Pianistic introduction to country music

Children often react surprisingly positively to country music. It is therefore all the more regrettable that there is hardly any beginner's literature available for teaching. Müliradverlag in Altdorf wants to remedy this situation with a new series, which is being launched with two booklets. Marion Suter and Claudio Gmür, two luminaries of the country piano from two different generations - Suter was a student of Gmür's for a long time - are each presenting a booklet with 16 simple dance pieces. Suter's compositions are original, Gmür's are half original pieces and half arrangements of classics of the genre.

The pieces are easy and enjoyable to play and at the same time convey the formal and harmonic basics of Swiss folk dance music. The new compositions follow the traditional patterns and sequences and yet are original and witty. It is clear to see that the author is very familiar with the subject matter. The most important forms - ländler, waltz, polka, schottisch as well as a mazurka in the case of Suter and a ländler fox in the case of Gmür - are presented in a simple and exemplary manner.

If this is too simple for you, you can use the two booklets as a basis to venture into the variation and ornamentation practice of Ländler music and, in the spirit of the old tradition, change and expand the pieces to suit your own taste. The booklets are therefore a worthwhile introduction to Swiss folk music not only for beginners, but also for more experienced people from other genres.

Swiss country music for piano,

Vol. 1: 16 new compositions by Marion Suter, No.1211;

Vol. 2: Eine Tasten-Bike-Tour, 16 new and traditional dances composed and arranged by Claudio Gmür, No. 1212;

Fr. 25.00 each, Mülirad, Altdorf 2021