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“Ties,” from Piano Potpourri, by Zenobia Powell Perry

“Ties” is a short, one-page, early intermediate piece with two beautiful melodies happening at the same time in both hands. As the name implies, this piece features frequent ties in both hands. It is a great example of the use of counterpoint in music, where getting all the right notes is not challenging, but making both melodies sing and sound independent could be challenging for beginners. All the slurs the composer provided indicate all the beautiful phrasing she wanted. Pedal could be added to add some colors and to help with the phrasing, but it is not required. The melody, like in other pieces in this collection, sounds slightly pentatonic and features an American folk flavor.

Piano Potpourri is a set of piano pieces composed between 1960 and 1990. There are 15 pieces in the set. The levels of the pieces vary from elementary to late advanced. The set has a thick structure and deep emotion overall. 

Zenobia Powell Perry (1908-2004) was an African American composer, professor and civil rights activist. She taught in some historically black colleges and universities. Her musical style is described as “music with clear, classic melodies.” She studied piano and violin in her childhood. Her most powerful musical experience was hearing Hazel Harrison (African-American pianist) in a concert. 

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Powell Perry

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