Pianist

Pianist magazine is adored internationally by those who love to play the piano. From Bach to Billy Joel, the magazine offers a wide range of music styles to learn from, as you don’t just read it – you play it too! With every issue, you’ll find 40 pages of selected sheet music (suitable for players of all levels) accompanied by specially recorded sound files. The sound files act as the perfect learning tool, so you can listen to a piece of music before you learn it. All you need to do is click on the ‘sound’ icon and turn the Scores pages with a light swipe of your finger. With Pianist magazine you can expect nothing less than the very best when it comes to playing the instrument you love. You’ll have everything you need to play like an expert, including notes on technique, pedalling and interpretation, sheet music reviews, Q&As, teaching tips, in-depth ‘How to Play’ masterclasses, readers’ letters, piano news, interviews with top concert pianists and so much more! And guess what? If you opt for the digital issue, you get FREE EXTRA Scores! From the basics of scale playing to the difficult stretches and fast runs, Pianist magazine is your top piano playing guide – giving you the confidence and expertise you need to play like a pro!

Nothing comes easy

Pianist

Your chance to HAVE YOUR SAY • EMAIL: editor@pianistmagazine.com WRITE TO: The Editor, Pianist, Warners Group Publications, The Maltings, West St, Bourne, PE10 9PH. Letters may be edited. Star Letter wins a CD.

Quirky waltz takes the prize • Announcing the winner of the 2022 Pianist Composing Competition

Makers under the spotlight RITMÜLLER • If it was good enough for Brahms, then… Matt Ash is impressed by one of the oldest names in piano manufacturing

Heaven in her pocket • … and on our shelves, in Elisabeth Leonskaja’s new Mozart sonata cycle. Finding the right balance of equilibrium and intensity in this music is the work of a lifetime, she tells Peter Quantrill

IN THE THICK OF IT MAKING THE MOST OF RICH TEXTURES • With an emphasis on Brahms inside this issue, Mark Tanner looks at one of the composer’s most challenging technical hurdles – that of working with complex textures

THE MEANING OF THE MUSIC ARTISTRY • How can one learn to play with finesse and with a real understanding of the score? Avoid repeated note-playing, aim to be ‘vocal’ and introduce the odd emoji, advises Graham Fitch

THE SCORES • Pianist 125 • Read the lessons • Play the scores

BEYER PREPARATORY SCHOOL FOR PIANO OP 101 NO 88 • A strong sense of rhythm is the key technical ingredient for making this attractive study come to life, says Melanie Spanswick

BRAHMS ALBUMBLATT (ALBUM LEAF) • Utterly beautiful in so many ways: Meet one of your new favourite pieces, says Nils Franke

BALAKIREV BERCEUSE • Magical from the first note, this intense Russian lullaby requires pianissimo finesse and clever use of finger pedalling. Balakirev expert Nicholas Walker talks you through it – butterflies and all

BEGINNERS KEYBOARD CLASS • LESSON 52: EVEN TRIPLETS

Cornelius GURLITT (1820-1901) 24 Melodic Studies Op 201 No 6

Melanie SPANSWICK In Another World

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) arr. Mark TANNER Waltz Op 39 No 15

Ferdinand BEYER (1803-1863) Preparatory School for Piano Op 101 No 88

Carl REINECKE (1824-1910) 24 Studies Op 121 No 1

Albert LOESCHHORN (1819-1905) Study in G minor

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Albumblatt

Cécile CHAMINADE (1857-1944) Pièce Romantique Op 9 No 1

Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949) arr. Max REGER (1873-1916) Morgen

Théodore LACK (1846-1921) Sicilienne Op 21

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897) Waltz Op 39 No 15

Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907) Lyric Piece Op 71 No 3,...