Ties That Bind: Hymn Arrangements Old and New for Piano Solo.

arranged by Bob Burroughs. Carl Fischer (65 Bleeker St, New York, NY 10012), 2003. 24 pp. $6.95. Easy.

The Ties That Bind is a collection of arrangements containing standard to contemporary hymns. The edition is clean and barely edited--no fingering or pedal indications; articulation and dynamic indications are helpful yet spare. The lack of heavy editing allows freedom of interpretation and celebrates individual hand sites and shapes.

The appearance of these arrangements is deceiving; they look intermediate in level and fit well under the hands; however, there are a few non-intermediate technical difficulties to overcome. Several selections contain strings of double notes, primarily thirds and sixths. Almost all the double-note passages are to be played legato and have no fingerings to help the nonprofessional. Often, one would have to rely on deft pedaling to play passages both legato and with a singing tone. Overall, however, no difficulties are long lasting.

The harmonic language is tonal with a few predictable color chords. Also present are the typical popular modulations to unrelated keys, exploiting primarily third relationships (E-flat major to C major, F major to A-flat major to E major). There are a few meter changes within arrangements, but nothing complex. For example in "Blest be the Tie That Binds" the main pulse stays the same (from _ to 9/8) and in "Softy and Tenderly" the subdivision stays the same (from _ to 6/4).

This volume's pedagogic use would be limited to those students for whom compiling a Christian contemporary worship library is important or for whom hymn improvisation is a goal. The length of each arrangement is usable for prelude or postludes in a contemporary church service--the lengthiest arrangement is three pages. When introducing hymn improvisation, one could find the unadorned hymn in an original source, play an arrangement from The Tie That Binds and then improvise using Bob Burroughs's accompanimental, harmonic and metric options as a vocabulary for growth. Although the hymn texts are standard, it would have been a welcome addition to have them listed at the beginning of each arrangement.

Carolyn True, San Antonio, Texas.