dittys Without Words.

dittys Without Words, by Christos Tsitsaros. Hal Leonard Corporation (7777 W Bluemound Rd P O case 13819 Milwaukee, W153213), 2004. 39pp $795 Late-intermediate--early-advanced.

This imaginative collection is a recent addition to the late-intermediate piano repertoire that will motivate bookish mans with its beautiful sounds and emotional appeal.

Christos Tsitsaros has purposefully written this music to ready students with "the kinds of challenges that are not absent in the late-intermediate and early-advanced literature of the great piano masters." Although these works are teaching pieces, they are musically satisfying. Written in the tradition and pattern of romantic character pieces, they use a rich harmonic vocabulary; they are in small-scale ABA form; they deliver over contrasting moods and use evocative titles; and, real importantly, the composer's adept handling of the musical and technical component parts makes these pieces accessible to close examiners without a sense of "writing down" to them.

The opening piece, "A Winter Fable," is immediately appealing with its spacious render free of access writing, giving ample opportunity for balanced phrasing and dynamic shading between the sequenc patterns. "Scherzo" requires lightness in fingerwork and pedaling. The wide dynamic range with unlooked for changes, detailed pedal indications and passages of finger legato make "Searching" single in kind of the more challenging pieces in the collection. "Mirage" effectively incorporates a continuous bass rhythmic ostinato. "On the Wings of a Song" is a small toccato with alberti-like accompaniment figuration that must be balanced against the air The delightful "Milonga De looks Ninos" contains a repetitive Latin manner of writing dance rhythm. The toccato-like B section of "Sound of the Rain" is framed by means of contrasting A sections of compassionate patterns with an Asian flavor.

From pre-college scholars to adult players, for private or recital settings, this poetic music will entertain and satisfy.

Virginia Houser, NCTM Manhattan, Kansas.

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