ANZCA Grade 5 Classical - Grieg's Poetic Tone Picture 6

Here's a slow-ish version of the tune for learning purposes. There are sudden changes in volume to observe, plus the coda must be practiced with emphasis on each quaver beat to get the feel right. Ooh, also notice the bit that gets loud and faster about two-thirds through - it's not me going all speed demon for the sake of it: the speed-up is one of the directions on the music - stringendo.

To listen to a full-speed performance of the tune, see my post on the Poetic Tone Pictures somewhere below here...

Poetic Tone Picture No. 6 - Edvard Grieg

ANZCA Grade 5 Classical - Grieg's Poetic Tone Pictures

Edvard Grieg might ring a bell for some of you, as Hall of the Mountain King has been known to have made an appearance at many a piano lesson. Here's some Poetic Tone Pictures you can do for Grade 5 - they're pretty flashy tunes, but with a lot of feeling. I really like them.

E. Grieg - Poetic Tone Picture Op. 3 No. 1

E. Grieg - Poetic Tone Picture Op. 3 No. 5

E. Grieg - Poetic Tone Picture Op. 3 No. 6

Image: Edvard and Nina Grieg at the piano, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/bergen_public_library/4007715671/sizes/m/in/photostream/

ANZCA Grade 5 Classical - world of Chopin

Frédéric Chopin is the kind of composer that you really can't avoid if you learn piano. But hey, that's a good thing, because he wrote some of the best piano music out there. Most of his music is for solo piano, and pieces like the Grade 5 ones below would have originally been played for fun in 'lounge rooms' throughout 19th century Europe, just like Chopin himself is doing in the picture. So carry on the tradition, and bring some Chopin into your lounge room!

F. Chopin - Mazurka Op. 7 No. 1

F. Chopin - Mazurka Op. Post. 68 No. 3

F. Chopin - Waltz in A minor (Op. Post.)

Bonus piece written by Chopin (slightly harder than Grade 5)

Image: Chopin Playing the Piano in Prince Radziwill's Salon, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chopinradziwill.jpg