Sonatina of the High Seas. (Keyboard).

Sonatina of the High Seas by Melody Bober. The FJH Music Co. Inc. (2525 Davie Rd., Ste. 360, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317-7424), 2001. 8 pp., $3.50. Intermediate.

Sonatina of the High Seas is an attractive, intermediate-level work that provides a good introduction to technical, formal and musical elements typical of the sonatina. The music is clearly printed and includes well-placed pedal markings and good fingering. The three movements are in a fast-slow-fast sequence and follow the traditional key scheme.

The first movement, "Bon Voyage!," is in sonata allegro form. It has a lively first theme, punctuated by staccato and short, legato phrasing. The lyrical second theme, interestingly, remains in the tonic key, making the exposition almost identical to the recapitulation--much easier to learn, but a less useful model for future sonatina study. Figuration and chord progressions in the development section are similar to those in a number of classical sonatas and thus offer good preparation for these works.

The second movement, "Smooth Sailing," features delicate right-hand and left-hand phrasing that is characteristic of a minuet. ...