New York City Skyline
Piano Solo - Digital Sheet Music

Contains:
"New York City Skyline"

Transcribed by:  David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording

The Purple Heart is Isadar’s solo piano tribute and memorial to the people who lost their lives in the 9/11/01 tragedy. Recorded as a 56-minute improvisation on 12/25/02, the music is thoughtful, somber, and quite elegant. There are actually thirteen pieces on the CD, but they segue into each other, making it difficult to tell where one song ends and another begins. This is very definitely NOT a problem, as the album unfolds naturally and organically, asking questions, looking inward, and expressing shock and grief. However, this is not music about only despair or rage. I also hear hope and determination as well as quiet reverence - the strange mix of emotions we all felt during those dark days. Titles include "From Cradle to Coffin," "Bravery," "Numb," "New York Skyline," and "Truth." Isadar has a wonderful way of wearing his heart on his musical sleeve, pouring deep emotion and heartfelt expression into his music. The music was recorded in one take, but rather than meandering all over the place, Isadar used recurring themes that make the work cohesive and consistent enough to hold together even after many listens. This is a very strong and passionate work, but it was recorded with a rather quiet voice which allows it to be very comfortable and soothing background music as well as evocative solo piano music for concentrated and focused listening.

The Purple Heart Sheet Music Collection is a note-for-note solo piano transcription of Isadar’s 2003 memorial CD by the same name (transcribed by David Shenton). The recording and book are a tribute to those who died in the attacks of 9/11/2001. The music was recorded in one take and although there are thirteen titles, the pieces segue into each other, creating a seamless 56-minute improvisation. The book indicates where the various pieces begin and end, but can also be played as one long piece. Although the theme of the music is very somber and bleak, the music covers the broad range of emotions we all felt during that period - anger, sadness, hope, determination, resolve, fear, grief, etc.

Although the recording is an improvisation, Isadar incorporates a recurring theme that holds the work together as a single entity. Some pieces are very slow while others are lively and even fast. All thirteen pieces are in C minor/Eb major, but the variety of moods and tempos keep the music evolving without becoming repetitious. When the recurring theme pops up, it’s like seeing an old friend!

The difficulty in playing someone’s improvisation is that the creation of the music was spontaneous and free-flowing. It isn’t easy to read an improvisation and give the music that quality of freedom. Less advanced pianists might find this frustrating. The time signatures change frequently, but a competent pianist will have no trouble with that. As I was playing this book, I sensed that I was looking directly into Isadar’s heart and feeling what he was feeling as the music was being born - a very powerful experience!

Isadar is an artist on both Enlightened Piano Radio & Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, featuring today's biggest names in solo piano music.