The piece I chose to review is The Banshee, composed by Henry Cowell. This piece requires the performer to pluck, scrap, and flick the piano’s strings in order to produce different sounds on the instrument. Henry Cowell is one of the leading composers of this type of piano music.
The first recording I reviewed was that of Henry Cowell in 1963 playing some of his compositions for string piano (as he calls it) on his album, “Piano Music”. Since he is the composer of the piece, I immediately thought that this is how he intended for the piece to sound. After hearing different recordings of it, I came to realize that this is a piece that can sound differently with every recording. He isn’t as dramatic with his dynamics as some of the other performers I listened to, but he almost makes a recognizable melody while scrapping the piano at the end.
The second recording I reviewed was Chris Brown on his CD, New Music: “Piano Compositions By Henry Cowell”. The main difference Mr. Brown and the other performers is that his glissandos are faster and higher pitched. It brings different character to the piece. He was able to achieve more overtones with each glissando. Dynamically, this recording is very quiet compared to the other recordings. It could be the volume of his recording, but his articulation of scraps and glissandos are not as harsh as the other two performers. An added bonus to the piece in the creaking of the floor Mr. Brown is standing on. It helps set the ambiance of a banshee being in the performing area.
The third recording that I review was of Sorrel Doris Hayes on her CD, “Piano Music of Henry Cowell”, released in 2006. Her rendition of The Banshee had the biggest dynamic contrast. She began the piece quieter than the other two performers, which made the climax more dramatic. Her recording also contained more glissandos rather than scraped individual notes. Unlike Mr. Cowell’s recording, a melody was less evident towards the end of the piece.
Very well done. You've chosen a very interesting piece. How did you come up with this piece?
ReplyDeleteMy freshman year aural theory professor was a pianist and every couple of classes he would play a recording of a piano piece for us. This one stood out in my mind and I thought it would be good piece to share with the class.
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