Academic literature on the topic 'Variations (Trumpet and piano)'

Background. The peculiarities of the worldview and philosophy of modern contradictory era put forward before the art new requirements and benchmarks, which the Postmodern aesthetics embodies. The phenomenon of «Postmodernism» covers different levels of contemporary life. In philosophy, this concept was first introduced by J.-F. Lyotard in his report «The status of postmodernism». The French philosopher revealed the essence of Postmodernism consisting in «awareness of diversity and pluralism of forms of rationality, activity of life, as well as the recognition of this diversity as a natural positive state» [2], and defined Postmodernism as «the general direction of modern European culture, formed in 1970–80-es» [2]. Now there is no single definition of «postmodern», probably, due to the incompleteness, continuity of formation of this phenomenon. Some philosophers, in particular, J. Habermas, D. Bell and Z. Bauman, consider postmodernism as the result of politics and ideology of neo-conservatism, which is characterized by aesthetic eclecticism [3]. Italian philosopher and writer U. Eco understands postmodernism as a process of changing one cultural era to another, perceiving it as «... the answer to modernism: since the past cannot be destroyed, because its destruction leads to dumbness, it needs to be rethought, ironically, without naivety» [5: 77]. This approach most accurately reveals the essence of postmodern art. In the field of aesthetics, the work of F. Jameson, «Postmodernism or The cultural logic of late capitalism», where postmodernism is represented as a «cultural dominant» is quite indicative. The philosopher defines such typical phenomenon of postmodern culture as a simulacrum, weakening of affects, the consequence of which is «the replacement of alienation of the subject by its fragmentation» [1: 105], the disappearance of the individual subject and the emergence on this basis of the practice of pastiche [1: 108], the loss of historicity. In musicology, the question of the essence of postmodernism has not yet received a sufficient scientific basis. From the latest works of Ukrainian researchers, in our opinion, it is disclosed most complete in the D. Ruzhinsky’s article “Specificity of the manifestation of postmodernism in musical creativity” [4]. The object of presented research is the specificity of postmodernism manifestations in an art; the subject of research are the postmodern landmarks in the individual style of outstanding Canadian pianist and composer M.-A Hamelin. The purpose of the article is to reveal the interrelation of the composer’ and performing style by M.-A. Hamelin with the aesthetic paradigms of Postmodernism. The methodological basis of the research consists of the concepts of postmodern philosophy and aesthetics presented in the works of J. Habermas, D. Bell, Z. Bauman. U. Eco, F. Jameson. For more full understanding of specificity of the postmodern traits implementation in M.-A. Hamelin’s activity, the “creative portrait” genre as well as analyses of some fragments of his music was used. Presenting the main material. The art of postmodernism reflects a fundamentally new attitude to the process of creativity, which includes of such typical features as 1) quoting or using famous plots, which are the realities of the culture of previous eras; 2) intertextuality; 3) the prevalence of the audience interpretation over the composer’s idea, when the author’s position is not decisive (according to M. Foucault, “the death of the author”); 4) syncretism; 5) the irony and the parody-game designing of works. The creativity of Marc-André Hamelin (b.1961) – the world-renowned Canadian virtuoso pianist and composer – is one of the brightest personifications of these principles, as well as their individual understanding. In 1985, he won the First prize at the competition at Carnegie hall, with which he began his ascent to the musical Olympus as a performer. To date, M.-A. Hamelin, an outstanding pianist and soloist, performs with many leading world orchestras, and his discography total more than 60 albums, including both his own works and the works of many composers of different genres and eras. In addition to intensive performance and interpretation activities, the Canadian artist is also engaged in composition, and his artistic search is concentrated mainly within the framework of piano music, which is quite natural. Among the works for piano solo the transcriptions can be identified, such as the “Etude-fantasy ‘Flight of the bumblebee’” by Rimsky-Korsakov (1987), “Waltz-minute, in seconds” (transcription of Chopin’s waltz). Another group of works ‒ miniatures are, for example, the “Little Nocturne” (2007), “Preamble to the imaginary piano Symphony” (1989), “My impressions about chocolate” (2014); the cycles of miniatures – “Con intimissimo sentimento” (1986–2000); the larger-scale pieces – “Barcarolle” (2013), “Chaconne” (2013). The composer wrote the three cycles of variations and the cadenzas for piano concertos by Mozart (K453 and 491), for the Fourth piano Concerto by Beethoven, the Third and Fourth Concertos by Haydn and The second Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt. In addition to the solo piano music, the composer turned to the chamber genre (“Fanfare” for three trumpets, “Passacaglia”» for piano quintet, «Four perspectives» for cello and piano). His style is characterized by the frequent using of thematic material from the works by other composers of different eras. From the very beginning, Hamelin rethinks this material, not introducing it in its original form, but transforming it. For example, in the “Variations on The theme of Paganini” the theme of the Twenty-fourth Caprice is already “modernized”: maintaining the harmonic basis of it, the author adds the non-chords sounds and the remark to tempo, which notes that the theme should be played “with a groove”, as it is typical for salsa, rock and fusion style. Interpretations of the quoted material are not in the original, but in its creative processing can see although in the Seventh variation with the theme of the Third variation of Sonata No. 30 by Beethoven. Another typical feature of postmodernism of the Canadian artist’s work is manifested in a certain game with the listener, because to catch all the allusions, to understand the quotes and styles of different eras, he must be intellectually well prepared. Some of the noted features of the composer’s creation find their direct projection in the performing pianistic style of M.-A. Hamelin. For example, virtuosity, which is present in his works in both explicit and veiled form, fully manifests itself in the interpretation of the works of other composers. Another characteristic feature of the performing style of M.-A. Hamelin is his aspiring to end-to-end development and cyclicity. In his discography, there are many different cycles, sometimes quite voluminous, performed by him as a whole. In practice of composition this is manifested at the level of the musical form (cycles, parts of which often follow directly one after another, and sometimes even the final harmony of one of the parts becomes the beginning of the next part). Conclusion. The results of the research confirm the idea of the relationship of Hamelin’s individual creative style with the basic ideas of postmodernism aesthetics. Quite typical for the manner of writing of the Canadian artist is the attraction to the throughness of development, to the creation of micro-cycles (as well as to the performing of cyclic works of other composers); the combination of ironic rethinking of thematic material with virtuosity; the playing with the listener on the basis of the introduction of quotation material and work with it; the combination of different styles within one work. Such manner requires a prepared, meaningful perception, that is, to paraphrase U. Eco, the «ideal listener».

The concerto form is well represented in James MacMillan's output. So far, he has written three for piano, two for percussion and one each for violin, viola, cello, trumpet, oboe and clarinet. There is also threaded through his output a series of concertante works, such as A Deep but Dazzling Darkness, for violin, ensemble and tape (2003), A Scotch Bestiary, for organ and orchestra (2004) and the concertino Seraph, for trumpet and strings (2010). All share a common concern to realise fully the soloist's expressive potential.

This study examined first-, third-, and fifth-graders' ( n = 73) ability to hear two simultaneous melodies. Two familiar melodies and one unfamiliar melody were used as the stimuli. The pairs of simultaneous melodies were presented in different register and timbre combinations. The children were asked to press specially labeled keys on a computer keyboard to indicate which song(s) they heard. Responses were recorded by a computer. The older children identified two simultaneous melodies faster and more accurately than the younger ones did. While 70% of the first graders reported hearing two melodies and identified them with 75 % accuracy, more than 95% of the fifth graders reported hearing two melodies and identified them with 97%) accuracy. Children who were able to correctly identify two simultaneous melodies identified the melody in the upper register first significantly more often than the one in the lower register. However, when the melodies were played with contrasting timbres (trumpet and piano), they tended to identify the trumpet melody before they identified the piano melody regardless of register. Children who were only able to identify one melody tended to focus on the upper melody when the timbre was the same in both registers, but when the melodies were played with contrasting timbres, they attended to the trumpet melody regardless of register.

We studied music majors’ perception of intonation in accompanied solo performances of trumpet, violin, and voice. We were interested in whether listeners would judge pitch deviations of equal magnitude in the three solo performances as equivalent in intonation. Participants were 150 graduate and undergraduate music majors drawn from two large music schools and included 50 students representing each of the following areas of applied music study: voice, wind instruments, and string instruments. Listeners heard solo trumpet, violin, and soprano performances of Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod) accompanied by piano. Pitch performances of the soloists were altered in four sections of the excerpt and deviated in either the sharp or flat direction within a section by 0, 10, 20, and 30 cents relative to the accompaniment. Listeners judged pitch deviations in the flat direction as more out of tune for the trumpet than equivalent alterations of violin and voice, especially for magnitudes of 20 and 30 cents. In sharp direction changes, violin and trumpet were heard similarly and as more out of tune than the vocal soloist. Additionally, differences in pitch judgments were found between listener groups representing different areas of applied study.

In 1989, I bought a CD in Paris of the early piano music of André Jolivet. Like many non-French musicians, I had read the name of Jolivet but heard little of his music. Jolivet's reputation as Varèse's leading pupil and the extreme avant-gardist of the pre-World War II group La Jeune France seemed completely at odds with his conventional post-War music occasionally broadcast on Radio 3, such as the Concertos for Trumpet, Piano or Ondes Martenot–music which suggested not fully assimilated influences of Honegger or Hindemith, with little obviously adventurous about it in its rhythmically conservative phrasing and standard formal shapes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of accompaniment quality on the evaluation of solo instrumental performance. Undergraduate instrumental music education majors ( N = 71) listened to and evaluated the accuracy and expressivity of six excerpts of Haydn’s Concerto for Trumpet in E-Flat Major, which we created by synchronizing recordings of good and bad performances of a trumpet soloist with good and bad performances of a piano accompaniment (as well as a no-accompaniment condition). Participants also chose one “best aspect of the performance” and one “aspect needing most improvement” for each excerpt. Significant main effects for accompaniment condition (good, bad, or none) and solo condition (good or bad) were found, in addition to interaction effects. Results of a Solo × Accompaniment interaction signified that participants’ ratings were not independent of accompaniment condition, and this effect was moderated by the performance quality of the trumpet soloist. Additionally, participants noted different “best aspects” and “aspects needing most improvement” based on both solo performance quality and accompaniment condition.

This dissertation presents a performance guide of two solos for early valved trumpet, as well as an appraisal of their historical significance. The first of these solos is F. G. A. Dauverné's Variations pour trompette à pistons avec accompagnement de Piano-forte, op. 3 (1833). The second solo examined is Amilcare Ponchielli's Concerto per Tromba e Banda, op. 123 (1866). Although Ponchielli's work dates from only the middle of the century, by time of its composition the valved trumpet had already been developed enough to have attained true artistic value. This dissertation provides evidence concerning the evolution of nineteenth solo literature for the Romantic trumpet by means of formal analysis in regard to form, harmony, and historical performance practice.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of North Texas, 2008.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Accompanied by 4 recitals, recorded Oct. 17, 2005, Mar. 27, 2006, June 4, 2007, and Apr. 14, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-44).

Libby Larsen's Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra was commissioned by Daniel Culver and the Quad City Youth Orchestra, in celebration of its 30th anniversary. It was written in 1987 and premiered on May 8, 1988. Daniel Culver conducted the Quad City Youth Orchestra and David Greenhoe was the trumpet soloist. Despite Libby Larsen's ongoing success as a composer, the premiere performance is the only time the concerto has been performed and it has since remained virtually-unknown to the public. This project serves as a way in which to reintroduce Libby Larsen's Trumpet Concerto to the trumpet, orchestral and academic communities by way of providing an historical account of the commission project; showing insight into the composer's inspiration for the work; and providing a reduction of the orchestral score for trumpet and piano.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of North Texas, 2001.
Accompanied by 4 recitals, recorded Mar. 30, 1998, Mar. 29, 1999, Nov. 27, 2000 and July 23, 2001. Includes bibliographical references and discography (p. 157-163).

Claude Bolling’s Toot Suite for Trumpet and Jazz Piano that was premiered by French virtuoso trumpeter Maurice Andre in 1980 is an important work in the trumpet repertoire. At present, there is limited research regarding Toot Suite. Almost all of the six movements within Toot Suite are performed on a different instrument: C trumpet for Allegre, Eb trumpet for Mystique, Bb cornet for Rag-Polka, Bb piccolo trumpet for Marche, Bb flugelhorn for Vesperale and Bb piccolo for Spirituelle. Chapter 1 examines the life and musical background of the composer. It also exposes the history surrounding the origin of Toot Suite. Chapter 2 discusses the musical influences of the composer that are found in Toot Suite. Chapter 3 provides an analysis of existing studio recordings. Chapter 4 offers specific suggestions regarding preparation and performance of Toot Suite. Chapters 5 and 6 conclude the guide with interviews with the composer and prominent trumpet performers and pedagogues that have recorded and/or have performed Toot Suite live.

The impact of training on virtual team effectiveness was assessed in five areas: communication, planning tasks and setting goals, solving problems and making decisions, resolving conflict, and responding to customer requirements. A 12-page survey was developed exploring all aspects of virtual teams. 180 surveys were distributed, 52 were returned representing 43 companies. Training led to higher effectiveness in planning tasks and setting goals, solving problems and making decisions, and conflict resolution, but not in communication and responding to customer requirements. Training may not solve all the problems that virtual teams will encounter; however, training will make the challenges easier to handle.

“Songs on the Waves” is a 20 – 21 minute chamber work for flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone and piano. Each of the four movements draws upon a different specific Canadian maritime folksong, and uses different elements of the traditional music to create its linear, harmonic and textural components. In some instances, the folksongs also inspire the form of the movements, as well as the constituent large and small-scale musical structures. Primarily, the movements seek to capture the essence of the poetic expression found in the folksongs. This is achieved through compositional choices regarding form, harmonic language, gesture, instrumentation, and the integration of the traditional materials into each movement. The result is a unique piece of art music that adds to the tradition of folksong-inspired works in the contemporary literature.

James Wintle's, Northwest Miniatures for flute, trumpet and piano is a unique work in the chamber music repertoire. In addition, the use of auxiliary instruments makes this piece a rarity in the flute and trumpet chamber music repertoire. There are a limited number of resources presently available to performers regarding Northwest Miniatures.This dissertation provides a pedagogical performance guide addressing the inherent challenges for the flutist and this instrumentation and serves as a new resource for performers and scholars of this work. It provides a performance analysis of the piece along with pertinent pedagogical information and exercises to assist the flutist. Insight from the composer on how to address these challenges is also included. Because there are a limited number of scholarly resources available on the subject of flute and trumpet chamber music, this dissertation is a significant contribution to this genre of repertoire.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of North Texas, 2003.
Accompanied by 4 recitals, recorded Apr. 24, 2000, Apr. 9, 2001, Sept. 17, 2001, and Apr. 21, 2003. Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-39).

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of North Texas, 2007.
System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Accompanied by 4 recitals, recorded May 31, 2004, Apr. 18, 2005, Oct. 24, 2005, and June 11, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (p. 73-74).

The introduction of electronic amplification to the piano, which began as an innocent bluff by a teenage composer living in the Arctic Circle, had a devastating consequence for Tudor’s virtuosity on the keyboard instrument: it dissolved his control of escapement mechanism, opening up instead the world of feedback where a sound once activated could potentially never end. A detailed examination of Tudor’s idiosyncratic realization of John Cage’s Variations II in 1962 shows what previous scholars, as well as the composer himself, have failed to see: the specific nature of the amplified piano that was altogether a different instrument from the piano. What the new instrument presented was not simply more complexity and indeterminacy but a specific kind of complexity and indeterminacy which is reflected in how Tudor actually performed the music.

Steve Reich’s Piano Phase (1967) represents a pivotal moment in the composer’s creative practice. With this keyboard duet, the composer felt that he had successfully translated his phase-shifting process to live performance and had left behind earlier improvisatory practices. Documents held in the Steve Reich Collection at the Paul Sacher Stiftung complicate this picture: in the months before its composition and premiere, Reich first revived Music for Two or More Pianos or Piano and Tape (1964) as a potential model for live performance, and in Improvisations on a Watermelons (1966) he explored concepts now firmly associated with Piano Phase. An archival audio recording of the Piano Phase premiere also documents a brief improvisation performed by Reich and Arthur Murphy. This chapter argues for a more critical reading of the composer’s autobiographical statements—such as, “we were not improvising”—and offers a newly detailed timeline for the origins of Piano Phase.