More and more people are looking for a way to offset the demands of everyday life by making music. This book thus contains music that evokes positive feelings and does good to the soul through simple harmonies and introspective moments, but that also explores the multi-faceted expressive possibilities of the piano: pieces that can convey exuberance, comfort, joy, longing, compassion, mourning, anger and ecstasy, but also mystical moments. Furthermore, I have taken into account – albeit with a touch of irony – the predilection of many piano aficionados for the genre of film music.
Culled from the rich stocks of classical piano literature, some of the pieces refer directly to a specific model. This way they are linked together with frequent listening experiences and awaken one’s curiosity about the generally more difficult original work, whose preparation is considerably simplified through such guidance.
The titles and the succinct programmatic annotations often suggest the mood and feelings that are expressed in the piece in question. Such verbal aids – other than purely dynamic indications and tempo markings – awaken inner associations that stimulate diversified agogics and sonorities, and infuse more spirit into one’s playing. The recordings on the enclosed CD can serve as a source of inspiration, but should not stand in the way of a personal interpretation.
For his rewarding collaboration I thank my editor Friedhelm Pramschüfer, without whom the present collection would not have taken on such variety, as well as the piano pedagogue Sigrid Naumann for some very important tips.

Munich, Spring 2013