Twenty Four Miniature Preludes: 24 Progressive Piano Solos.(Book Review)

Twenty Four Miniature Preludes: 24 Progressive Piano Solos, by Johnny Todd. The Willis Music Company (P.O. Box 548, Florence, KY 41022), 2004, 36 pp. $4.95. Late-elementary to early-intermediate.

This collection contains twenty-four preludes that progress counterclockwise around the Circle of Fifths, alternating through the major and relative minor keys. The descriptive subtitles given for each piece are helpful, as they suggest the character or style in which each should be performed. The tempo markings also use descriptive words, with a specific metronome marking given for each piece. The first two pieces, for example, are "Sunbeams in C Major" ("lightly" at 88 to the quarter note) and "Little Gray Cloud in A Minor" ("seriously" at 84 to the quarter note). The composer provides clear indications for dynamics, pedaling and phrasing. Many of the preludes require a minimal use of the damper pedal, while preludes No. 7 ("The Palace Guard"), No. 10 ("Autumn Sky") and No. 16 ("The Wise One"), require extensive use of legato pedaling.

Some of the technical elements presented in these pieces are running passages, arpeggios, broken octaves, four-note chords and held notes with additional moving or repeated notes in the same hand. While these may present obstacles for some students, the most challenging component in these ...