This piece is as much a percussion work as a piano work. Practice without the pedal for 80% of the piece. Use your fingers as hammers. The Turkish variation requires a "dry" attack—very little pedal, very specific articulation.
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Summertime Variations, Op. 20 is a solo piano transcription by Fazıl Say, based on George Gershwin’s classic. It is part of the Virtuoso Piano Transcription Series published by Schott Music. How to Access the Sheet Music
While free PDF versions are often restricted due to copyright, you can officially access the score through these platforms: fazil say summertime variations pdf
Digital PDF: Purchase and download a digital score from Sheet Music Plus.
Subscription: View the score through the nkoda app, which offers a digital library for musicians.
Physical Copy: Buy the print edition from Schott Music or Hal Leonard. Performance Guide Additional Resources :
The piece lasts approximately 6 minutes and is rated as difficult due to its virtuoso requirements. 1. Structural Breakdown
Opening (Meditation): Starts very quietly (piano) and cantabile. It focuses on a slow, meditative exploration of the opening motif.
Central Section (Presto Variations): The mood shifts dramatically to a fast, swinging jazz style. This section is extremely virtuoso and uses the full melody as a foundation. This piece is as much a percussion work as a piano work
Closing (Coda): Returns to the initial "freestyle" cantabile mood, repeating the quiet theme to finish the piece. 2. Key Technical Elements
Jazz Elements: You must master a "swing" feel, particularly in the central section where the pulse often falls on beats two and four.
Walking Bass: The left hand frequently maintains a steady walking bass line while the right hand performs complex chords and melodic improvisations.
Scalic Improvisation: Expect rapid runs based on blues and chromatic scales.
Performance Style: Say himself often modifies his own written score during live performances. While the published score is your foundation, he encourages a sense of spontaneous, "informal modification". 3. Study Resources Summertime Variations - Schott Music