Not at all one-sided

We are often on the lookout for new piano literature that is simple but will make both teacher and pupil sit up and take notice. Looking through the Two-part piano pieces on one page I quickly realized that these are by no means one-sided. I always found great pleasure in the ingenuity and simplicity. Emil Hradecký (*1953) succeeds in capturing different moods in a two-part piano movement with the stroke of a pen, while still taking into account typical pianistic playing techniques. Heavy-light, opening and closing of the hand, use of the pedal, polyphonic playing, different articulations - all of this is used casually without being demonstratively instructive. The musical content also contributes to this. The pieces impress with their tonal and rhythmic variety and clarity of idea. In addition to a few character pieces, there are many little dances from minuet to tango to cha-cha-cha.

Bright young pupils, but especially young beginners or those returning to school, should enjoy playing these lively pieces and learn and discover many valuable things from them.

Emil Hradecký: Two-part piano pieces on one page, 16 easy pieces for beginners, H 8034, € 7.50, Bärenreiter, Prague 2017