Big Sky [Alf:00-39437]

This majestic, expansive piece in 4/4 meter is a gold mine for teaching arm weight while moving around the keyboard. Written in A-B-A form, the lyrical right-hand melody is accompanied by blocked fifths and root position chords in the left hand that move up by octaves. The accompaniment in the B section changes to broken chords, creating a tender contrast. In the return of A, the left hand chords are doubled in the right hand adding to the sound and sweep of the solo. While it begins in D major, the final two measures of the piece end in E major.