Composer

:

Morton Feldman

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Piece

Compose Date

:

1981

Average_duration

:

90:01

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Morton Feldman's 'Triadic Memories' is a solo piano piece composed in 1981. It premiered on October 16, 1981, at the University of Buffalo, New York, performed by the pianist, Joan La Barbara. The piece is divided into five movements, each of which is characterized by its slow tempo, spaciousness, and use of triads. The first movement, marked 'extremely slow,' sets the tone for the entire piece. It consists of a series of soft, sustained chords that gradually shift in harmony and register. The second movement, marked 'very slow,' features a series of descending arpeggios that are repeated with slight variations. The third movement, marked 'slow,' is the most harmonically complex of the five. It features a series of overlapping triads that create a dense, shimmering texture. The fourth movement, marked 'moderately slow,' is the shortest of the five. It consists of a series of simple, repeated chords that gradually fade away. The final movement, marked 'slow,' is the most spacious and contemplative of the five. It features a series of soft, sustained chords that are punctuated by occasional silences. Overall, 'Triadic Memories' is characterized by its use of triads, which are the building blocks of Western tonal harmony. However, Feldman's use of these triads is unconventional. Rather than using them to create traditional harmonic progressions, he uses them to create a sense of stasis and timelessness. The result is a piece that is both meditative and hypnotic, inviting the listener to lose themselves in its spacious, slowly unfolding sound world.

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