Charles Cooke

The cover of my copy says "For over 20 years a classic in its field. First published in 1941, it lives up to it's claim. I found it a delightful and informative read. The main thing I found him stressing is to practice one hour a day, and to develop a memorized repertoire. He suggest some of the "exquisite flowers: of music in groups of 5 of increasing difficulty.

I have used this book as a treasured reference over the years.


Recommended Schedule (P. 40-41)
1. Repertoire 40 or 30 minutes
2. Technique - 10 or 20 minutes
3. Sight Reading 10 minutes


SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR REPERTOIRE

"Here is a list of twenty-five compositions, all of which are what Bachaus called the “exquisite flowers” of music. They range, technically, from “easy” to “intermediate” and they are tabulated in groups of five. Each group is somewhat more advanced than the preceding one. ... Above all things, I want you to select for study only pieces that you want to play. These, then, I submit as material for the amateur pianist to consider:" (Page 46)

Bach‐Prelude in C, No. 1 in The Well‐Tempered Clavichord
Beethoven‐Minuet in G
Chopin‐Prelude in A, Op. 28, No. 7
Grieg‐Nocturne in C, Op. 54, No. 4
MacDowell‐To a Wild Rose

Bach‐Two-Part Invention No. 1
Chopin‐Mazurka in A minor, Op. 68, No. 2
Chopin‐Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 3
Navarro‐Spanish Dance (often played as an encore by Jose Iturbi) (I was unable to find this one)
Cyril Scott‐Lento

Bach‐Two-Part Invention No. 13
Beethoven‐Album Leaf,“For Elise"
Godowsky‐Alt Wien
Granados‐Playera
Mendelssohn‐Consolation (Song Without W0rds No. 9)

Chopin‐Etude in A flat (posthumous)
Chopin‐Prelude in B minor, Op.28, No.6
Chopin‐Prelude in D flat, Op. 28, N0. 15
Mendelssohn‐Confidence (Song Without Words No. 4)
Schumann‐Wanna?

Chopin‐Nocturne in E minor, Op. 72, No. 1
Debussy‐La Fille aux cheveux de lin
Liszt‐Consolation No. 3
Palmgren‐May Night
Schumann‐The Prophet Bird

It occurred to me that you might get further ideas for your repertoire from my own “Group 1” of twenty-five pieces, which I continue to work on, on the easier plane of retention. This group contains some of those listed above, and others: (Page 47-48)

1. Albeniz‐Malaguena
2. Bach‐Gavotte and Musette in G minor
3. Bach‐Gigue from the B‐flat Partita
4. Bach‐Two-Part Invention No.8
5. Brahms‐Intermezzo in C, Op. 119, No. 3
6. Brahms‐Rhapsody in G minor
7. Chopin‐Etude in C minor, Op. 25
8. Chopin‐Mazurka in A minor, Op. 68, No. 2
9. Chopin‐Waltz in E minor
10. Debussy‐Clair de lune
11. Debussy‐La Fille aux cheveuz de lin
12. Debussy‐Minstrels
13. Grieg‐Nocturne in C, Op. 54, No. 4
14. Ibert‐The Little White Donkey
15. Liszt‐Consolation No. 3
16. Mendelssohn‐Scherzo in E minor
17. Navarro‐Spanish Dance
18. Palmgren‐May Night
19. Poulenc‐-Perpetual Motion
20. Schumann‐Arabeske
21. Schumann‐Des Abends
22. Schumann‐The Prophet Bird
23. Schumann‐Warum?
24. Cyril Scott‐Lotus Land
25. Cyril Scott‐Valse Caprice

There may be some remaining typos in the above OCR of repertoire suggestions.… (lisätietoja)