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Songbook Review: Best of Suzanne Ciani
Suzanne Ciani
Cover image of the songbook Best of Suzanne Ciani by Suzanne Ciani
Best of Suzanne Ciani
Suzanne Ciani
2007 / Hal Leonard
96 pages
Review by Kathy Parsons
The Best of Suzanne Ciani songbook is a compilation of fifteen pieces from several of Ciani’s recordings. Five of the pieces have not appeared in print before, and most of the other ten have revisions from previous books. Three pieces are from Ciani’s most recent album, “Silver Ship” (“Dentecane,” “For Lise,” and “Snow Crystals”), and “Celtic Nights” and “Pretend” appeared on “Pianissimo 3.” Suzanne Ciani does her own sheet music transcriptions, so these pieces are the way she plays them, not someone else’s interpretation, which is always a plus. Most of the revisions to the songs from earlier songbooks are small, but it’s interesting to note that the version of “Turning” that appeared in Ciani’s songbook of that name is in the key of Db which was for the singer on that recording. This new version is in the original key of E, which is the solo piano version as Suzanne plays it. No “best of” collection would be complete without “The Velocity of Love” or “Anthem,” and both songs are here, as are “Butterflies,” “Berceuse,” “Full Moon Sonata,” “Go Gently,” “La Mer,” “Meeting Mozart,” and “Sogno Agitato” - all Ciani classics. I would put the playing level range of the music from upper intermediate to fairly advanced, but there should be something for just about everyone in this lovely book. Recommended!
May 25, 2009
More reviews of Suzanne Ciani songbooks
Cover image of the songbook Turning by Suzanne Ciani
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