Composer

:

Fred Lerdahl

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Waltz

Compose Date

:

1981

Average_duration

:

21:05

Movement_count

:

12

Movement ....

Waltzes is a contemporary classical composition by Fred Lerdahl, an American composer and music theorist. The piece was composed in 1985 and premiered on March 7, 1986, by the New York New Music Ensemble at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. Waltzes is a three-movement work that explores the traditional waltz form in a modern context. The first movement, marked "Moderato," features a lively and playful waltz melody that is passed between the instruments of the ensemble. The second movement, marked "Lento," is a more introspective and melancholic waltz that features a haunting melody played by the clarinet. The final movement, marked "Allegro," returns to the lively and playful character of the first movement, but with a more complex and intricate texture. One of the defining characteristics of Waltzes is its use of complex rhythms and harmonies. Lerdahl employs a variety of rhythmic and metric devices to create a sense of tension and release throughout the piece. The harmonies are also highly chromatic and dissonant, creating a sense of ambiguity and instability that is characteristic of much contemporary classical music. Despite its modernist tendencies, Waltzes also pays homage to the traditional waltz form. Lerdahl incorporates many of the characteristic features of the waltz, such as the three-beat meter and the emphasis on the first beat of each measure. However, he also subverts these features in various ways, such as by shifting the emphasis to different beats or by using irregular meters. Overall, Waltzes is a challenging and rewarding work that showcases Lerdahl's mastery of contemporary classical composition. Its combination of traditional and modernist elements makes it a unique and compelling addition to the repertoire.

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