Alison’s Piano Book
Scafra Preludes
Third Sonata
Moto Interrotto
Moto Ripreso
Boogie Books (teaching)
Improvisation pieces suitable for,
or including, piano
Dedicated to my wife Alison (Anna Magdalena style) This book contains the collected piano music
from my whole life (so far) – except Third Sonata and Scafra Preludes, published
separately (see
below). Starting with the tiny Prelude in G flat written when I was about 8 there are 15 pieces,
some of them occasional, some quite major, including a couple from
my youth, some from my
jazz-influenced 20s and 30s (such as Sonatina in Keith Jarrett mode) a Schumann pastiche in
memory of my father (who loved Romantic piano music) and moving on
to my later style,
substantial works such as the 3 movement dot music. There are also two duets.
118 pages plus introduction, notes for each piece and appendix.
Standard: varies from very
easy to difficult.
Impro: none.
Publisher: Dazzle Music £22.50
incl. p&p in UK
(overseas customers please email
me for prices)
Ten years in the making (1995-2005) these twelve Preludes are (if
you like) my ‘48’. With a Prelude
for each note of the chromatic scale, the whole set is an exposition
of my scafra style – basically a
method of composing using controlled repetition (but don’t expect
minimalism!) Each Prelude is
dedicated to a friend. The set is divided into four Books of three
Preludes, each Book containing a
toccata, a fantasia and a notturno. Preludes can be
played separately, in Books or as a complete set
lasting more than an hour.
103 pages plus introductory notes. A companion booklet, Scafra Preludes: Notes and Analyses is
available on this website (Articles) or in print (and better layout) on application (email me)
Standard: difficult.
Impro: none.
Publisher: Dazzle Music £22.50
incl. p&p in UK
(overseas customers please email
me for prices)
This major work, almost 2 hours in complete performance (though
individual sections can be done
alone) is the companion piece to Scafra Preludes. It is based on some of the same
material and
employs scafra as its formal principle. The big difference is that
this is partly an improvisation
piece. The six sections (each a 15 minute Sonata in its own right)
are
1. Cellini largely composed but with the opportunity for some improvisation
2. Boethius through-composed with no impro
3. Minotaur improvised on given modes with a certain amount of melodic guidance
4. Navratilova 56 starting points which you continue improvising
5. Bashô through-composed with no impro
6. Blueprint completely improvised from given modes
Each of the six Sonatas is identical in form and is composed and
improvised from the same
blueprint: so Third Sonata is, among other things, a gigantic set of semi-improvised variations.
101 pages plus introductory notes and appendix.
Standard: varies from easy to
difficult.
Impro: yes.
Publisher: Dazzle Music £22.50
incl. p&p in UK
(overseas customers please email me for prices)
A concerto-style piece (20
minutes) played against a pre-recorded backing (you can hear it on my
OVERLAYS CD: see CDs). In turns witty and moving, constantly changing style and occasionally
even employing deliberate pastiche, we find influences as far apart as Brahms, Herbie Hancock, John Lennon and John Cage rubbing shoulders. Ultimately, though, Moto Interrotto is typical
echt Runswick.
8 pages plus introductory notes and pre-recorded backing (in any format you want).
Standard: medium.
Impro: yes.
Publisher: Dazzle Music rental only (email me)
The companion piece to Moto
Interrotto
(15 minutes) played against a pre-recorded backing
(also on my OVERLAYS CD: see CDs). This is a much looser form than Moto Interrotto giving
the performer a freer rein. The solo part is completely improvised. 1 page plus introductory note and pre-recorded backing (in any format you want).
Standard: any.
Impro: yes.
Publisher: Dazzle Music rental only (email me)
Four books of jazz / pop teaching pieces:
BOOGIE FOR BEGINNERS: easy to medium
PLAY BOOGIE: medium to a bit hard
BOOGIE DUETS FOR BEGINNERS: easy to medium
PLAY BOOGIE DUETS: medium to a bit hard
Impro: none.
Publisher: Faber Music
Not Farewell
Dicing with De'Ath
Chinese Whispers
Set of 5