Contemporary Classics July 31, 2018 Solo Piano

Tonight on Contemporary Classics we are celebrating the contemporary solo piano.  We are beginning with Paul Hindemith’s Ludus Tonalis. Ludus Tonalis ( translated variously as "Play of Tones", "Tonal Game", or "Tonal Primary School") and subtitled Counterpoint, tonal and technical studies for the piano was composed by Hindemith in 1942 during his stay in the United States. The piece explores technique, theory, inspiration, and communication that reflects all aspects of Hindemith’s mature style. The piece, which comprises all 12 major and/or minor keys, starts with a three-part Praeludium in C and ends with a Postludium which is an exact retrograde inversion of the Praeludium. In between, there are twelve three-part fugues separated by eleven interludes, beginning in the tonality of the previous fugue and ending in the tonality of the next fugue (or in a different tonality very close to that).  Here is a performance of Ludus Tonalis by pianist John McCabe.  We will first hear the Praeludium, Fugue 1, Interlude, Fugue 2, Interlude and Fugue 3 from the album Hindemith: Ludus Tonalis & Suite 1922.

Charles Ives Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord, Mass., 1840-60": I. Emerson

Next up is a historic performance of Charles Ives Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord, Mass., 1840-60": I. Emerson by John Kirkpatrick.  Kirkpatrick premiered this work first in Cos Cob CT and then at Town Hall in NYC. 

There are also two additional transcriptions of the Emerson movement of the Sonata #2 with interpolated improvisations in a performance by Charles Ives himself available on recording

Jan Novak’s Toccata Chromatica

Jan Novak is a Czech composer more known for his film scores.  However here is a performance of his Toccata Chromatica.  This work was composed in 1959 and combines fiery and lyrical passages.

John Cage’s ballet score for “The Seasons”

Next we have John Cage’s ballet score for “The Seasons”.  We played the orchestral version of Summer back in mid June, but tonight we have the original piano version.   Cage composed the music for the  Merce Cunningham ballet in early 1947, in the midst of working on Sonatas and Interludes. A piano version was first completed, and an orchestral arrangement followed. Cage dedicated The Seasons to Lincoln Kirstein. The ballet was premiered on May 17, 1947 by the Ballet Society (by which the work was commissioned[4]) at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, with original choreography by Merce Cunningham, which unfortunately is now lost. Costumes and scenery were designed by Isamu Noguchi.

The ballet is in one act divided into nine sections: Prelude I, Winter; Prelude II, Spring; Prelude III, Summer; Prelude IV, Fall; Finale (Prelude I). As in Sonatas and Interludes and the later String Quartet in Four Parts (1950), Cage was influenced by Indian aesthetics and like the latter work, The Seasons is built on the Indian concept of seasons: winter is associated with quiescence, spring with creation, summer with preservation and fall with destruction. The Finale is a reprise of the first Prelude, symbolizing the cyclical nature of seasons.