Dear friends,

What's a classical pianist tampering with pop music? Well, to make a long story short (which is always hard to do), I met the amazing David Foster in 2001--as you'll read below, his credentials are stellar, as the leading pop producer and one of the best pop composers--and he coached me on some of my original songs, and listened to some Chopin and Beethoven. He LOVES the classics, which is why his music is so pure. It inspired me to transcribe his music, thus, the project for PianoDisc (the computer generated player piano system), as well as projects of the complete Josh Groban songbook and an all-Leroy Anderson project. Here's the 'Best of David Foster' project details, which should be available by the end of April--for PianoDisc systems. If you have the PianoDisc system or access to it, I hope you'll be able to hear the arrangements. The cd jacket includes some peronal words from David for the project:

"It is a great honor for me to have my compostions performed by one of the world's greatest and most talented pianists. Jeffrey Biegel's style and ability to understand the classical world and the pop world without compromise to either is perhaps his greatest gift.
I don't like to listen to my own pieces at all but, this is one time where I will definitely make an exception. Thank you Jeffrey for all the wonderful music and performances you have given to all of us."--David Foster

One of the most influential composer/pianists of popular music today is the Canadian -born David Foster, who not only performs and records his own brilliant compositions, but has produced many legendary recordings for musical groups like Earth, Wind and Fire and Chicago, and solo artists like Natalie Cole, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion. Foster has also helped to develop the careers of Josh Groban and newcomers Renee Olstead and Michael Buble.

"I had the good fortune to meet and perform for David Foster. His love of the classics has influenced his own melodic creativity, and made it possible for someone like myself, a classically trained pianist, to embrace his songs and re-create them as solo piano transcriptions. As I delved deeper into his musical style I found that underlying the effervescent rhythms and instrumentation are pure, singing melodies and harmonies, the trademark of beloved composers from the beginning of recorded music.

David Foster’s music is recognizable due to its earthy qualities and immediate reflection of human life and emotions. Some of his most beautiful songs are those he composed with his wife, Linda Thompson. Creating piano transcriptions of this well-known music, replacing the feel-good rhythms and full string and brass sounds we’re used to hearing, with only a piano was a tremendous challenge. By using the piano’s full orchestral timbre I’ve brought you a new way of experiencing his music. I hope you will be inspired to sing along with these great songs by one of the most important popular composers of our time, David Foster."--Jeffrey Biegel

1 Winter Games (1988)
2 Glory of Love (1986)
3 After the Love Has Gone (1978)
4 Look What You've Done To Me (1980)
5 Hard to Say I'm Sorry (1982)
6 Through the Fire (1984)
7 What About Me (1984)
8 You're the Inspiration (1984)
9 Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
10 Light the Fire Within (2002)
11 Saje (1986)
12 I Have Nothing (1992)
13 The Colour of My Love, from the musical, Scream (1993)
14 Remember Me This Way, from Casper (1996)
15 The Power of the Dream (1996)
16 My Grown-Up Christmas List (1990)
17 The Prayer (1998)