Clearwater Composer Publishes Pirate Chanteys For Piano Students

CLEARWATER, FL — With Gasparilla season in full swing, pirates are just about everywhere in Tampa Bay, and that includes in a new piano composition book for piano students titled "Pirate Tales" compiled by Clearwater-based composer Larisa Suknov.

"Pirate Tales" offers music depicting scenes of an imaginary pirate’s life and is ideal for piano students during the Gasparilla Pirate Fest as well as other days when pirates are out and about including International Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19 and Halloween. Pirate costumes were No. 4 on the list of most popular Halloween costumes in the U.S. last year, according to Mother magazine.

Of course, in Tampa Bay, upstanding piracy is acceptable throughout the year as evidenced by the moniker of the Buccaneers football team and its pirate mascot, Captain Fear, as well as the visibility of more than 130 pirate krewes that organize and volunteer at charitable events, visit with hospitalized children and host parties for foster children, all while dressed in their swashbuckling best.

It's no surprise that Suknov has a special affinity for pirates. She grew up in the port city of Odessa, Ukraine on the Black Sea where she began her music education at age 7 at the Children's Music School, focusing on piano, solfeggio, music theory, choir and piano accompaniment.

She went on to attend the prestigious Professor Stolyarsky Special Music School of Odessa, graduating in 1970, and continued her education at the Odessa State Conservatory. After graduating from the conservatory, she accepted a position as the piano teacher at the same school where she learned to play, the Music School in Odessa, teaching children and adults up to age 22.

In 1993, Suknov immigrated to the United States with her family and was hired as a piano accompanist for the New Jersey Ballet Company. Inspired by the artistry of dance, she began composing music for ballet and stage productions, ultimately achieving international acclaim as a composer.

While she enjoyed composing and performing, Suknov said her first love is teaching.

She retired to Clearwater and opened a private piano studio. In Tampa Bay, she found herself once again surrounded by pirate lore, taking her back to her youth growing up on the shores of the Black Sea.

See related: Hillsborough Pianist Composes New Music Book

That gave Suknov an idea. Since children tend to have short attention spans, she decided to compose pirate songs to maintain their interest.

"Music narrates stories with sound," Suknov said. "And 'Pirate Tales' is an exciting theme for kids because pirates represent adventure and bravery on the high seas. The pirate motifs engage and captivate today's oft-distracted youth."

When she saw the enthusiastic response of her students to the fun pirate-themed compositions, the 40-year music educator decided to compile the songs into a book of piano compositions geared to early intermediate and late elementary piano students.

With five of the 12 compositions in 6/8 meter, the music depicts scenes from an imaginary pirate’s life using minor keys (except one piece).

Songs include:

• "All Hands on Deck"
• "Anchors Aweigh!"
• "Aye Aye, Captain"
• "Captain Peg-Leg on Patrol"
• "Captain's Quest for a Treasure Chest"
• " Jolly Roger Flying High"
• "Land Ahoy!"
• "Mysterious Lights"
• "The Ninth Wave"
• "Pirate Mango's Tango"
• "Pirate's Dream"
• "Sneaking Pirates"

Published by the Neil A. Kjos Music Co, "Pirate Tales" is Suknov's third published book of piano compositions.

Her book, "Tangos and More," contains four diverse tangos including solos in a classic Viennese style, an Irish jig, ragtime and solos that suggest an Italian and Chinese influence.

Like "Pirate Tales," another book of compositions titled "Three Circus Pieces" is intended to motivate young students, adding levity to piano music with songs like "Clumsy Clown," which uses staccato and chromatic motion to depict a bumbling clown, and "Funny Jugglers," which makes use of contrasting articulation and off-beat accompaniment chords in 2/4 meter to mimic these playful circus characters.

"Pirate Tales" is available for $6.95 online and in stores. To find a local retailer, click here.