William Bolcom: Piano Works

William Bolcom: Piano Works is a comprehensive piano solo sheet music collection featuring music by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer William Bolcom. Created for pianists, teachers, and students interested in contemporary classical repertoire shaped by ragtime, character pieces, and modern concert works, this volume offers a broad view of Bolcom’s distinctive voice for piano. It is a strong choice for performance, studio study, repertoire exploration, and personal repertoire building.

This collection presents 23 piano works and sets in standard notation for solo piano, including several of Bolcom’s well-known rag-inspired pieces alongside lyrical miniatures and imaginative character compositions. The wide stylistic range lets players explore contrasting moods-from playful rhythmic writing to atmospheric and reflective works-while engaging with expressive, technically substantial music and distinctive musical storytelling.

Bolcom’s piano music blends American ragtime traditions with classical forms and modern harmonic language, making this volume valuable for pianists seeking repertoire beyond standard classical collections. Teachers can use the shorter works and bagatelles for focused study of phrasing, articulation, and rhythmic clarity, while performers will appreciate the expressive storytelling and distinctive character throughout the pieces.

Song List
Abbacadabra * Bird Spirits * Conversations with Andre * The Dead Moth Tango * Dream Shadows * Estela: Rag Latino * The Eternal Feminine * Graceful Ghost * Knock-Stuck * A Little Night Fughetta * Lost Lady Rag * The New York Lights * Night Meditations * Nine Bagatelles * Nine New Bagatelles * Old Adam * The Poltergeist * Romantic Pieces * Seabiscuits Rag * The Serpent's Kiss * A 60-Second Ballet (For Chickens) * Spring Dances * Through Eden's Gates