Books published by Faber Music Ltd

Tales of Boomtown Glory is a collection of the complete lyrics from Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats and solo albums, accompanied by an introduction and 25 song stories written by Geldof, and exclusive scans from his notebooks over the years. The stories provide a witty and honest account of the background, inspiration and context of the songs. Lyrics to the 188 songs include previously unreleased material as well as the upcoming 2020 Boomtown Rats album. “This man is more in charge of the English language than anyone I’ve ever met.” Bono, musician“What set the Rats apart was the strength and intelligence of Geldof’s writing. It should be in every anthology of late 20th Century Irish literature.” Joseph O’Connor, novelist“His songs historically will be looked back on as incredibly important things” Jools Holland, musician, broadcaster

A collection that brings enthusiasm to learning the clarinet and provides an alternative for those pupils who are working towards, or have completed Grade 4. It includes pieces that offer suggested breathing, dynamics and tempo together with technical tips, performance notes and an effective piano accompaniment.

Winter Songs comprises three contrasting songs for upper voices and piano accompaniment. Each song presents a view of winter that implores us to value kindness and compassion above all else. Hibernation" sets the wintery scene, leading into the musical theater-style song "Reality Check," a touching tale from the perspective of a homeless person. The jazzy and uplifting "Presence" completes the set with its swinging style featuring a fun scat section; the song's chorus is perfect for adding choreography. Winter Songs would be ideal for school and youth choir performances at any time of the year but particularly during the winter months, including at Christmas."

Nobody wants to be a donkey is a lively nativity musical by Lin Marsh which tells the traditional Christmas story with plenty of humour and engaging songs that children will love singing. The poor old donkey hates having to wear those ears that the others laugh at, but everyone gradually realises that the donkey may be one of the most important characters in the story. With 36 speaking parts this nativity is suitable for a whole primary school production, or for Key Stage 2. The songs are in a fun, modern style and thereΓÇÖs even one for the staff to sing! Exciting performance and backing tracks are available to download to help schools without a pianist.

Billy Mayerl: Jazz Master is a tribute to the talented jazz composer, who has only recently begun to be appreciated as an influential figure in the history of jazz. This volume includes many of his best known pieces.

Intermediate Gypsy Jazz sets off on another exotic tour of folk culture, concentrating on Eastern Europe. Adventurous violinists will travel as far afield as Hungary, Turkey, Russia, and Romania, and bring back a mixed bag of musical souvenirs. With accessible piano accompaniments, the seven contrasting pieces in Intermediate Gypsy Jazz are a must for all violinists.Titles: Invitation to the Dance * Cossack Dance * Habañera * Hora * Black Eyes * Sun over San Sofia * Waterfield * Dragon Dance.

Oliver KnussenΓÇÖs concise and effervescent Eccentric Melody occupies a small but important place in the solo cello repertoire, and would enliven any recital. Composed as a double tribute ΓÇô for cellist Fred Sherry, in his 50th birthday year, to play to Elliott Carter on his 90th birthday ΓÇô the 2-minute work is presented here in manuscript facsimile.

Songs and Haiku is a previously unreleased collection of songs for mezzo-soprano and piano, published to mark what would have been Jonathan Harvey’s 80th birthday in 2019.Two haiku (the first for piano alone – the only piece here to have been published before – the latter by Bashō) bookend three love songs dedicated to Harvey’s wife Rosa. The grouping of the pieces into a 8-minute cycle was the composer’s own idea, and it mixes Eastern and Western poets in a totally characteristic manner. Both Tagore and E. E. Cummings are represented, poets who feature in some of Harvey’s finest works (Song Offerings and Forms of Emptiness, respectively), and a third song sets Tennyson’s ‘Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal’.

O Hototogisu! is presented here as a typeset score with two facsimile pages from the composer’s manuscript.This exquisite ‘fragment of a Japonisme’ – premiered in 2017 and conceived as a kind of double concerto for soprano, flute and ensemble of 23 players – proved to be Oliver Knussen’s final work. The 8-minute piece couches seven exquisite haiku settings in richly evocative music which incorporates signals from Japanese theatre (particularly Kabuki). It concerns the Hototogisu (or Lesser Cuckoo), a bird widely invoked in Japanese haiku poetry of the 17th-19th centuries, where the poet listens for its arrival from the mountains both as a harbinger of summer and a voice from the land of the dead.

With this masterful 8-minute work Coll ΓÇô a trombonist himself ΓÇô has created a major addition to the instrumentΓÇÖs repertoire. The Chanson is almost Bergian with its dark harmonies and slow-burning passion, unfolding as a song without words whose broad lines exploit the whole compass of the instrument, from pale heights to baleful, gritty depths. The angular Bagatelle which follows could not be more contrasted, drawing much of its characteristic mood and colour from the ingenious use of the harmon mute.

Improve Your Sight-Reading! Guitar, Levels 4--5 is designed to help classical guitarists overcome sight-reading problems, especially in the context of graded exams. Step by step, musicians build a complete picture of each piece, first through rhythmic and melodic exercises related to specific technical issues, then by studying prepared pieces with associated questions, and finally with a series of meticulously graded sight-reading pieces. Written to support the ABRSM's sight-reading requirements.

Improve your sight-reading! Guitar Grades 1-3 is designed to help classical guitarists overcome sight reading problems, especially in the context of graded exams. Step by step you build up a complete picture of each piece, firstly through rhythmic and melodic exercises related to specific technical issues, then by studying prepared pieces with associated questions, and finally 'going solo' with a series of meticulously graded sight-reading pieces. Written to support the ABRSM's sight-reading requirements.

The Advanced Pianist Book 2 from the PianoTrainer series is for students who are beyond the intermediate stages and want to develop an advanced technique and musicality. Exploring piano technique through a variety of elements, these books include exercises, 'quick study' sight-reading, repertoire and 'concert pianist' hints and tips. The series not only develops students' technique, reading, theory and musicianship, but also provides an invaluable insight into the world of classical music, here focussing both on historical context and key composers for the piano. Book 2 is suitable for students at grade 7-8 level.

The Advanced Pianist Book 1 from the PianoTrainer series is for students who are beyond the intermediate stages and want to develop an advanced technique and musicality. Exploring piano technique through a variety of elements, these books include exercises, 'quick study' sight-reading, repertoire and 'concert pianist' hints and tips. The series not only develops students' technique, reading, theory and musicianship, but also provides an invaluable insight into the world of classical music, here focusing both on historical context and key composers for the piano. Book 1 is suitable for students at grade 6 plus.

Red River is a piece full of raw energy. The title is about the feeling engendered by the name rather than a reference to a specific place. In the composerΓÇÖs mind it is a river coloured red by the dust of the earth in a hot, sun-drenched landscape. Full of fiery rhythmic drive and syncopation carried along by Latin percussion, performers will enjoy the vigour and verve of the music.Suitable for intermediate level (Grade 3/4) symphonic wind band.

Red River is a piece full of raw energy. The title is about the feeling engendered by the name rather than a reference to a specific place. In the composerΓÇÖs mind it is a river coloured red by the dust of the earth in a hot, sun-drenched landscape. Full of fiery rhythmic drive and syncopation carried along by Latin percussion, performers will enjoy the vigour and verve of the music.Suitable for intermediate level (Grade 3/4) symphonic wind band.