Composer

:

Henry Cowell

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1930

Publication Date

:

1940

First Performance

:

May 19, 1930

Average_duration

:

2:59

"Sinister Resonance, HC 462" is a composition by American composer Henry Cowell. It was composed in 1930 and premiered on March 10, 1930, at the New School for Social Research in New York City. The piece is divided into three movements, each exploring different aspects of sound and resonance. The first movement, titled "The Banshee," is a haunting exploration of the human voice. Cowell instructs the performer to produce a wailing, keening sound that mimics the sound of a banshee, a female spirit from Irish folklore that is said to foretell death. The performer is also instructed to use various vocal techniques, such as glissandi and vibrato, to create a sense of unease and disorientation. The second movement, titled "Aeolian Harp," is inspired by the sound of wind blowing through the strings of a harp. Cowell instructs the performer to use a piano to create a similar effect, by placing various objects on the strings and then playing the keys. The resulting sound is eerie and otherworldly, evoking the sound of a ghostly harp playing in the wind. The third and final movement, titled "The Tides of Manaunaun," is a rhythmic exploration of the sound of waves crashing on the shore. Cowell instructs the performer to use various percussive techniques, such as striking the piano strings with a mallet or plucking them with a plectrum, to create a sense of the ebb and flow of the tide. The resulting sound is hypnotic and mesmerizing, evoking the power and majesty of the ocean. Overall, "Sinister Resonance, HC 462" is a groundbreaking work that explores the limits of sound and resonance. Cowell's use of unconventional techniques and instruments, such as the human voice and the piano, creates a sense of unease and disorientation that is both haunting and beautiful. The piece remains a classic of 20th-century music, and a testament to Cowell's innovative spirit and creative genius.

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