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New Piano Book of Classical-Style Hymn Arrangements Releases!
posted in: Composing/Arranging
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Monday, April 12, 2010
April 12, 2010 – WICHITA
Composer and arranger Craig Curry has announced the release of Creative Hymn Variations, a new sheet music collection of classical-style hymn arrangements for piano, published by Alfred Music Publishing, one of the largest sheet music publishers in the world.
Featuring ten arrangements of traditional hymns such as “Jesus Shall Reign,” “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” and “O Worship the King,” Curry utilized a classic compositional form known as the “theme and variations” in which a melody is clearly stated in the opening of the piece, then followed and elaborated upon by a series of variations which can wander from the original melody, rhythm or harmonies.
“I spent a lot of time listening and soaking up both Mozart’s and Beethoven’s Variations,” states Curry, who says he listened to them frequently on his ipod as he went about other activities. “I wanted to arrange these hymns so they sounded as they might have been played in the classical era, although I doubt anyone would ever think they are actually Mozart.”
Creative Hymn Variations marks his seventh published collection of hymn arrangements for solo piano, although Curry says his many of his other books are arranged in a jazz style. “I initially wanted to distinguish myself from a lot of the other arrangers out there,” Curry says, “and jazz seemed like the best way to do it.” So why release a classical-style piano book of hymn variations now?
“Variety,” Curry says, smiling.
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Craig Curry is a widely published composer and arranger of choral and piano music whose songs are regularly performed around the world. He teaches vocal jazz improvisation and directs the Jazz Vocal Ensemble at Friends University in Wichita. Additional information on Craig and his music may be found online at craigcurry.com.
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