Composer

:

Ahmet Adnan Saygun

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude

Average_duration

:

23:16

Movement_count

:

12

Movement ....

Ahmet Adnan Saygun's 'Preludes (12) on Aksak Rhythms for piano, Op. 45' is a collection of twelve preludes for solo piano, composed in 1947. The work was premiered in Ankara, Turkey, in the same year, and has since become a staple of the Turkish piano repertoire. The preludes are based on aksak rhythms, which are asymmetrical rhythms commonly found in Turkish and Balkan music. Each prelude explores a different aksak rhythm, ranging from the 5/8 meter of the first prelude to the 11/8 meter of the final prelude. The preludes are characterized by their use of folk melodies and modal harmonies, which give the music a distinctly Turkish flavor. Saygun was a student of Béla Bartók, and his use of folk elements in his music is reminiscent of Bartók's own work. The preludes are also notable for their virtuosic piano writing, which showcases the technical abilities of the performer. The music is often highly rhythmic and percussive, with frequent use of syncopation and cross-rhythms. The twelve preludes are as follows: 1. Allegro moderato (5/8) 2. Andante (7/8) 3. Allegro (7/8) 4. Andante (9/8) 5. Allegro (9/8) 6. Andante (11/8) 7. Allegro (11/8) 8. Andante (13/8) 9. Allegro (13/8) 10. Andante (15/8) 11. Allegro (15/8) 12. Andante (11/8) Overall, Saygun's 'Preludes (12) on Aksak Rhythms for piano, Op. 45' is a challenging and rewarding work for pianists, and a fascinating exploration of Turkish folk music and rhythms.

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