a wonderful job of reinterpreting them.

The songs are available individually from www.SheetMusicPlus.com. They are beautifully transcribed, easy to read and include chord charts as well as dynamics and metronome settings. As a longtime piano teacher myself, I can highly recommend them as teaching pieces for any age group.

The titles, the keys they are in, and the number of pages are:

In My Room - Key of B (5 sharps) - 4 pages
The Warmth of the Sun - Key of C (0 sharps or flats) - 3 pages
Surfer Girl - Key of D (2 sharps)/Eb (3 flats) - 3 pages
God Only Knows - Key of A (3 sharps) - 4 pages


November 1, 2021