Heller Selected Studies, Opus 45 and Opus 46 (w/CD).(Book review)

[website] Heller Selected Studies, Opus 45 and Opus 46 (w/CD), edited by William Westney. Hal Leonard Corp., (7777 W. Bluemound Rd., P.O. Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213), 2005, 62 pp. $12.95.

This new collection, one of Hal Leonard's attractively produced Schirmer Performance Editions, includes 16 pieces, eight each from Melodius Etudes, Op. 45 and Progressive Etudes, Op. 46, both of which were written in 1844, when Stephen Heller had secured his place in Parisian society. As editor William Westney points out in his excellent performance notes, these pieces not only develop various aspects of piano technique and interpretation, serving as "stepping stones" to the great literature of Chopin, Mendelssohn and others but offer well-crafted, interesting recital fare for the advancing student. The etudes range in difficulty from early-intermediate--"The Avalanche," Op. 45, No. 2 is included here--to the elaborate D-flat Major Novelette, Op. 46, No. 29, which has right-hand figurations that evoke Chopin's more mature works. Many of the works provide excellent opportunities for developing voicing: "Celestial Voices," with a tune that sounds like Mozart's "Voi che sapete," has the melody in the rich middle register of the piano, with arpeggiated figurations above--a sort of reverse of Chopin's "Aeolian Harp Etude." "Il Penseroso" and "Sailor's Song" present the melody in the left hand, and "Song of the Gondolier" shares the melody between the thumbs of the right and left hand. "Warrior's Song" can be used to ...