Philadelphia Portraits for Piccolo and Piano

This is a sparkling collection of five very different pieces all of which are extremely well written for the piccolo. Each one has a personal connection to the composer. She played to Vincent Persichetti, her father was a jazz sax player, she researched the black composer Marian Anderson whilst studying, she was fascinated by Benjamin's glass harmonica invention, and Betsy Ross is a pastiche of American Revolutionary tunes that reflects her growing interesting in playing the fife. All of this and more, plus pointers on how to approach each one are outlined in the excellent programme notes. Five great movements of which the Marian Anderson spiritual and the Coltrane jazz movement really stand out. This book is award winning for a reason!