The expatriate American experimentalist composer Conlon Nancarrow is increasingly recognised as having had one of the most innovative musical minds of this century. His music, almost all written for player piano, is the most rhythmically complex ever written, couched in intricate contrapuntal systems using up to twelve different tempi at the same time. Yet despite its complexity, Nancarrow's music drew its early influences from the jazz pianism of Art Tatum and Earl Hines and from the rhythms of Indian music; Nancarrow's whirlwinds of notes are joyously physical in their energy. Composed in almost complete isolation from 1940, this music has achieved international fame only in the last few years. The author has discussed Nancarrow's music with him, and analyses sixty-five works, virtually the composer's complete output. He also includes a biographical chapter containing much information never before published.
Table of contents:
Preface; 1. The music: general considerations; 2. A biographical sketch; 3. Foreshadowings: the early works; 4. Blues years: the ostinato studies; 5. Isorhythm: the numbers game; 6. Canon: phase 1; 7. Stretching time: the acceleration studies; 8. Beyond counterpoint: the sound-mass canons; 9. Synthesising a language; 10. After the player piano; Discography; Bibliography.
Conlon Nancarrow has written the most rhythmically complex music the world has ever known, so complex that it can only be realised on a mechanical player piano. His music has achieved international fame only recently, and this is the first book detailing his life and compositional achievements.
Study of Conlon Nancarrow, composer of the world's most rhythmically complex music.
Table of contents:
Preface; 1. The music: general considerations; 2. A biographical sketch; 3. Foreshadowings: the early works; 4. Blues years: the ostinato studies; 5. Isorhythm: the numbers game; 6. Canon: phase 1; 7. Stretching time: the acceleration studies; 8. Beyond counterpoint: the sound-mass canons; 9. Synthesising a language; 10. After the player piano; Discography; Bibliography.
Conlon Nancarrow has written the most rhythmically complex music the world has ever known, so complex that it can only be realised on a mechanical player piano. His music has achieved international fame only recently, and this is the first book detailing his life and compositional achievements.
Study of Conlon Nancarrow, composer of the world's most rhythmically complex music.