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This early work by Sibelius became famous all over Britain when ITV used it in the 1960s as introduction music for the current affairs programme, "This Week". Many people who normally never approach classical music were absolutely thrilled by the rhythmic and harmonic energy of the main theme, which is preceded by a mysterious build-up. This faithful arrangement by Richard Simm of Sibelius's or...

This haunting and evocative dance from Delius's opera, "Koanga" is a deservedly popular orchestral encore. Eric Fenby's excellent orchestration was the inspiration for Richard Simm's 2-piano transcription of this extract. The sheet music is available here: www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/897053/Product.aspx and here: www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/la-calinda-19864556.html

George Enescu's highly attractive and wildly exciting orchestral rhapsody inspired this transcription for 2 pianos by Richard Simm, who created it with the aim of maintaining complete faithfulness to the orchestral original - no simplification involved at all. So it’s hard work to play, even for advanced pianists, but the result is a fascinating display of colour and rhythmic drive, imitating t...

This is the "other" beautiful little orchestral masterpiece by George Butterworth. The composer uses melodies from several English folksongs and weaves them together effortlessly, using his exceptional ability to create the dream-like atmosphere of a lovely countryside remembered from the past. The work's apparent simplicity disguises a highly-polished talent for orchestral technique, inspiring...

A pianist once sought Ravel's advice on how to play the notoriously tricky repeated notes in sections of this very difficult piece, which was originally composed for solo piano. Ravel was not particularly helpful, saying only, "I don't care how you play it; just don't slow down!" However it is as if the composer recognized that there was something unreasonable about his pianistic demands, and h...

This is an entertaining 'virtual harpsichord' version of Richard Simm's 2-piano arrangement (downloadable from links below). Any duo-harpsichord teams wanting to perform it will probably have to transpose a couple of the bass notes up an octave, but it still makes an unusual and exciting addition to the standard repertoire for the instrument. The sheet music is available here: www.sheetmusicplu...

This awesome depiction of a boat on a vast ocean was originally scored, like the composer's "Alborada del Gracioso", for solo piano, and is also fearsomely difficult. Ravel later orchestrated both works, and his amazing gifts in this field give us extremely valuable insight into his imaginative conception of this watery scenario. Richard Simm was inspired by the magnificent orchestration to bui...

Described as the most popular barcarolle ever written, this famous romantic piece comes from Offenbach's last operetta, "The Tales of Hoffmann". The composer had very much wanted to hear its first performance, but sadly died four months before it took place, leaving the work unfinished. The Venetian rhythmic lilt is unmistakable, evoking "a beautiful night of love", to quote the text. The origi...

Pianists and piano teachers all over the world know and love Grieg's miniature masterpieces, the "Lyric Pieces", which exist in several sets of beautifully-crafted and eminently pianistic pictures from the heyday of Romanticism in music. An excellent conductor from Grieg's time orchestrated this Op. 54 set, but Grieg found the results somewhat heavy for his taste, and later reworked them as the...

Richard Simm having some serious 2-piano fun with Widor's famous Toccata from his 5th Organ Symphony. The original is a technical marathon for the performer's right hand, although the footwork is relatively easy. So the idea here was to arrange this spectacular work in a new format for two pianos, and in such a way as to redistribute all those right-hand notes between two hands and generally gi...

The third piece in Grieg's orchestral suite is a lovely nocturne, depicting both the quiet sounds of Nature and a passionate feeling for its beauty. Here it has been arranged for two pianos by Richard Simm. The sheet music is available digitally here: www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/notturno-from-lyric-suite-22368700.html and here: www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/1216864/Product.aspx

The second piece in Grieg's orchestral Lyric Suite is a Norwegian rustic march, here arranged for two pianos by Richard Simm. The sheet music is available digitally here: www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/norwegian-march-from-lyric-suite-op-54-22364873.html and here: www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/1213488/Product.aspx

The final piece in Grieg's orchestral version of his Lyric Suite is a volatile and powerful depiction of these mysterious characters from Norwegian folklore. Here it has been arranged for two pianos by Richard Simm. The sheet music is available digitally here: www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/march-of-the-dwarfs-from-lyric-suite-22369630.html and here: www.sheetmusicdirect.com/se/ID_No/1217761...

The brigadier, Don José, has fallen madly in love with Carmen, but she already has her eyes on another man, the bull-fighter, Escamillo. In this aria Don José declares his love for Carmen, but she belittles his passionate attempts to convince her of his feelings, saying that if he really loved her, he would take her away from her humble surroundings to a place where she could really be free. Th...

Nocturne from "Carmen" - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Seguidilla from "Carmen" - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Habañera from "Carmen" - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Last Spring - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Solveig's Lullaby - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Hall of the Mountain King - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Morning Mood - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Anitra's Dance - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

I Know Where I'm Goin' - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

She Moved Through the Fair - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

Vocalise - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

The Irish Washerwoman - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

The Gartan Mother's Lullaby - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

The Rakes of Mallow - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm

The Flowers of the Forest - arr. for 2 pianos by Richard Simm