Composer

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Edward MacDowell

Genre

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Keyboard

Style

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Character Piece

Average_duration

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1:45

Edward MacDowell's "In Autumn, Op. 51/4" is a piano solo composed in 1890. It was premiered on November 12, 1891, in New York City by the composer himself. The piece is part of a larger collection of eight pieces called "Woodland Sketches," which were inspired by the composer's love of nature and the outdoors. "In Autumn" is a slow and melancholic piece that captures the essence of the season. The piece is in the key of G minor and is written in a ternary form, with a slow and expressive A section followed by a faster and more lively B section, which then returns to the A section. The piece is characterized by its use of chromaticism, which creates a sense of tension and unease, and its use of arpeggios and broken chords, which create a sense of movement and flow. The A section of the piece begins with a simple melody played in the right hand, accompanied by a series of broken chords in the left hand. The melody is then repeated with slight variations, and the left-hand accompaniment becomes more complex, adding to the sense of tension and unease. The B section of the piece is faster and more lively, with a more complex melody and a more rhythmic accompaniment. The B section is also characterized by its use of syncopation, which creates a sense of energy and movement. The piece then returns to the A section, which is played with even more expression and emotion than before. The piece ends with a series of arpeggios and broken chords, which create a sense of finality and closure. Overall, "In Autumn, Op. 51/4" is a beautiful and expressive piece that captures the essence of the season. Its use of chromaticism, arpeggios, and broken chords creates a sense of tension, movement, and flow, while its slow and melancholic melody evokes the beauty and sadness of autumn.

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