One of the foremost American contemporary composers working today is Ralph Shapey. This work, written in 1951, is an excellent addition to the pedagogical repertoire, as well as an excellent reciatal work in the vein of the Schonberg Sechs Kleme Klavierstucke. Each of the pieces is designed for the student pianist, providing him with certain pianistic problems such as repetitive finger staccato, legato without pedal, etc., which are clearly enumerated before each piece. The musical language is very tightly organized in the unique post-serialist idiom of the composers. For studios, schools, colleges, professional. Medium.