The Piano Songbook: Contemporary Songs

This is a generous selection of the very best contemporary pop and rock songs by some of the mostintriguing and creative artists of recent years, all selected for the modern Pianist.

The piano is often mistakenly viewed as taking asecondary role to the guitar in the world of rock music, with the industry often favoring the eye-catching antics of a larger-than-life axe-wielding hero to the seated sincerity of the Piano.

In the meantime, a new generation of bands and artistsare correcting the balance, pushing the piano to the front of the stage and writing music with a passion and depth that challenges the preconceptions.

The chosen artists include Mercury Music Award-winners Antony & The Johnsons, Montreal's cinematic folk-rockers The Arcade Fire and the addictively eccentric Regina Spektor. Each song has been carefully transcribed from the original recording, and includes full lyrics and guitar chords.