Hal Leonard Releases Battlestar Galactica Songbook Cool New Piano Solo Folio Showcases Noted Composer Bear McCreary

­Variety called composer Bear McCreary's score for Battlestar Galactica ­ the award-winning series on the Syfy channel from 004-009 ­ the most innovative music on TV today, and NPR said it fits the action so perfectly, it's almost devastating: (it's) a sci-fi score like no other. Hal Leonard Corporation is proud to publish the first-ever songbook featuring the music from the series.

McCreary himself was heavily involved in the creation of this special collection, personally translating his acclaimed, world music-infused orchestral score into fantastic piano solo arrangements. The intermediate to advanced-level songbook contains 19 selections in all, and as a bonus, also simplified versions of Roslin and Adama and Wander My Friends. There is a note from the Emmy-nominated McCreary, as well as a biography.

The music from Battlestar Galactica has a rabid following. No fewer than six soundtrack albums have been released to date, all selling well and enthusiastically praised by critics. There have also been several live concerts featuring the music; In 008, more than 1,000 fans attended two sold-out shows at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, with some fans flying in from as far as England and Australia. Last summer, McCreary conducted the world premiere performance of the Battlestar Galactica Symphony, as part of the renowned Fimucite Film Music Festival in Tenerife, Spain. A ballet based on McCreary's scores for the series premiered in 009, performed by the dancers of the Theaterhagen in Hagen, Germany.

McCreary comments on the Hal Leonard Battlestar Galactica songbook, At last, fans can now be a part of the musical process themselves and experience the score as I first did: with fingertips touching the ivories.

A must for the show's multitude of fans, the Battlestar Galactica Piano Solo folio (HL00150, ISBN 978-1-61780-67-) retails for $16.99 and is available at music stores nationwide, or through Music Dispatch.