LEARN PIANO ONLINE --THE WELL-ROUNDED PIANIST !
BachScholar® Editions Catalogue (updated April 2023)
ABOUT: BachScholar Publishing, LLC was established in 2011 by pianist, teacher, and scholar Dr. Cory Hall. Publishing exclusively instant download digital editions since 2012, in 2018 BachScholar began producing hardcopy editions which are printed and shipped by Subito Music Corporation. BachScholar Publishing produces high-quality Urtext, performance editions, arrangements of piano classics, exercises and pedagogical studies as well as original compositions and arrangements. BachScholar's mission is to provide pianists and teachers with the highest quality resources for performance, study, and teaching. Most of the publications listed below are available as both hardcopy or instant download PDF (most non-printable) and are provided with short descriptions.
**Bestselling Titles Indicated in GREEN**
SIGHT-READING STUDIES
**SIGHT-READING & HARMONY (Complete Edition) PDF | Hardcopy — The world’s #1 leading book and system on sight-reading for keyboard, Sight-Reading & Harmony uses Bach’s four-part chorales in a 5-tier progressive system to teach sight-reading skills from the beginning through advanced grades. Also includes exercises to help facilitate the playing of Bach chorales, instruction in cadences and harmony, and much more.
SAMPLE EXAMS FOR GRADES 1-10 AND MASTER OF HARMONY (Complete Edition) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents 144 selected four-part Bach chorale excerpts from the larger 220-page book organized into four exams each for Grades 1-10 plus the Master of Harmony course of study. The exams follow the criteria set forth in Sight-Reading & Harmony (Complete Edition). Also includes an answer key for the four Master of Harmony exams.
SIGHT-READING & HARMONY (Grades 1-2) PDF | Hardcopy — A short and practical book that presents 48 selected sight-reading excerpts and two sample exams derived from the instructions provided in Sight-Reading & Harmony (Complete Edition).
SIGHT-READING & HARMONY (Grades 3-4) PDF | Hardcopy — A short and practical book that presents 48 selected sight-reading excerpts and two sample exams derived from the instructions provided in Sight-Reading & Harmony (Complete Edition).
SIGHT-READING & HARMONY (Grades 5-6) PDF | Hardcopy — A short and practical book that presents 48 selected sight-reading excerpts and two sample exams derived from the instructions provided in Sight-Reading & Harmony (Complete Edition).
SIGHT-READING & HARMONY (Grades 7-8) PDF | Hardcopy — A short and practical book that presents 48 selected sight-reading excerpts and two sample exams derived from the instructions provided in Sight-Reading & Harmony (Complete Edition).
SIGHT-READING & HARMONY (Grades 9-10) PDF | Hardcopy — A short and practical book that presents 48 selected sight-reading excerpts and two sample exams derived from the instructions provided in Sight-Reading & Harmony (Complete Edition).
SIGHT-READING TRIFECTA - find out more about this perfect combination of books!
**SIGHT-READING & HARMONY (Complete Edition) PDF | Hardcopy — The world’s #1 leading book and system on sight-reading for keyboard, Sight-Reading & Harmony uses Bach’s four-part chorales in a 5-tier progressive system to teach sight-reading skills from the beginning through advanced grades. Also includes exercises to help facilitate the playing of Bach chorales, instruction in cadences and harmony, and much more.
**J.S. BACH: 436 Two-Part Chorales PDF | Hardcopy — This premium Urtext edition presents Bach’s 436 four-part chorales with the inner voices (alto and tenor) removed, which is equal in difficulty to the “Grades 3-4” lines in BachScholar’s bestselling Sight-Reading & Harmony. These simple yet profoundly beautiful 436 chorales serve as excellent preparation for the reading and playing of pieces featuring 1:1 and 1:2 counterpoint, such as two-part Inventions and fugues, and make Bach’s chorales accessible to less advanced students who are unable to play all four parts.
**J.S. BACH: 436 Four-Part Chorales PDF | Hardcopy — This premium Urtext edition of Bach’s masterpieces of harmony, edited especially for piano and keyboard (no fingerings), includes more four-part chorales than any edition to date (including 65 more chorales than the popular “371 Chorales” book). Performers will marvel at the clear and easy to read manuscript and will be delighted in having no page turns between chorales.
BACH CHORALES & CHURCH HYMNS
FREE BACH CHORALES PDFs — This page presents a large selection of free four-part chorales prepared by BachScholar®.
FREE CHURCH HYMNS PDFs — This page presents free church hymn collections, mostly historical, selected from IMSLP.
**J.S. BACH: 436 Four-Part Chorales PDF | Hardcopy — This premium Urtext edition of Bach’s masterpieces of harmony, edited especially for piano and keyboard (no fingerings), includes more four-part chorales than any edition to date (including 65 more chorales than the popular “371 Chorales” book). Performers will marvel at the clear and easy to read manuscript and will be delighted in having no page turns between chorales.
**J.S. BACH: 436 Two-Part Chorales PDF | Hardcopy — This premium Urtext edition presents Bach’s 436 four-part chorales with the inner voices (alto and tenor) removed, which is equal in difficulty to the “Grades 3-4” lines in BachScholar’s bestselling Sight-Reading & Harmony. These simple yet profoundly beautiful 436 chorales serve as excellent preparation for the reading and playing of pieces featuring 1:1 and 1:2 counterpoint, such as two-part Inventions and fugues, and make Bach’s chorales accessible to less advanced students who are unable to play all four parts.
**J.S. BACH: 24 Easy Four-Part Chorales PDF | Hardcopy — A beautifully laid-out “landscape” volume with spiral binding consisting of 24 of Bach’s lesser difficult chorales, notated in two parts for beginners followed by the original four parts for intermediate to advanced levels.
J.S. BACH: 24 Four-Part Chorales (Advent, Christmas) PDF | Hardcopy — A beautifully laid-out “landscape” volume with spiral binding consisting of 24 selected chorales appropriate for the Advent and Christmas season, notated in two parts for beginners followed by the original four parts for intermediate to advanced levels.
J.S. BACH: 36 Four-Part Chorales (Lent, Passion, Easter) PDF | Hardcopy — A beautifully laid-out “landscape” volume with spiral binding consisting of 24 selected chorales appropriate for the Lent and Easter season, notated in two parts for beginners followed by the original four parts for intermediate to advanced levels.
BACH GOES ROMANTIC: 10 Four-Part Chorales Arranged (Volume 1) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents ten rich, beautiful, romantic-style arrangements of selected four-part chorales by J.S. Bach. May be performed singly, in pairs or groups, or as a complete cycle. Total playing time ca. 36 minutes.
BACH MEETS RAGTIME: 10 Four-Part Chorales Arranged (Volume 2) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents ten classic ragtime and related style arrangements of selected four-part chorales by J.S. Bach. Styles include two-step rags, cakewalk, march macabre, cool swing, hoe down. May be performed singly, in pairs or groups, or as a complete cycle. Total playing time ca. 36 minutes.
TECHNICAL STUDIES
Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales (Volume 1) PDF | Hardcopy — Introduces the 24 major and minor scales to the beginning to intermediate level student (Grades 1-4). All scales are presented one octave in parallel and contrary motion and in parallel thirds, sixths, and tenths indicated with traditional fingerings. Students learn the essential theory concepts of key signatures (up to five sharps and six flats), relative major and minor keys, and harmonizing scales in thirds, sixths, and tenths. This is not merely a “scale book” but a “complete scale guide” with step-by-step instructions. The manuscript is large, dark, and beautiful.
Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales (Volume 2) PDF | Hardcopy — Continues the 24 major and minor scales to the upper intermediate to advanced student (Grades 5-7). All scales are presented two octaves in parallel and contrary motion and in parallel thirds, sixths, and tenths indicated with traditional fingerings. Students learn the essential theory concepts of key signatures (up to seven sharps and seven flats), relative major and minor keys, and harmonizing scales in thirds, sixths, and tenths. This is not merely a “scale book” but a “complete scale guide” with step-by-step instructions. The manuscript is large, dark, and beautiful.
Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales (Volume 3) PDF | Hardcopy — No scale system would be complete without including double notes. This volume presents all 24 major and minor (harmonic and melodic) scales one and two octaves in double thirds and double sixths. All scales are presented one and two octaves in parallel and contrary motion indicated with practical fingerings derived from symmetrical or mirror relationships. This is not merely a “scale book” but a “complete scale guide” with step-by-step instructions. The manuscript is large, dark, and beautiful.
(25% Off) Complete Guide to Major & Minor Scales (Full Bundle, Volumes 1-3) PDF | (no hardcopy discount) — All three volumes of this series are presented in one PDF for a big discount!
DIABELLI: The First 12 Studies for the Piano, Op. 125 PDF | Hardcopy — Presents twelve easy and attractive short pieces in the Viennese Classical style from ca. 1821. They are in progressive order of difficulty and are especially useful for students of the beginning to intermediate levels (approximately, Grades 1-3). The set also works ideally as sight-reading material for students at slightly higher levels (Grades 4-6).
HANON FOR BEGINNERS PDF | Hardcopy — This short and practical volume is the perfect primer for the pianist’s first encounter with Charles-Louis Hanon’s The Virtuoso Pianist. In addition to indicating the traditional fingerings, this volume also supplies alternate fingerings in preparation for the playing of real music.
THE WELL-TEMPERED HANON: Hanon the way Bach would have done it PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Part 1 of Charles-Louis Hanon’s The Virtuoso Pianist (20 exercises) transposed into all 24 major and minor keys harmonized in thirds and sixths resulting in invertible counterpoint. This results in a virtually endless supply of indispensable exercises (480 in all) valuable for the study of sight-reading, counterpoint, fingering, technique, and transposition.
BETTER THAN HANON (2nd Ed.) PDF | Hardcopy — Consists of four- and five-finger broken chords and arpeggios (major, minor, dominant and diminished 7ths) in all the keys, which improves flexibility, strength, economy of motion and instills a solid understanding of musical harmony.
**THE HOLY TRINITY OF PIANO TECHNIQUE (2nd Ed.) PDF | Hardcopy — Consists of three essential exercises for the development of flexibility, strength, economy of motion, and understanding of musical harmony.
J.S. BACH: GOLDBERG VARIATIONS, BWV 988 PDF | Hardcopy — This attractive Urtext of Bach’s popular variation cycle is not only extremely user-friendly and extra-legible, but in addition, presents groundbreaking performance practice research that explains Bach’s never-before-revealed plan of tempo relationships between variations. Mapping out Bach’s fermata plan for the complete cycle reveals an ingenious and fascinating symmetrical arrangement of pairs and groups of variations unified by direct tempo relationships.
CLASSICAL EDITIONS (originals & arrangements, in chronological order)
FREE CLASSICAL PIANO MUSIC PDFs — This page presents a selection of various piano sheet music selected from good and reliable editions from IMSLP.
**PACHELBEL: Canon in D (arr. Lyapunov, Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents the excellent concert piano arrangement by the Russian Composer Sergei Lyapunov (1859-1924) abridged and edited by Cory Hall. Lyapunov’s original is very long and somewhat redundant, of which Hall has reduced in length by about 1/3 thereby making it more accessible to students, teachers, and general listeners. Includes tempo, expression, fingering.
J.S. BACH: 15 Two-Part Inventions, BWV 772-786 PDF | Hardcopy — Presents an Urtext free from editorial phrase markings, tempo indications, ornaments, pedalings, or fingerings. This clean and uncluttered appearance allows students and teachers to add their own editorial marks to their liking.
**J.S. BACH: Toccata & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Bach’s famous organ work in a highly idiomatic piano transcription. More of a literal transcription than an arrangement, this version remains true to Bach’s original organ score, which makes it accessible to the average pianist.
J.S. BACH: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a rich, romantic-style concert arrangement of Bach’s popular chorale setting from Cantata No. 147. Transcribed to the lush, romantic key of D-flat major at a slow tempo, this arrangement is more idiomatic for the piano due to the use of all five black keys.
J.S. BACH: Jesu in D Minor (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a rich, romantic-style concert arrangement of Bach’s popular chorale setting from Cantata No. 147 transcribed to the mysterious minor key of D minor at a slow tempo.
J.S. BACH: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring in Major & Minor (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents two rich, romantic-style concert arrangements of Bach’s popular chorale setting from Cantata No. 147 transcribed to the lush, romantic keys of D-flat major and D minor.
J.S. BACH: Sinfonia from Cantata 29 - Etude on One Staff with Two Hands (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy— Presents a unique and accessible transcription of Bach’s exciting Sinfonia from Cantata 29. This edition notates Bach’s original solo in the treble clef played with alternating hands: stems up = R.H. and stems down = L.H. This unique transcription offers pianists Grades 5 and up a fun and rewarding study which fosters evenness of touch and tone and explores innovative fingerings and hand crossings.
J.S. BACH: Sinfonia from Cantata 29 (arr. Saint-Saëns) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents arguably the finest romantic-era piano transcription of Bach’s exciting Sinfonia from Cantata 29. Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), pulled out all the stops on this electrifying virtuoso piano transcription of Bach’s famous work. This performance edition supplies fingerings, pedaling, expression, and tempo.
J.S. BACH: GOLDBERG VARIATIONS, BWV 988 PDF | Hardcopy — This attractive Urtext of Bach’s popular variation cycle is not only extremely user-friendly and extra-legible, but in addition, presents groundbreaking performance practice research that explains Bach’s never-before-revealed plan of tempo relationships between variations. Mapping out Bach’s fermata plan for the complete cycle reveals an ingenious and fascinating symmetrical arrangement of pairs and groups of variations unified by direct tempo relationships.
HANDEL: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - from Solomon (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents an exciting concert transcription of the popular opening of Act 3 to Handel's Oratorio, Solomon (HWV 67). Ideal for concert venues or the teaching studio.
HANDEL: Overture from The Messiah (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents an exciting and virtuosic concert piano arrangement of the first movement, Overture, from G.F. Handel’s The Messiah. Includes indications for tempi, fingering, articulation, pedaling.
HANDEL: Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents an exciting and virtuosic concert piano arrangement of the famous Hallelujah Chorus from G.F. Handel’s The Messiah. Includes indications for tempi, fingering, articulation, pedaling.
MOZART: Piano Sonata in C Major, K. 545 PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Mozart’s most beloved piano sonata in a clear and easy-to-read performance edition. This popular landmark in piano literature is supplied with expression, fingerings, written-out ornaments, and suggested metronome speed.
MOZART: 24 Youthful Masterpieces - Short Pieces from Mozart’s Early Years PDF | Hardcopy — Presents 24 short pieces from Mozart’s early years, composed mostly from ages 6-8. This is a clear and easy-to-read performance edition organized in progressive order of difficulty, which includes expression, fingerings, written-out ornaments, and suggested metronome speeds.
MOZART: Rondo alla Turca PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Mozart’s most famous piece in a clear and easy-to-read performance edition. This popular landmark in piano literature is supplied with expression, fingerings, written-out ornaments, and suggested metronome speed.
(forthcoming) CLEMENTI: Six Sonatinas, Op. 36 PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Muzio Clementi’s popular progressive Six Sonatinas in a beautiful and sturdy performance edition with fingerings and metronome indications.
BEETHOVEN: Für Elise PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Beethoven’s most famous piece in a clear and easy-to-read performance edition. This popular landmark in piano literature is supplied with expression, fingerings, written-out ornaments, and suggested metronome speed.
SCHUMANN: Kinderszenen, Op. 15 PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Schumann’s’s most popular work in a fine performance edition. This popular landmark in piano literature is supplied with expression, fingerings, tempos, as well as a four-page analytical essay that explains and illuminates Schumann’s controversial metronome indications.
DVORAK-HALL: Humoresque - Concert Arrangement for Piano (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Dvorak's famous Humoresque consisting of playful and energetic swing-style outer sections that contrast with a lyrical, romantic-style middle section.
RACHMANINOFF: Vocalise - from Fourteen Songs, Op. 34 (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Rachmaninoff's beloved and hauntingly beautiful song in a rich, orchestral-style arrangement for piano.
JINGLE BELLS THROUGH THE GRADES - In Progressive Order of Difficulty (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Consists of a delightful set of eight pieces in progressive order of difficulty from Grades 1-8. The final piece, Grade 8, is an infectious and joyful “Jingle Bells Rag” in classic ragtime style.
SONATINA RUSTICANA by Cory Hall PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a neo-classical style sonatina consisting of three movements of attractive, rustic character reminiscent of Beethoven.
CHRIST CHILD DIVINE by Cory Hall PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a calm and comforting Christmas pastorale in 6/4 meter which evokes shepherds tending their flocks and the three wise men bearing gifts.
4 MEDIEVAL PORTRAITS by Cory Hall PDF | Hardcopy — Presents four programmatic concert pieces of immense musical interest, imagination, and virtuosity, all of which have “medieval” titles and employ “medieval” style compositional devices. May be performed singly, in pairs, or as a complete opus. Total playing time ca. 17 minutes:
10 BIBLICAL PORTRAITS by Cory Hall PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a musical cycle consisting of a collection of beautiful and accessible romantic musical styles presenting a chronological narrative through the Old and New Testaments. The ten character pieces can be performed singly, in pairs or groups, or as a complete cycle. Total playing time ca. 40 minutes.
BACH GOES ROMANTIC: 10 Four-Part Chorales Arranged (Volume 1) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents ten rich, beautiful, romantic-style arrangements of selected four-part chorales by J.S. Bach. May be performed singly, in pairs or groups, or as a complete cycle. Total playing time ca. 36 minutes.
BACH MEETS RAGTIME: 10 Four-Part Chorales Arranged (Volume 2) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents ten classic ragtime and related style arrangements of selected four-part chorales by J.S. Bach. Styles include two-step rags, cakewalk, march macabre, cool swing, hoe down. May be performed singly, in pairs or groups, or as a complete cycle. Total playing time ca. 36 minutes.
RAGTIME & JAZZ (originals & arrangements, in chronological order)
**SCOTT JOPLIN: 8 Ragtime Classics & School of Ragtime PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Scott Joplin’s eight most popular and enduring classics in addition to the composer’s instructional series, School of Ragtime. This edition reproduced from the original editions, making this an historically accurate Urtext of the highest quality (no fingerings provided).
SCOTT JOPLIN: Selected Single Titles PDFs — 32 single titles from “The King of Ragtime,” which all include copies of the original cover page art.
JOSEPH F. LAMB: 12 Classic Rags for Piano PDF | Hardcopy — Presents all twelve of Lamb’s most popular rags in a fine Urtext edition originally published by John Stark in 1908-1919.
W.C. HANDY: The Saint Louis Blues (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a rich concert arrangement and heartfelt, soulful rendering of W.C. Handy’s classic song using Handy’s original, slow and melancholic “Habanera” style rhythms as indicated in the original 1914 score.
ZEZ CONFREY: 12 Novelty Piano Solos (1921-1924) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Zez Confrey’s twelve most popular novelty piano solos from the exciting era of the 1920s. These beautiful and meticulous engravings are reproduced from the original editions, making this an historically accurate Urtext of the highest quality (no fingerings provided).
**IRVING BERLIN: Puttin’ On the Ritz PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a playful and exciting concert arrangement for piano, which remains thoroughly faithful to the original piano/vocal version.
**A JAZZ PIANIST’S CHRISTMAS by Norman Henry Mamey PDF | Hardcopy — Presents eight exquisite classic Christmas arrangements by a GRAMMY award winning composer, which concludes with an exciting virtuoso rendition of “Jingle Bells.” May be performed singly, in pairs or groups, or as a complete set. Total playing time ca. 25 minutes:
JOPLIN-HALL: The Monstertainer - a Goulish Two Step (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents a fascinating and ingenious minor-key arrangement of Scott Joplin’s popular rag, The Entertainer.
JOPLIN-HALL: The Entertainer (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents Joplin’s popular rag in an original arrangement featuring a fast tempo with extra wide strides and hand crossings.
ROBERTS-HALL: Pork and Beans (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents an exciting, powerful arrangement of Luckey Robert’s rag, 1913.
ROBERTS-HALL: The Music Box Rag (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents an exciting, playful arrangement of Luckey Roberts’ rag, 1914.
SCOTT-HALL: Efficiency Rag (arr. Hall) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents an exciting, virtuoso style arrangement of James Scott’s rag from 1917.
BACH MEETS RAGTIME: 10 Four-Part Chorales Arranged (Volume 2) PDF | Hardcopy — Presents ten classic ragtime and related style arrangements of selected four-part chorales by J.S. Bach. Styles include two-step rags, cakewalk, march macabre, cool swing, hoe down. May be performed singly, in pairs or groups, or as a complete cycle. Total playing time ca. 36 minutes.