Composer

:

John Blackwood McEwen

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Prelude

Compose Date

:

1919

Average_duration

:

4:39

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

John Blackwood McEwen's "Keats Preludes (3)" is a three-movement work for solo piano that was composed in 1918. The piece was inspired by the poetry of John Keats, and each movement is named after one of his poems. The first movement, "Ode to a Nightingale," is marked "Adagio molto espressivo" and is characterized by a mournful melody in the right hand that is accompanied by a simple, repetitive left-hand pattern. The piece gradually builds in intensity, with the melody becoming more ornate and the left-hand pattern becoming more complex. The movement ends with a return to the mournful melody of the opening. The second movement, "Ode on a Grecian Urn," is marked "Allegro moderato" and is more lively than the first. The movement begins with a jaunty, syncopated melody in the right hand that is accompanied by a driving left-hand rhythm. The melody is developed throughout the movement, with the left-hand rhythm becoming more complex and the right-hand melody becoming more ornate. The movement ends with a return to the opening melody. The third and final movement, "To Autumn," is marked "Andante con moto" and is the most lyrical of the three. The movement begins with a gentle, flowing melody in the right hand that is accompanied by a simple left-hand pattern. The melody is developed throughout the movement, with the left-hand pattern becoming more complex and the right-hand melody becoming more ornate. The movement ends with a return to the gentle melody of the opening. Overall, "Keats Preludes (3)" is a beautiful and evocative work that captures the spirit of Keats' poetry. The mournful melodies and simple left-hand patterns of the first movement evoke the melancholy of "Ode to a Nightingale," while the lively rhythms and ornate melodies of the second movement capture the energy of "Ode on a Grecian Urn." The gentle, flowing melody of the third movement perfectly captures the peacefulness of "To Autumn." The piece premiered in 1919.

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