Composer

:

Henry Cowell

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1956

First Performance

:

Dec 3, 1961

Average_duration

:

2:05

"I Heard in the Night" is a solo piano piece composed by Henry Cowell in 1924. It premiered on May 10, 1925, at the New School for Social Research in New York City. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement, marked "With great intensity," is characterized by its driving rhythms and dissonant harmonies. The left hand plays a repeated pattern of octaves while the right hand plays a melody that is constantly shifting in rhythm and tonality. The overall effect is one of tension and urgency. The second movement, marked "Slowly and expressively," is a stark contrast to the first. It is a lyrical and introspective piece that features a simple, yet haunting melody. The harmonies are more consonant, and the rhythms are more relaxed. The overall effect is one of introspection and contemplation. The third movement, marked "With great energy," returns to the driving rhythms and dissonant harmonies of the first. It is a virtuosic display of pianistic technique, with rapid-fire arpeggios and complex rhythms. The overall effect is one of excitement and energy. Overall, "I Heard in the Night" is a prime example of Cowell's unique style, which combined elements of traditional Western classical music with non-Western musical traditions. The piece is characterized by its use of dissonance, complex rhythms, and virtuosic pianistic technique.

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