CENTURY RAG A CHILD IS BORN “I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN’” BLUES THE INTERLOPER NIGHT IN TUNISIA PERUGIA PRELUDE #2 SEASONS YESTERDAYS

Sir Roland Hanna in the classroom at Queens College

When I am improvising, and using a particular series of chord progressions as a basis, my thoughts are usually about the structure of the phase or the style of some player who I might know personally. For instance, there might be some reference to Erroll Garner, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, or Tommy Flanagan. There are other times in my improvising or composing that I might be making reference to some musical passages from the works of the great composers of past centuries. A good example would be the piece “Prelude #2.”

The phrase that makes up the theme is used throughout the piece. This kind of structuring is a part of my approach to composition as well as improvisation. For instance, the same style is used in “A Child Is Born,” “Seasons,” and “Century Rag.”

The playing of any of these pieces requires patience and perseverance. Slow practice is the surest way to accurately express musical performance, because then one is able to take the time to find the correct sounds at the keyboard. For those who might have difficulty understanding how to play a certain passage, it certainly helps to listen to the recording a few times. If that is not an option, constant repetition is the alternative.

I am sure most who make a sincere effort at playing these pieces will find special musical enjoyment and satisfaction from their playing.

— Sir Roland Hanna

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Published by CHERRY LANE MUSIC COMPANY
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ISBN 1-57560-130-3