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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!
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