Accordion Solos Collection 2001
(Jazz and contemporary. Med/Adv.)
Have fun with this new book of original jazz and contemporary tunes
for the accordion! This collection of solos comes complete with a CD that includes all the tunes in the book (and more!) so that you can listen to the rhythms and styles of the music and play along with other musicians.
Many tracks include a wide range of percussion, bass, accordions, and other instruments. Get the inside story about each tune with special notes written by the composer. Tunes include Around the Corner, A Minor Incident, Past Eleven, From the Peacock, Place Pigalle, Before the Storm, and After the Storm. For intermediate/advanced players. See descriptions of tunes below.
(Before the Storm also available as a duet and quartet. From the Peacock available as a trio. Around the Corner and After the Storm available as a quartet.)
Around the Corner (Swing.)
Around the Corner is an upbeat tune featuring contemporary chords that add a richness while keeping the music easy for the listener. Chord changes are marked in the solo section.
A Minor Incident (Waltz.)
This tune focuses on minor chords and includes a beautiful counterpoint line. Play along with the marimba player and accordion players on the CD.
Past Eleven (Swing.)
Past Eleven is a swing tune written for a couple who had been together for 11 wonderful years. This piece wishes them more good times after their wedding in all the years to come. The phrases immediately after the intro (minus the pickup note) and before the restatement of the intro at the end are melodic phrases of 11 notes. Chord changes are marked in the solo section.
From the Peacock (Based on ancient Hungarian melody.)
From the Peacock covers about 1000 years of Hungarian music. It is based on one of the oldest known Hungarian melodies, which originated in the 800s. The words for the melody were "Fly, peacock, fly to the county hall To free the poor captives". This piece includes bass counterpoint in some sections. Also available as a single sheet.
Place Pigalle (Contemporary.)
This portrait of Place Pigalle reflects a light-hearted look at a picturesque part of Paris. The words reflect the images of these Parisian streets and the incredibly beautiful Place Pigalle metro station. The words can be spoken or sung. Accordion gestures support the images.
Before the Storm (Classical contemporary.)
Before the Storm is set on a cold and windy day. The melodic lines create a continuum building towards the storm. This piece was part of choreographer Joan Amaral's work, Amor Perfeito/When Joao Crossed Over, about family and the Azores.
After the Storm (Classical contemporary.)
After the Storm begins with a flourish of exciting glisses. The middle section recalls the sadness of the turmoil and devastation that the El Nino storm caused in 1998 to so many people in California. The mood shifts to celebrate the storm's end with a more familiar, though frenzied, accordion style. The piece ends with calm basses.
Duets
What a Year!
(Easy Medium.)
A collection of 12 duets which can be played by 2 or more accordions or by any combination of instruments.
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Books are also available for flutes, oboes, Bb clarinets, bassoons, Bb saxophones, Eb saxophones, horns in F, Bb trumpets, trombones, violins, violas, cellos, basses, and percussion. Each tune inspired by and composed during the month of its title. Young students like to play their birthday months!
This series offers wide versatility in teaching and playing situations. Teachers can play duets with their students and students can play together in small or large ensembles.
The duets in What a Year! introduce students to a variety of rhythms, repeats, endings, phrasings, expressions, dynamics, and articulations using standard meters. These duets prepare students for the more advanced collection of duets in What a Week!
What a Week!
(Medium.)
A collection of 7 duets which can be played by 2 or more accordions or by any combination of instruments.
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Books are also available for flutes, oboes, Bb clarinets, bassoons, Bb saxophones, Eb saxophones, horns in F, Bb trumpets, trombones, violins, violas, cellos, basses, and percussion. Each tune, named for one day of the week, was written on the day of its title.
Teachers can play duets with their students and students can play together in small or large ensembles. The duets cover the basics of musicianship. The many types of rhythms, meters, dynamics, phrasings, articulations, embellishments, expressions, repeats, and endings in the tunes give students a wide range of experience.
Students can also learn more about major scales as the tunes are written in 8 of the major scales with a key change in one of the 7 tunes. One tune is a 12-bar blues with chords marked to help students learn the progression.
Before the Storm
(Classical contemporary. Medium Advanced.)
Before the Storm is set on a cold and windy day with billowing clouds growing darker in the sky. The melodic lines lead from one accordion to another, creating a continuum building towards the storm. Listening to the flow of the parts is a key element in a quartet's practice and performance.
A Minor Incident
(Waltz. Easy Medium. 2 accordions or accordion and marimba.)
This tune focuses on minor chords and includes a beautiful counterpoint line.
Place Pigalle
(Contemporary. Advanced. Accordion and alto voice. )
This portrait of Place Pigalle reflects a light-hearted look at a picturesque part of Paris. The words reflect the images of these Parisian streets and the incredibly beautiful Place Pigalle metro station. The words can be spoken or sung. Accordion gestures support the images.
Trios
From the Peacock
(Based on ancient Hungarian melody. Medium Advanced.)
From the Peacock covers about 1000 years of Hungarian music. It is based on one of the oldest known Hungarian melodies, which originated in the 800s. The words for the melody were "Fly, peacock, fly to the county hall To free the poor captives". This piece includes bass counterpoint in some sections. For accordion, string bass, and full percussion.
Triumvirate
(Classical contemporary. Medium.)
Triumvirate explores chromaticity and the wonderfully haunting blend of accordion sounds. The tempo is slow, giving players and listeners a chance to savor the rich textures of the instrument. Triumvirate is an atmospheric piece that can take you out of context.
Blue Moon
(Medium.)
A great arrangement of the popular tune by Max Kortlander and Lee S. Roberts. The Accordion 1 part shows the melody with lyrics and an improvisation idea, a new melody that can be played as a second chorus. Separate sheets for Accordion 2 and Accordion 3.
All parts show chord symbols for the basses. Experiment with counterbasses and filling in chords with the right hand. A bonus is that the new melody can also be played along with the original melody and the two harmony parts!
For Me and My Gal
(Medium.)
A special arrangement of the famous tune by George W. Meyer (lyrics by Edgar Leslie and E. Ray Goetz). The Accordion 1 part includes the melody and lyrics plus a new melody perfect for a second chorus. Separate sheets for Accordion 2 and Accordion 3.
All parts show chord symbols for the basses. When reading the chord symbols, you can ease your way with counterbasses. Use your knowledge of chord tones to fill in chords with the right hand. The new melody can also be played along with the original melody and the two harmony parts.
Quartets
After the Storm
(Classical contemporary. Medium.)
After the Storm begins with a flourish of exciting glisses. The middle section recalls the sadness of the turmoil and devastation that the El Nino storm caused in 1998 to so many people in California. The mood shifts to celebrate the storm's end with a more familiar, though frenzied, accordion style. The piece ends with calm basses. Also available with full percussion and optional string bass.
Around the Corner
(Swing. Medium.)
Around the Corner has a swing intro that sets up a carefree attitude. Contemporary chords add a richness while keeping the music easy for the listener. Around the Corner presents a positive attitude towards any new opportunity. The Accordion 4 part can be played by bass accordion.
Before the Storm
(Classical contemporary. Medium.)
Before the Storm is set on a cold and windy day with billowing clouds growing darker in the sky. The melodic lines lead from one accordion to another, creating a continuum building towards the storm. Listening to the flow of the parts is a key element in a quartet's practice and performance. Also available with full percussion part.
Ensembles
BellowFare
(Classical contemporary. Medium Advanced.)
A fanfare for 8 accordions, BellowFare opens with a flourish letting each accordionist make a statement. The piece adheres to typical tonalities, but every now and then reaches out for a contemporary feel. It keeps the players and listeners on their toes, ending with a bang!
BellowFare is scored for 6 piano accordions and 2 bass accordions. It also comes with a percussion part. If your group doesn't have bass accordions, piano accordions can play the bass accordion parts using the bassoon switch. The piece is about 2 1/2 minutes long.
Instructional Books
Scaling the Accordion, Major Scales Book 1
Scaling the Accordion, Major Scales Book 1, covers all major scales for the beginning student. Fingerings are noted to help the student develop good habits.
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Following each scale is a page of exercises to help reinforce the scale and prepare the student for the tune written in that scale. The tune is composed to let the student immediately put the scale into practical use. A must have for new students!
Scaling the Accordion, Major Scales Book 2
Scaling the Accordion, Major Scales Book 2, continues the student's development of mastering the major scales. A more intricate view of each major scale is followed by two tunes composed for that scale.
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The tunes are composed for intermediate students. A great book for students to experience all the major scales on the accordion!
Scaling the Accordion, Minor Scales Book 1
Scaling the Accordion, Minor Scales Book 1, covers the natural minor scales. It offers scales, exercises, and great new tunes so that you can play music right away using each scale! Fingerings included. An excellent follow-up book for Major Scales Book 1 in this series.
Scaling the Accordion, Minor Scales, Book 1 is designed to help piano accordion students become familiar with the natural minor scales, the basis of the harmonic minor scales and the melodic minor scales. The book also helps students develop facility with the basses.
Each tune was composed to help students become more familiar with the notes and sounds of the scale used for the tune. Teachers can also use the tunes to help students develop skills in dynamics, articulation, phrasing, and expression.
How To Play the Mini Button Accordion
It's fun and easy to learn to play the mini button accordion with our new notation system for beginners! This small accordion is also known as the Midget Button Box, the Hero, Cajun style accordion, and the diatonic model UC102 (7 keys or buttons for right hand, 2 buttons for left hand plus an air button).
How To Play the Mini Button Accordion comes complete with basic information about music and exercises to learn how to coordinate your fingers and the bellows. The book includes four tunes with special warm-ups for each tune, including Sur Le Pont D'Avignon, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, When the Saints Go Marching In, and We Wish You a Merry Xmas. Two tunes can be played as solos or duets. Fun for kids of all ages!
More Mini Button Accordion
Spread your wings with this new collection of tunes for the mini button accordion. Learn about articulations and intervals. Learn how to shake those bellows! You won't want to miss "Valentine Waltz", "Chance Dance", "Patrick Polka", and the other fun music in this book.
Mix and Match Collections
Be Mine: Love Songs
(Medium.)
Croon a tune from yesteryear with this delightful collection of popular love songs from the early 1900s plus an original written a century later. Lyrics and chord symbols with two harmony parts and a new melody written for each tune.
The new melody, an improv idea helpful in learning more about improvisation, can be played as a second chorus or along with the original melody for a contrapuntal sound. Accordionists can use chord symbols to practice using counterbasses or filling in chords with the right hand. Great for accordion groups or solo playing. Tunes in the books:
Alice Blue Gown
Blue Moon
Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine
For Me and My Gal
I Love You Truly
I'm Just Wild About Harry
If I Had My Way
Let Me Call You Sweetheart
Memories
My Gal Sal
Till We Meet Again
Valentine Waltz
Whispering
You Made Me Love You
Any combination of instruments can play together. Seven books available: C treble clef, alto clef, bass clef, Bb book, Eb book, F book, and Choral book.
Music for the Holiday Season
Songs of Patriots
(Traditional. Medium.)
Play and sing the songs that trace America's history through the centuries! Through extensive research in America's archives, we found many songs popular in their day that somehow slipped through the cracks. And we did our best to use the oldest version of each song.
Songs of Patriots includes 30 songs, chord symbols, and various versions of lyrics, including some parodies. Historical information about each song is located at the back of each 84-page book.
All arrangements plus an original by Valarie Morris. Fun passages for the left hand playing the basses.
See the list of songs in this book. Piano/Vocal and Guitar/Vocal books also available.
Fun and Easy Christmas Favorites
(Easy and Medium.)
Playful new solo arrangements of familiar holiday tunes. Original meters and rhythms help develop players' confidence in reading music of well-known tunes.
Book 1 is arranged for 12-bass accordions. Book 2 offers more challenges for the left hand and is arranged for accordions with counterbasses and 7ths. Each book includes these 12 tunes.
Holidays in Harmony
(Medium.)
Enjoy Holidays in Harmony, a collection of wonderful new arrangements of holiday tunes popular in this country along with one brand new holiday tune and 5 popular tunes from other countries. Each book in this series includes all 4 parts for the 12 tunes. The tunes can be played as solos, duets, in 3-part harmony, or in 4-part harmony.
This 8-book series of flexible instrumentation books includes chord symbols for every tune and lyrics in native languages with translations. The piano accompaniment book includes scores for all the tunes.
A solo accordion book is available. At the back of this book and the piano accompaniment book are stories about holiday celebrations in various countries.
The C treble clef book is for playing with others in up to 4-part harmony. These books are also available in the flexible instrumentation series: C alto clef book, C bass clef book, Bb book, Eb book, F book, and G book. Any instruments can play together. Books are also available for solo piano.
Catalog
For more information, please see our catalog.
fluteclarinet
saxophone
double reeds
piano
choral and vocal
brass
strings
guitar
handbell and percussion
band and instructional
orchestra and large ensembles
Valarie Morris accepts commissions for new works.
Accordion Music
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