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Etudes Tombeaux / Joseph Dillon Ford [notated music]

Title

Etudes Tombeaux [notated music]

Composer

Ford, Joseph Dillon, 1952-2017

Place of Publication/Creation

Sherborn, MA

Published/Created

2017

Type of Material

notated music

Genre

notated music

Publisher

Joseph Dillon For

Distributor

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/search?Ntt=joseph+dillon+for

Language

Unknown

Forms

electronic resource

remote

Physical Description

1 score (37 pages)

Media

unmediated

Carrier

volume

Contents Note

Piano pieces. Composed by Joseph Dillon Ford. 21st Century, Impressionistic, Neo-Classical. Score. 37 pages..

Summary

The Études-Tombeaux, Series 2, were composed during the months of June and July 2009. Though -- conceived as a related “set” of three movements, they may be performed as individual concert -- pieces. "Les Erinnyes" was the first in order of completion, followed by "Hommage à Edgar -- Degas" and the Étude-Tombeau. These pieces are “studies” in the fullest sense of the word, since -- they pose not only formidable technical difficulties for the mature pianist in search of -- virtuoso concert literature but also represented a challenge for the composer himself, who set out -- to create new music in a romantic idiom comparable in both difficulty and artistic scope to -- the études of Chopin and Liszt. -- “Les Erinnyes” ("The Furies") is an evocation of the punishing spirits of Classical -- myth—Alecto (Unrest), Megaera (Jealousy), and Tisiphone (Vengeance). The étude opens with an -- extended section swarming with biting dissonances, requiring the pianist to perform -- successive seconds in sixteenth notes at a relatively fast tempo in the right hand alone -- within a relatively subdued dynamic range. Rapid, delicate double-note figuration in the right hand -- continues to dominate as the music finally takes on a tonal orientation, eventually leading to -- powerful octaves in contrary motion alternating with brilliant sextuplets. A less agitated, more -- lyrical section ensues, in which the right hand sounds a plaintive melody over streams of -- sixteenths and finally to the accompaniment of rocking triplets below. After the music fades to a -- barely audible pianissississimo, the tempo rapidly accelerates, and with a startling crescendo an -- exotic scale rises from the depths to a final chordal climax. The overall key in this movement -- is E minor, corresponding to the tonal center of the third étude in the series. -- The Étude-Tombeau is a study in subtle dynamic contrasts within the “piano” dynamic -- range, and as such is more about control and nuance that overt virtuosity. The “tombeau” in -- the title suggests that it belongs to the long tradition of laments or déplorations created in -- honor of deceased composers, although Ford had no specific composer in mind and sought, instead, -- to revitalize this commemorative genre itself by intentionally adopting a traditional style. This -- étude is cast in A A’ B A” form, where the “B” section comprises a short cadenza following a -- passing allusion to operatic recitative. The tonal center in this movement is C-sharp minor. -- “Hommage à Edgar Degas” recalls the many splendid paintings celebrating the dance by -- the eponymous French artist. It alternately features wide leaps and brilliant sextuplet -- figuration in A B A’ C form, with the A and A’ sections suggesting delicate balletic steps -- performed en pointe. while B and C summon to the imagination bold pirouettes executed with almost -- superhuman rapidity. The movement begins in E minor and ends in the parallel major.

Notes

Piano.

ISMN with hyphens: 979-0-58063-024-7

Description based on ISMN data provided by the publisher.

Music notation

Staff notation.

Subjects

Sonatas

Suites

International Standard Music Number (ISMN)

9790580630247

Last Updated: 03-26-2022