DOC On Ego by Mick Gordon; Paul Broks in Arts-Photography

Review

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful. Not exactly cello optional; but still a great book of piano music.By J. HermanI will start by saying this is a great music book of some truly amazing arrangements. The Piano Guys are; in my opinion; some of the best writers/arrangers/performers of piano music currently in the music business. That being said; describing this book as arrangements for solo piano with optional cell is misleading. There are three arrangements that are strictly solo piano and do not include an optional cello part: Angels We Have Heard on High; Still Still Still; and Christmas Morning. Of the other seven arrangements; I would consider three more to truly be cello optional: Good King Wenceslas; Where Are You Christmas; and Winter Wind. The cello is featured prominently with the melody almost exclusively in the cello part in the remaining four arrangements: O Come O Come Emmanuel; Let It Snow!/Winter Wonderland; We Three Kings; and Silent Night. So; with just six out of ten arrangements able to be played without the cello; this book really should not be sold as a solo piano book.However; the arrangements that can be played as solo piano are enough for me to still give this book four starsmdash;I would give this book a full five stars if every arrangement was truly solo piano as described. If I knew someone who played the cello that I could play along with; Irsquo;m sure every arrangement would be a blast to play. But since I donrsquo;t; I can only comment on the arrangements that can be played without the cello part. I consider these arrangements to be challenging but accessible to intermediate or late intermediate pianists. I donrsquo;t find them to be quite as difficult as some of Jon Schmidtrsquo;s earlier piano arrangements; but they are just as well crafted and just as fun to play.Where Are You Christmas and Silent Night both include optional vocal solo parts too. When playing Where Are You Christmas as a piano solo; I add the vocal line to what I play; which is quite simple to do. I imagine anyone skilled enough to play these piano arrangements wonrsquo;t have difficulty doing this. Irsquo;m sure this can be done with Silent Night as well; but it will likely take more effort. Since this arrangement requires the cello part; I havenrsquo;t tried it myself.Bottom line; donrsquo;t expect this to be a book full of piano solos. It was definitely written more for piano/cello duets. But if you are looking for six awesome arrangements to add to your solo piano repertoire; you will not be disappointed with this book.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. The book is sold as a piano solo book with ...By Whitney KimmelThe book is sold as a piano solo book with an optional cello accompaniment; but all of the songs prominently feature cello and rely on the second instrument. None of the pieces were really suitable as strictly piano solos - this is very misleading.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Not a Solo Piano BookBy JordanThis book is not at all a piano solo book with optional cello. Only 3 of the songs are completely cello free and 2 are passable without the cello parts. Quite a few are useless if you dont happen to have a cello and a cellist hanging around your house. I love the Piano Guys and their music; but I wish I hadnt wasted my money on this Christmas book. It should be labeled as a duet book or re-written to be playable without the addition of a stringed instrument.