Klavierstück (2010) and more

[rappy]

Hi guys,

I want to show you my new piano piece I've written this year, which was performed some weeks ago by pianist Hui Ro.

music: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/klavierstueck.m4a

score: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/klavierstueck.pdf

Enjoy!

Ralph

[Luke]

About to listen, and can't wait - the score looks gorgeous! In places, a cursory first glance reminds me of Schoenberg (the end of your piece seems to have some of the same genre of outré demands as the last of the op 11 pieces) and the polyphony of Hindemith and who knows what else - but I mean this in an entirely complimentary way, as all this shows me is that you have absorbed these textures and techniques into your own in what looks like a meaningful, thorough way. As for the sound itself.....well, I'm about to hear that!

[Luke]

Wow!

Look, very first impressions, not close to fully absorbed yet, I still have the last page ringing in my ears, and I want to listen again soon. But I think this is a fantastic piece, Rappy. I really do. It leaves lots of questions in the mind: how you determined the form, which is very clear but nicely mysterious; is there some kind of program going on underneath here, because the music is so dramatic, or is the drama entirely self-generated from the musical materials themselves (I'm guessing the latter, which is in itself a commentary on how well your piece hangs together).

One passage which I thought, looking at the score, might be slightly awkward-sounding and which I really hoped you would pull off, was those few bars of pure static E major chords before the final 'onslaught'. On paper this looks, perhaps, a little crude, or a little obvious, given the complex context...but no, not a bit of it, it sounds wonderfully well, this bit. It made me think of those passages in the Hawthorne movement of Ives' Concord Sonata (I presume you know it - if not, put it right at the top of your shopping list because the composer of this piece will love that one!)....sorry, yes, got distracted, I mean those passages of withdrawn, almost inaudible hymning to simple triads which are likewise supplanted by whilrwinds of activity as yours are.

BTW, big big kudos to your pianist who has done a fantastic job - faithful to you highly demanding score, as far as I can tell, but not afraid to interpret it, to stretch tempi and pauses, etc, in order to serve it best. You were lucky to find him!

Going to listen again soon - be proud of this one, Rappy, it's a winner

[False_Dmitry]

Thanks for this great piece, Ralph    The Piano isn't my instrument (I play, but as a "toolbox" rather than an instrument), so the technical complexities are lost on me...  but as music, I liked it very much, and would return again to it.  I'll recommend the dots to pianist friend (who relishes serious piano music, and teaches advanced pianists) who might enjoy the challenges here

[(poco) Sforzando]

Fantastic, Rappy. You seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. This is a huge piece, fiercely difficult but never unpianistic (but way beyond my own rapidly declining technique at present). You manage the transitions between sections very well, and to my mind the most successful parts are the long scherzando before the final Adagio, and the very ending. Congratulations.

[rappy]

Hey,

thanks for your feedback, I'm very happy that you like the piece!

"he drama entirely self-generated from the musical materials" - that's a nice description, Luke, and also my ideal. I did not think of anything concrete while I was writing down the notes.
I must admit that I heard the Ives sonata once live in concert, but don't remember it too well. But yeah, as far as I remember, I did like it.

The fact I'm most happy about is that every person who listens to the piece has a different favourite passage - so overall, it can't be too bad. 

Thank you!!

[Luke]

So, what do we get to hear next, then? Looking forward to it!

[Saul]

Hi guys,

I want to show you my new piano piece I've written this year, which was performed some weeks ago by pianist Hui Ro.

music: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/klavierstueck.m4a

score: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/klavierstueck.pdf

Enjoy!

Ralph

Ralph,

Thanks for posting this piece, but I personally don't get it, and I don't know what you did here.
To me it sounds like a huge salad, where the notes just hit randomly without any aim, purpose or meaning.
Hugely disappointing, clearly you could devote your time to compose music that will touch people in some way and make more people enjoy instead of a select few who might appreciate this cup of tea.

Sorry for been so blunt, but trust me I got worse responses, I guess this is part of been a composer, accepting the reality that some people are just not going to like the music that you, or me or any other composer composes.

[Luke]

Rappy, I'm sure you know, but you need to take what Saul says with an enormous pinch of salt. He's plain wrong, of course. Don't worry about it!

[rappy]

Hi Luke,

no problem, I respect his opinion. My goal is however not to write music everybody likes. If that was the case, I would not compose so called "Classical" music (or, as we say in Germany: "ernste" Musik) but rather write a rap song.

I currently have three new drafts, the longest one being the beginning of a violin concerto.

Here's the pdf: http://www.bernardynet.de/vkonzert6.pdf

My teacher says that in measures 11ff. and 95ff. there is too much activity in the orchestra which will overshadow the solo part. Might have too rewrite those sections...

I can also present two cadenzas for Beethoven concerti: the Bb major piano concerto and the violin concerto (first movement):

piano concerto cadenza: http://www.bernardynet.de/beethoven2kkkadenz.pdf
violin concerto cadenza: http://www.bernardynet.de/beethovenvkkadenz.pdf

[karlhenning]

Hi guys,

I want to show you my new piano piece I've written this year, which was performed some weeks ago by pianist Hui Ro.

music: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/klavierstueck.m4a

score: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/klavierstueck.pdf

Enjoy!

Ralph

Well done, Ralph!

[Saul]

Hi Luke,

no problem, I respect his opinion. My goal is however not to write music everybody likes. If that was the case, I would not compose so called "Classical" music (or, as we say in Germany: "ernste" Musik) but rather write a rap song.

I currently have three new drafts, the longest one being the beginning of a violin concerto.

Here's the pdf: http://www.bernardynet.de/vkonzert6.pdf

My teacher says that in measures 11ff. and 95ff. there is too much activity in the orchestra which will overshadow the solo part. Might have too rewrite those sections...

I can also present two cadenzas for Beethoven concerti: the Bb major piano concerto and the violin concerto (first movement):

piano concerto cadenza: http://www.bernardynet.de/beethoven2kkkadenz.pdf
violin concerto cadenza: http://www.bernardynet.de/beethovenvkkadenz.pdf

Since when everyone loves Rap 'music'?

[Cato]

Since when everyone loves Rap 'music'?

When it is composed by Rappy!

Ralph: Ihr Klavierstück habe ich nur sehr schnell gelesen, aber trotzdem kann ich leicht feststellen, dass Sie eine grosse Zukunft haben werden!

Mit dem Tod von Stockhausen   0:)    suchen und brauchen Deutschland und die Welt einen neuen Komponisten, der uns einen originellen Pfad durch unsere heutige Wüste bauen kann.  Solche Fähigkeiten, so etwas zu unternehmen, haben Sie uns hier gezeigt.   

[Guido]

When it is composed by Rappy!

Ralph: Ihr Klavierstück habe ich nur sehr schnell gelesen, aber trotzdem kann ich leicht feststellen, dass Sie eine grosse Zukunft haben werden!

Mit dem Tod von Stockhausen   0:)    suchen und brauchen Deutschland und die Welt einen neuen Komponisten, der uns einen originellen Pfad durch unsere heutige Wüste bauen kann.  Solche Fähigkeiten, so etwas zu unternehmen, haben Sie uns hier gezeigt.

No pressure then!!

[Cato]

No pressure then!!

No, not with talent!   

[rappy]

Here's a new sketch:

http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/sinfonie.pdf

Of course the violins continue playing divisi on page 3ff.

And of course the last page is not the end.  (not even near... 3 1/2 minutes yet)

[Philoctetes]

I can't really offer musical insight, as many of the others did, but I found the piece extremely enjoyable.

I really enjoyed how balanced it was. It really flowed well. And I absolutely loved how you ended it.

[rappy]

Thanks, Philoctetes.

Here are some new works in progress:

Symphony:
http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/sinfonie.pdf (updated)

Images for Piano,
Bild 1: see attachment

[Luke]

Hey, that looks fantastic! Very assured and fun, and striking ideas! (just thought - is the 8va sign over the last notes meant to extend over the very last right hand note too?)

What method did you use in composing this? Was it freer/more intuitive than in other music of yours? I ask because it has a sort of fancy-free look about it (which I like a lot)

[karlhenning]

Great work, Ralph!