Easter Messiah, The

In this companion volume to last year's "The Christmas Messiah," Larry Shackley once again presents a musical treasure to pianists everywhere: six more selections from Handel's timeless masterpiece, transcribed for one piano, four hands. The book leads off with the remarkable "Sinfonia," with its solemn chords, followed by one of the most famous fugues in Baroque literature. Two beautiful arias allow the performers to show their expressive side, while the choruses "Lift Up Your Heads" and "Worthy is the Lamb" use the full range and force of the keyboard. And yes, the book also contains a brand new transcription of the "Hallelujah" chorus, destined to be a favorite in church services and recitals. Because these pieces were transcribed directly from the Handel score, they can be used to accompany choral performances, but they sound marvelous on their own!