Charles Smith's First Aleatory Grid For Chance Music Performance

E phry- gian scale	Ab Gb Fb Eb	B A F# D	straight eighths	let go of tremo- lo	add the ac-cent	G D# B G	repeat sign	B lo-crian scale	F#
Eb Db A F	dotted quarter note	Bb Db Gb	G E C G	A F# D A	tie note or chord	double trill: C-G	G E C# B	F# A# G# F#	D
triplet	swung eighths	Eb C A Gb	4/4	A G F E	waltz	B G D	Ab Gb Fb Eb	C Ab E	C
add glis- sando	add staccato	D D Eb Eb	de- cre- scen- do	Bb G D	breve	dotted- half note	trill on F	add legato	A
C F Bb	B A G F	eighth note	octave Es	F-G-Ab-Bb-C-D-E	F C G	G	D# G# C#	octave Fs	octave Abs
Eb Bb F C	add tremolo	octave Ebs	trill on C	ga- votte	G F E D	E A C#	whole note	3/4	F C G D
octave Dbs	D-C Bb-A F-F# C-D	2/4	octave Gbs	6/8	G	forte	mezzo- forte	half rest	Eb Cb Ab F
fermata	cre-scendo	trill on D	whole rest	C F C#	forte- piano	trill on Ab	3/8	ac- cel- rando	eighth rest
G E C	dotted whole note	octave As	octave Cs	16th triplet	A E C Bb	pian- issimo	double trill: F-A	A-A E-D B-Bb G-Gb	octave Gs
mezzo- piano	F-E C-B F-E	16th note	piano	D B A F	G D B F	D-C-B A-G-F E-D-C D-C-B	quarter rest	E A G# C#	F D B E

MUSICAL DESCRIPTION OF "CENTRAL PARK IN THE DARK" OF CHARLES IVES

Charles Ives's Central Park in the Dark (which is a teeny bit of an homage to one of his works that uses smooth strings that often clash with pointillistic winds--The Unanswered Question) uses the string section to create the main base of the piece. At the start of the music, the string section focuses on long chordal notes and drones. Long bass notes in the cellos and basses (in octaves, which are the drones themselves) sustain slightly-faster-moving notes in the violas, 1st and 2nd violins. The main pedal point in the drones seems to be on the note A, which almost imperceptibly fluctuates, and the approximate key center seems to be the dominant of D major, but the guess of possibly making a definite V7 chord in D is enigmatic....the often-unresolved harmonic changes keep the usual musical listener guessing on how these harmonies will resolve. Eventually, the woodwinds join in this semi-chaotic yet smooth fray, with the clarinet entering first, and then the oboe, and then there is an contrapuntal interplay between the oboe and clarinet. Then, the woodwinds drop out......as the strings continue their pattern of quasi-atonal chords, mainly in seconds and sevenths, often punctuated by quartals and quintals. There seems to be a looped pattern in several repeats, probably lasting about 40-50 seconds each. The woodwinds then come in as the strings continue this pattern....and drop out again. Then, the piano enters with a contrapuntal theme matching the string activity as the strings continue their chordal and pedal-point patterns. Then.....the piano drops out. The strings continue and then the woodwinds start up again, and then, the piano re-appears---now this time, it suddenly explodes into a violent outburst of ragtime and Dixieland music. The woodwind activity then builds up to a violent outburst with ragtime music elements of its own, and then the brass comes in to punctuate an ever increasing crescendo.....and soon all of the orchestra joins in its ragtime-twinged violence and liveliness with a crescendo. As the crescendo is about to burst into a climax....the climax gets unresolved...suddenly disappearing back into quasi-repose as the strings repeat the loop as you hear in the beginning on that pedal point A as before. The English horn then wails out a slow-moving lament as the string chords continue looping and the pedal point gradually moves to Eb...and gradually back to A. The English horn then drops out. The strings are left to finish one final loop of the pattern that permeated 95 percent of the piece.....gradually decreasing in tone and intensity and then after a 3 second silence...the last chord, a A-C#-D#-F-C#, brings the piece to its restful conclusion.

Composing a First-Movement Cadenza for a Mozart Piano Concerto

     The understanding of a first-movement cadenza of a Mozart piano concerto is very important when one wants to compose an original one, for not doing so results in composing a cadenza that would be either way out of the composing style for his period, or way out of the typical structure of a Mozart-based piano concerto cadenza.

     Generally, a cadenza means any imporivisatory or free passage

(usually played ad libitum, which is Latin for “at pleasure,” con-

taining such virtuosic devices such as rapid scales, runs, arpeggios, trills, turns and other ornamentation, and quick changes in registers, tempos, and harmonies, with or without an organ point (such as the dominant).

     Some people interpret the word “cadenza” in different ways.

Quantz said that it was “extempore embellishment created, according to the fancy and pleasure of the performer, by a concertante part at a close of a piece on the piece on the pentultimate note of the bass.¹ On the other hand, Rosenblum said that “the term can refer to any fermata [or, “paused”, or “held”] embellishment, [but sometimes, it can refer] to brief, nonthematic ornamental passages intended as

transitions of a work as ‘lead-ins’.”²

    Moreover, the cadenza comes from the Italian name for “cadence”; when this term pertains to the first-movement piano concerto, it refers to the section starting on the tonic 6-4 (or I6-4) chord in the orchestra’s tutti, on a fermata, just before the piano has a solo, improvisatory passage (which has a “cadencial” dominant-seventh-to-tonic sequence at the end, then the orchestra comes in immediately afterwards on the tonic.)

     Kraus gives a rather good synopsis of a typica cadenza from a Mozart piano concerto in the first movement:

         Although there is no absolutely identical form traceable,

     it is safe to say that cadenzas of first movements show a

     pattern of ABA or ABC, preceded by either an introdcution

     or a short, virtuoso lead-in. This is followed by a brief

     retrospection on themes previously heard, played either by

     orchestra or the solo piano…or not yet introduced at all.³

  Moreover, Badura-Skoda, howevere, gives a clearer explanation of 

the first movement piano concerto cadenza. He says that it would 

have three main sections:⁴

    First part:”…with one of the themes [retrospected] or with 

        virtuoso  passage work…”⁵

    Second part:”…a sequential development of some important theme 

         or motive to the concerto movement… [which is followed by] 

         a number of runs, arpeggios, etc….”⁶

   Third part: “…the closing section [which usually ends] on a 

         trill.”⁷

     Why do some composers of the past and the present compose cadenzas for the first movements of Mozart’s piano concertos? One main reason, according to Badura-Skoda, is that some of Mozart’s “original cadenzas did not survive, such as the two in minor keys and the great concertos K. 482 and 503…”⁸

       For example, it was Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) who composed the cadenzas for the first and third movements of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D Minor.

    Since as Kraus said the “Mozart cadenzas [allow] the performer actually to improvise…”⁹, how should a composer write his own first-movement cadenza for a Mozart piano concerto (whether or not it would sound “Mozartean”)?

    If a composer wants to do a “Mozart-style” piano concerto cadenza, one should understand the musical structure of Mozart’s composition by looking into scores of the Mozart’s composition by looking into scores of the Mozart piano concertos which contain the cadenzas. Once the composer chooses the selected Mozart piano concerto (first-movement) cadenza that one likes to write from, he should then study the musical aspects from that cadenza that

he wishes to do in that concerto. Although originality is very important in writing such cadenzas, it is advisable to keep these things intact:

 1. The range of the Mozart is from an F1 to F6.

 2. According to Badura-Skoda, a first-movement cadenza, “with less

    spiritual depth [demands a fast tempo, preferably Allego] if they are to make the maximum effect.”¹⁰

 3. Avoid using glissando marks, false octaves, chordal intervals in one hand over an octave (except in broken passages such as arpeggios),bichords, polytonal chord clusters, and the “orchestra playing style” common in such composers of later periods as Liszt, Alkan, and Rachmaninov.

 4. Avoid parallel 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13^th chords (this is common in Impressionistic music of such composers as Debussy and Ravel, and in jazz and popular music). Exception—the parallel diminished 7^th chords may be used, especially in modulatory passages in a cadenza.

 5. Definitely avoid the 20^th century musical techniques common from many composers (such as Ligeti, Boulez, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, and Berg), for it can utterly mar the meaning of Mozart’s musical style in a cadenza.

 6. Use 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths only in dominant or in dominant

sevenths (in most cases), and make those intervals go down a step (for example, a 9^th degree of a scale would resolve to the 8^th, an 11^th degree would resolve to the 8^th, a 11^th degree would resolve to the 10^th, etc.),

    especially in resolving V or V7 chords to the tonic (I or i) or a mediant (III or iii). 

7. Some suggested harmonic techniques:

    a. the circle of fifths (including dominant-seventh sequences)

    b. transition from a major key to a minor key

    c. iib – I6 – V – I

              4 

     d. I6  - I6 – I6  - V  -I

              3    4

    e. I6 – V4 – I6

        3    2    3

    f. I – V6 – I

           5

    g. I6 – vii07 (or vice versa)

       4

    h. IV – V4 – I6

            2    3

    i. V6 – IV6 – III6 – ii6 – I6 (and vice versa)

    j. IV6 – I6- IV – I6 (and vice versa)

        3    4        3

    k. I – V7 – i (This is an example of a secondary dominant)

          -------

            vi

     This does not cover everything, but can give a good start for the composer.

8. Most importantly, it is important that first-movement cadenza end a “cadential trill’ that is, a dominant-seventh chord leading to the tonic.¹¹

9. Finally, one should study as much as possible the performance practice of Mozart’s piano music in order to get an understanding of how to execute his piano concerto cadenzas (not just how to compose it). There are some examples of this:

   a. “Contemporary evidence and present-day experience have shown         that it is preferable to be frugal rather than overgenerous          with pedaling. Successful pedaling [tends] to be terse”,¹² 

       says Rosenblum.

   b. Kraus says that unfortunately, the post-Mozart pianos, such         as those of today (such as the Steinway or the Baldwin               pianos) could not make the real Mozart sound. Perhaps, on the 

      present pianos, the soft pedal could be used to try to imitate       the “tone” of the Mozart pianos; touch should also be               adjusted(like making each forte seem a little less obvious to

      execute this.^13.

    c. Badura-Skoda says that generally, “Mozart’s trills must 

      usually be played with great sparkle and rapidly as possible…

      [they] should be played as clearly and evenly as possible. 

      Speed must on no account mean a loss of precision.”¹⁴ He also 

      says that “Mozart was very exact about tempo markings.”¹⁵ and 

      “articulation marks often hint at the appropriate

      tempo.”¹⁶

10. Add Mozart-style ornamentation, such as:

    --unprepared and prepared trills

    --the “Pralltriller” (or half-shake)

    --other types of classical ornamentation, such as appoggiaturas 

       and turns

     

    If one wants to compose a first-movement piano concerto cadenza that is out of the traditional Mozart compositional aspects, it is possible, as long as it is harmonically and musically relevant (or close to it) to Mozart’s style, and follows the pattern of the Mozart’s first-movement piano concerto already mentioned before. Some composers, as well as pianists, deviate from the Mozart’s compositional rules, by:

--bigger ranges

--bigger lengths

--crossovers

--larger textures

--more chromaticism

--more use of octaves

     In conclusion, the would-be composer of a first-movement cadenza from any Mozart piano cocnerto should be not only well-rounded in his study of Mozart’s compositional style, but also sufficient gifted to use his compositional style, but also sufficiently gifted to use his compositional skills and creativity to the fullest extent possible. No music listener would appreciate another composer’s version of a Mozart first-movement piano concerto

cadenza if it doesn’t make any musical sense.

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ENDNOTES

1. Eva and Paul Badura-Skoda. Interpreting Mozart on the Keyboard. trans. Leo Black. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1962: 216.

2. Johann Joachim Quantz, Versuch einer Anweisung die Flöte tranversiere zu spielen (Berlin 1752), cha. 15, par. 1.

3. Lily Kraus, ed. The Complete Original Cadenzas For His Solo Piano Concertos. Melville: Belwin Mills Co., 1972, p. v

4. Sandra P. Rosenblum. Performance Practice in Classic Piano Music: Their Principles and Applications. Bloomington: 2 University Press, 1988; p. 28.

5. Badura 216.

6. Badura 216.

7. Badura 216.

8. Badura 215.

9. Kraus V.

10.Badura 33.

11.Badura 6.

12.Rosenblum 112.

13.Kraus V.

14.Badura 121.

15.Badura 36.

16.Badura 33.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Badura-Skoda. Eva and Paul Badura-Skoda. Interpreting Mozart on the Keyboard. trans. Leo Black. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1962: 216.

2. Kraus,Lily, ed. The Complete Original Cadenzas For His Solo Piano Concertos. Melville: Belwin Mills Co., 1972, p. v

3. Quantz, Johann Joachim. Versuch einer Anweisung die Flöte tranversiere zu spielen (Berlin 1752), cha. 15, par. 1.

4. Rosenblum, Sandra P. Performance Practice in Classic Piano Music: Their Principles and Applications. Bloomington: 2 University Press, 1988; p. 28.

The Newest Lily of the Piano--Emily Bear

I am starting to adore this newest of rising piano stars. I know a fair amount about Yang Yang's  fame....and of course, you heard of the greatest of yesteryear's pianists, Liberace.......but watch out....here comes Emily!!!

I call her "the Newest Lily of the Piano" for one thing....her performances are not just polished or near-impeccably polished.....she is a musical flower that blossoms and makes her audience very relieved.  Her piano performances are simply just like water lilies that shine out in the sun, and that is probably a good nickname I call her......

She can compose too as well as play the piano. Here is my synopsis of some of her piano compositions....since I am a composer myself and I wrote over 300 compositions....

C-Boogie

12-bar blues straight up in a boogie-woogie style. It is almost great that she had an unusual ending to that which makes other boogie-woogie songs obsolete.

Ellen's Song

This song was dedicated to Ellen Degeneres....of course. It is a gentle ballad that starts in C major, and ends in A minor. The style of the music is almost like what Yanni would do....even if I do not know if Emily is a fan of Yanni.

Emmy Song (I Don't Need An Emmy)

Inspired by the saga of Susan Lucci not winning an Emmy award for years...until she got one finally. Also in the key of C major. Starts off as a pop ballad. She added a sort of slow jazz blues progession and in the interlude...and she added a singing part which was an brief outro. One YouTube video shows that this song was dedicated to Ellen Degeneres...as well!

Give Thanks

Another ballad again in D major. There is a little taste of her "Journey To My Heart", but the arpeggios in the left hand are in fewer notes in this song.

Journey To My Heart

Almost a teeny bit of Helen St. Clair's style in the 1980s (remember Helen's "Love Theme from the movie "Flashdance?")...as well as the style of Yanni.

Basically, most of the piece's texture is the arpeggiated left hand and the melodic line in the right hand with an occasional countermelody in that same hand. It is semi-dramatic in the use of chordal progressions, which are fairly simple, and completely tonal.

Northern Lights

The piece is a sort of study-ballad in D major. Running open fifths on the octave and below in 16th notes in the right hand---against slower-running upward arpeggios in the left hand----open up the piece, and a middle section has flowing eighth notes over mainly the top half of the keyboard.  The final part has long whole notes in open chords (D major, Bb major, C major, A minor), and then, 2 or 3 variations of it in faster notes to add tension, and when the reprise occurs with the open fifths in the right hand, the whole thing fades softly into a slow arpeggiated outro.

The Love in Us

This is one of the 3/4-meter pieces that is enticing when you hear it. A fair amount of her original songs are ballads...so does this one. There is the babbling-brook arpeggio in the left-hand, always flowing, and a gentle melodic line in the right hand.

Waterlights

The piece is still another ballad in C major. The piece has a simple texture....arpeggios that mix in slow and fast in the left hand, and a melody in the right hand.  The underlying concept of the composition shows little bit of Vince Guaraldi (of course, the famous composer for the Peanuts comic strip, and famous, of course, for the song "Linus and Lucy"). This was the piece that opened the 2007 McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was featured on YouTube. Thanksgiving Day is the precursor to the Christmas holidays, and if you heard the music of "A Charlie Brown Christmas", you will see why it is a gently festive piece.

Therefore...

If you had not listened to Emily Bear, I strongly suggest that you hear this pianist. You will never believe what can happen to an emerging pianist like Emily. Oh, yeah!!