Programme Notes ATCL Piano Newest

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Programme J.S. Bach

Prelude and Fugue in D minor BWV 851

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J. Haydn

Sonata in E flat major Hob. XVI:49

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I: Allegro II: Adagio e cantabile III: Finale: Tempo di Minuet

F. Schubert

Impromptu in G flat major Op. 90 No. 3

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F. Poulenc

Trois Novelettes No.1 and No.2

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I: C major II: B flat minor [total duration]

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, - Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

J.S. Bach was a German composer and organist. His music was important in the baroque period and is one of the greatest composers of all time. This prelude and fugue in D minor is the 6th set of pieces from the Well-tempered Clavier Part I, a collection of Preludes and Fugues by Bach, composed in all the 24 major and minor keys. The book was compiled in 1722. The prelude is short and quick. The right hand is in constant triplets, while the left hand plays steady detached notes. At the beginning, the bass line serves as a tonic pedal point. Later on, the bass line has a melody and weave together with the broken chords above. The touch of both line s should be kept brisk, as this piece was originally composed for harpsichord. The fugue is more complex with 3 voices. It begins with the motif played in the soprano in the tonic key of D minor and the other voices join in, gradually building up the poly phonic texture. The motif is then repeated, modulated and inverted. It is of typical fugue style, with the contrapuntal characteristics and clear entries. It ends with a D major chord ( Tierce de Picardie), leaving the audience with a sense of fulfilment.

(209 words)

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Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Joseph Haydn composed a large mass of works, including church music, oratorios, chamber music and keyboard works. This sonata was completed in 1790. The first movement is Allegro. The exposition is in E flat major. The first subject is of a question-and-answer style. The development is a modulation from the original E flat major to the dominant key of B flat major. The second section in the middle is polyphonic and after the quick quasi-recitative comes the recapitulation with the first theme again. This first movement is in a typical sonata form. The second movement Adagio e cantabile is of a more singing style. The lyrical phrasing causes the piece to be calm and peaceful. The theme is repeated, each time advancing in a more expressive way. Towards the middle is the beginning of a contrasting section. This movement is in ABA form. The Finale is marked Tempo di Minuet. It is dancelike and lively, built up with rhythmic triplets, slurred notes and dotted rhythm.

(165 words)

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Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer during the Romantic period. He is best known for his Lieder, symphonies, chamber and piano music. He is noted for his original melodies and harmonies. This impromptu is the third of the four Op.90 /D.899 impromptus composed in 1827 during Schubert͛s stay at Dornbach. It presents a great example of his lyrical melodies. The spacious melody is supported by a flowing broken triad accompaniment. This is typical to its style, as the impromptu is a composition usually for s olo instrument that has a sense of freedom and improvisation. The melody is present in both hands. The emotion builds up to a tense climax in the middle, where the bass line expands into an intense countermelody. The piece then returns to the first melody and ends in a serene manner.

(134 words)

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Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)

Born and raised in France, Francis Poulenc was a capable pianist at a young age. He composed many keyboard pieces for his earlier compositions and as he aged moved on to writing more solemn and austere pieces, many for woodwind. The Trois Novelettes are three short pieces composed for solo piano. The third novelette was written in 1959 and was later added. The first novelette, in C major, is an example of his illustrative multi-layered piano writing. This was composed in 1927. With the charming melody, this piece is tuneful and song -like. The piece has many sections, each with a different texture . The style is very dreamy. This feeling can be brought out with the fuzzy pedalling and the melody ringing out on top. The second novelette, in B flat minor, is very rhythmic and playful, similar to the style of a Scherzo. It was composed a year after the first. There are many chords and accented notes, with a contrast of the melodic slurred notes and jumpy staccato notes.

(170 words)

Total: 678 words