PIANO TEACHING SOLOS
SUMMER'S END
Composed by Victor Labenske. For Piano. Piano Solo; Solo. Summer. Intermediate. Sheet. 4 pages.
SNAPSHOT SONATINA
Sonatina form is introduced in this solo with clever references to the camera and photography. The exposition (exposure), second theme (click), recapitulation (reprints) and Koda (spelled in German as a reference to the Kodak company) are all clearly marked. Written in F major and 4/4 meter, this delightful solo will bring a smile to the faces of the audience and performers alike with its sparkling style and mood. Say "cheese!"
OCEAN DREAMS
Composed by Victor Labenske. For Piano. Piano Solo; Solo. Early Intermediate level piece for the Piano Solo event with the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) Festivals Bulletin 2008-2009-2010. SMP Level 3 (Early Intermediate); NFMC Level: Elementary Class 2. Sheet. 4 pages.
PIANO MINIATURES IN 24 KEYS
Twenty-four short solos for the intermediate pianist, one in every major and minor key.
FOUR CORNERS SUITE
This suite highlights a unique part of the Southwest where 4 states intersect at 1 point. Travel to Pike's Peak, Zion National Park, Carlsbad Caverns and the Grand Canyon. A variety of musical ideas flourish, including hints of "America the Beautiful."
SOUNDS OF PENNSYLVANIA
Sounds of Pennsylvania creates a soundscape of Pennsylvania's famous places. Mt. Washington, the former site of coal mines and rock quarries in Pittsburgh, is pictured in "Panorama from Mt. Washington." Here, sounds of the steel industry mingle with a lyrical melody. The quiet simplicity and beauty of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Mennonite communities are heard through the use of hymn tunes in the second movement, "Pennsylvania Dutch Country." The third movement, "Sounds of Liberty," travels to Philadelphia, a city that played an important role in American history. Sounds of the Liberty Bell can be heard in this stately and stirring piece.
SHOW ME MISSOURI!
Show Me Missouri! takes a musical tour of Missouri, the "Show Me State." The four movements feature famous landmarks, beginning with the Gateway Arch, one of the most prominent features of the St. Louis skyline. Life on the Mississippi captures the spirit of the river and that of celebrated author, Mark Twain. Plaza Jazz pays tribute to Kansas City's fine jazz tradition and the Country Club Plaza. And no trip to Missouri would be complete without a visit to Sedalia, birthplace of Scott Joplin and home of the Katy Depot, a major stop along the Katy Trail.
WYOMING LANDSCAPES
Wyoming Landscapes captures the spirit and nuance of the Wyoming frontier. Beginning with a visit to Grand Teton National Park, "Horses and Hidden Falls" recreates the sound of the Old West through graceful, galloping rhythmic patterns. "Old Faithful" depicts the famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park with splashy sixteenth-note passages. And the glory days of the frontier are brought to life in "Frontier Days in Cheyenne."
WONDERFUL WASHINGTON
Wonderful Washington pays tribute to this Pacific Northwest state in three engaging movements. "Spokane Falls" depicts the waterfalls in Riverfront Park through flowing, cross-hand motives, with repeating patterns and syncopated rhythms. "Seattle Summits" portrays the height of Mount Rainier and the Space Needle. A mysterious sound is achieved through dissonant, unexpected chords, abundant accidentals, and key changes. "Walla Walla Sweets" displays a carnival sound through the use of accidentals, syncopation, and mixed articulations. One of the challenges is rapid hand-position changes.
ADVENTURES IN YELLOWSTONE
The three movements of Adventures in Yellowstone present iconic scenes from the park. The first movement, Waiting for Old Faithful, begins with a tremolo, representing the rumbling before the famous geyser erupts, followed by figures that move up and down the keyboard depicting the shooting water. Grand Prismatic Spring is the second movement, a mysterious piece filled with scale-like figures and short motives based on various intervals. The last movement, Wildlife in the Valleys, creates various moods associated with animals found in the region, including wolves, bears, and buffalo. The exciting ending concludes with a glissando and fortissimo chords.