Composer

:

Lou Harrison

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

Nov 1996

Average_duration

:

36:49

Movement_count

:

12

Movement ....

Rhymes with Silver is a composition by Lou Harrison, an American composer known for his unique blend of Western and Eastern musical traditions. The piece was composed in 1971 and premiered on May 6, 1972, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Rhymes with Silver is a suite of five movements, each with its own distinct character and instrumentation. The first movement, titled "A Round," is a playful and rhythmic piece for four percussionists. The second movement, "Aria," is a slow and contemplative piece for solo violin. The third movement, "Stampede," is a lively and energetic piece for brass and percussion. The fourth movement, "Serenade," is a gentle and lyrical piece for flute and harp. The final movement, "Rounds," is a lively and rhythmic piece for brass and percussion. One of the most distinctive characteristics of Rhymes with Silver is its use of just intonation, a tuning system that is based on pure intervals rather than the tempered intervals used in Western music. This gives the piece a unique and otherworldly sound that is both ancient and modern. Another characteristic of Rhymes with Silver is its use of non-Western instruments and musical traditions. The piece incorporates instruments such as the gamelan, a traditional Indonesian ensemble, and the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute. This reflects Harrison's interest in world music and his belief in the universality of musical expression. Overall, Rhymes with Silver is a complex and multi-layered work that showcases Harrison's unique musical vision. Its blend of Western and Eastern traditions, its use of just intonation, and its incorporation of non-Western instruments make it a truly innovative and groundbreaking piece of music.

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