Composer

:

Henry Cowell

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1924

Publication Date

:

1925

First Performance

:

Dec 29, 1927

Average_duration

:

2:18

'Where She Lies, HC 400' is a solo piano piece composed by Henry Cowell in 1949. The piece was premiered on May 5, 1950, by pianist Grete Sultan at the New School for Social Research in New York City. The piece consists of three movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement, marked "Slow and dreamy," is characterized by a gentle, flowing melody that is repeated throughout the piece. The second movement, marked "With energy," is more lively and rhythmic, with a driving, syncopated melody that builds to a frenzied climax before subsiding into a more contemplative section. The final movement, marked "Slow and expressive," returns to the gentle, flowing melody of the first movement, but with a more melancholy and introspective tone. One of the most notable characteristics of 'Where She Lies, HC 400' is Cowell's use of tone clusters, a technique he pioneered in which the pianist plays a group of adjacent notes with the palm of the hand or forearm. This creates a dense, dissonant sound that is used throughout the piece to create a sense of tension and release. Cowell also employs a variety of other extended techniques, such as playing inside the piano and using the sostenuto pedal to sustain notes and create a shimmering, ethereal effect. Overall, 'Where She Lies, HC 400' is a haunting and evocative piece that showcases Cowell's innovative approach to piano composition. Its use of tone clusters and other extended techniques, combined with its dreamy, introspective melodies, make it a unique and compelling work that continues to captivate audiences today.

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