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Description
I started this about 10 years ago, and made sporadic attempts to continue it over the years, but could never really get beyond the first 30 seconds or so, until...
I decided to get into a Jacobean wrestling match with this last summer, intending to finish it no matter what (within reason, of course; I didn't want to end up with a dislocated hip, as Jacob did!), thinking there might be about a 3-minute piece here. Except that it was a fairly monumental wrestling match, lasting something like 5 months, during which lots of re-writes and edits took place. But I finally finished it, and it's about 9 minutes long.
A few features that may be of interest:
•There is almost constant 16th note motion from beginning to end;
•It is tonal, but has some pretty freaky modulations!
•The left hand often has to play in the middle of the right hand's notes; the hands are literally right on top of one another at times, requiring fairly gymnastic hand choreography on the part of the pianist;
•It is REALLY hard to play, despite the simple sounding opening;
•It is a kind of stylistic hodgepodge, evoking at various times minimalism, Haydn, Bach, Gershwin, Joplin (at the very end), and maybe others as well.
•It's a crazy piece. And,
•The pianist is my colleague and friend, Kristina Szutor, who is one of this country's finest.
•This is a live performance; one take, no edits.
Other submissions with Kristina Szutor as pianist:
Jennifer's Tune
Late Night Music
Last Dance
I decided to get into a Jacobean wrestling match with this last summer, intending to finish it no matter what (within reason, of course; I didn't want to end up with a dislocated hip, as Jacob did!), thinking there might be about a 3-minute piece here. Except that it was a fairly monumental wrestling match, lasting something like 5 months, during which lots of re-writes and edits took place. But I finally finished it, and it's about 9 minutes long.
A few features that may be of interest:
•There is almost constant 16th note motion from beginning to end;
•It is tonal, but has some pretty freaky modulations!
•The left hand often has to play in the middle of the right hand's notes; the hands are literally right on top of one another at times, requiring fairly gymnastic hand choreography on the part of the pianist;
•It is REALLY hard to play, despite the simple sounding opening;
•It is a kind of stylistic hodgepodge, evoking at various times minimalism, Haydn, Bach, Gershwin, Joplin (at the very end), and maybe others as well.
•It's a crazy piece. And,
•The pianist is my colleague and friend, Kristina Szutor, who is one of this country's finest.
•This is a live performance; one take, no edits.
Other submissions with Kristina Szutor as pianist:
Jennifer's Tune
Late Night Music
Last Dance
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magnatone
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I've fallen and can't get up! I'm in complete awe at the masterful playing of Kristina Szutor - and in ONE TAKE - holy smokes. What an incredible achievement, what TALENT! As a pianist, I can hear how impossible this would be to play - and yet - there she is doing it like it's child's play, with perfect dynamics. The composition is exquisite and we are all so lucky that you had this gargantuan wrestling match and came out the other end with this wonderful masterpiece. Congratulations to you both - I humbly bow at the feet of the master(s)! THANK YOU!