Atonal Piano Piece Op. 1 - 1

Hi young composers,

I've finished my first atonal work. It's a 5 minute - piece for piano in a rather simple A - B - A' form. The A / A' part is dance-like, very quick ("Allegrissimo") and most the time loud and aggressive. In contrast, the B part is in a 9/8 metre, slower and free ("tempo rubato ma grazioso, andante assai"). Some comments in the score tell the pianist what's meant with certain passages and how they should be played. At the end of the piece, something special will surprise the listener.

I'm thankful for any sort of comments :P

MP3-Link: http://www.dgsp-rheinland-pfalz.de/atonalesklavierstueck.mp3

Greetings,

Ralph

atonalesklavierstueck.pdf

Well, for a "simple" piece, it's quite complex enough.

I'd like to add that, while quite dissonant, this is FAR from being "atonal". It's actually rather quaint and old-fashioned. Scriabin managed to get further from tonality than this in his final piano works.

This doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I found it quite refreshing, actually. I rather liked the "tonal-yet-spicy" harmony.

My one complaint is that the "slow" section tends to dwell too long on its tonic chord... it gets a bit monotonous, if one considers what came just before. Add to this the brevity of the piece, and this is a serious problem. I don't say that in a longer work that sort of insistence on a single tonality won't work for an extended period. As a matter of fact, it's probably a good thing - in a longer work. Here it's just a bit too close to being "boring".

The MP3 link doesn't work.

Now it does.

I must confess to usually detesting atonal music and the experimental. Having said that, I really, really like this piece. It's fantastic! The ending made me grin wickedly.

The imitation and play between the hands is exceptionally well devised - I especially like the welcome hints of traditional tonality you introduce from time to time. It sounds quite heavily influenced by American atonalism of the mid to late 1920s. I actually hear hints of Gershwin from time to time. You've obviously put a lot of thought and effort into this piece. Congrats.

writing as i listen:

You put these little hilarious hints of a major melody in there too that I just cant help but laugh at. This is quite good. Twisted. Nice contrary motion toward the end. Love that one run. Oh, theres that theme again. The pseudo-cacophony of the ending is gorgeous. Overall, very cool man.

hehe

I like it. The A form is almost humorous at times, quirky kind of sound to it. I like the beginning of the B part, the left hand specifically. I agree, Alot of cool interplay between the left and right hand, even if theres NO way i could ever play this, or atleast at the right tempo.

I'm not a big atonal person, but as long as theres a recignizable theme, and motivic material it can be good, as this case shows. Some parts, like 188, or 38 sound like a 5,1 in classical you know, like at the end of a symphony for some finally or something.

I like it, and i think the ending is VERY suiting to the piece.

Great piece!

I LOVE the mischievous thing you got going on in bars 10-17. Somehow it reminds me of a mangled eastern european folk tune. It's awesome.

Great use of atonality. Not many can do it. Great work:)!

Thanks for the comments, guys :) Humor is a good cue... my music always contains humor.

...even if theres NO way i could ever play this, or atleast at the right tempo.

Me neither, I think this piece is a real challenge to any piano student... technically.

This makes me want to learn it and play it for my stern, critical piano teacher!

As with much of the GOOD atonal music I've heard (for there's a lack of it), the interplay involved thoughout reminds me strongly of a silent film score. Marvellous job! You even made me laugh aloud, especially at the end. If what you strive for is musical humour, than look no further, I would say you've hit your mark!

My favorite bit would have the more tonal "theme" presented first in measure 11 with it's pickup, which once again reminds me strongly of the mayhem in most silent films. I feel that the entire piece is a glorious musical disasater gone good!

I also particularly enjoyed the 'hints' throughout the score, they make me glad I took German, keep it up!

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it that much! If you're going to learn the piece, record it ;-) I'm still seeking a professional pianist for a performance *g*

I'll start by saying congratulations, this is a very enjoyable piece of music. I really liked the A parts. However, and I hope I'm not just re-iterating what others have said, but I find the middle section a little lost. When it comes to writing highly chromatic music that doesn't always have a strong tonal base, I find its easiest to write well when you are writing either rhythmically or melodically. Your middle section lacks the rhythm of the A. Besides, I sort of felt that some of the melodies in the B section were perhaps a little "faked", by this I mean, did you really hear the melodies in your head or did you "find" them on the piano or whatever instrument? I think an even more lyrical and perhaps faster than your current B section but still calmer than A would be more appropriate for your middle section. Anyhow, a job well done.

Writing highly chromatic music is extremely difficult I find. I've been studying Schoenberg's first quartet in D minor because I really like atonal music especially expressionist music. I'm trying to write something too, it's almost done, it's a Violin Sonata in E minor with piano accompaniment that uses a lot of chromatism. Maybe I'll post it when it's done. First I have to buy Finale PrintMusic or whatever though...

yay great music! Sounded like the dissonant stuff you hear on the classical radio channel. A professionally made score. I liked the flow.

WOW. I was impressed when I listened to this piece. I especially liked the interplay between the left hand and right hand parts, and the energy put into this piece.

Yes, it's quite a bit improper to label this atonal. Unless you used a system like dodecaphony in the similar manners of Alban Berg, then I'd give you the respect.

Other than that, it's a nice piece because it evokes thoughts on a later Prokofiev and Shostakovich, but this may be just because of your rhythmic vivaciousness.

:-P

i really hate atonal and music that doesnt have like a theme to listen to.

(A lot of pieces on sibeliusmusic.com are like that)

but.

yours does not. I liked it a lot. As atonal as it was. it was like jumpy.

congrats.

Hehe, I'm no professional pianist! I'm 17 and playing for like six years. Yeah, I can play a few of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies, well, but this cacaphonetical disaster? I love how it sounds, but I couldn't play for a good few more years. I just tried playing, 'try' being the operative word because 'doomed failure' seems a little to degrading. I barely got the first three lines up to eight note=90bpm:blush:, let alone Allegrissimo!:) Btw, the title on the .pdf for this is "Atonaleklavierst

Who cares if this is atonal or not! It's just great... really. Don't stop composing in this style!! If this is just your number 1, imagine how will be the number 10, and then number 100!!! Congrats!

Very nicely done. Like the others, I usually don't like atonal music either... So when I see that there's no real melody (I apologize if there's supposed to be, but it's all notes to me) my mind immediately searches for other aspects: rhythm, interplay, emotions, pleasant complexities... all of which I find in this piece.

Hehe, I'm no professional pianist! I'm 17 and playing for like six years. Yeah, I can play a few of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies, well, but this cacaphonetical disaster? I love how it sounds, but I couldn't play for a good few more years. I just tried playing, 'try' being the operative word because 'doomed failure' seems a little to degrading. I barely got the first three lines up to eight note=90bpm:blush:, let alone Allegrissimo!:(

It looks playable to me according to my skill level. I haven't tried it yet, but looks like it would fun/challenging. I'll print it and try it out. It's a shame I have absolutely nothing to record with... maybe I could borrow someone's camera with video. Of course I would never put a recording up without your permission. Would you mind (if I ever got the chance) if I did my own interpretation of it? Such as adjusting tempo, dynamics, basically subtleties...

Anyways, again it's very rare I like a piece like this, so it's definitely fantastic. Makes me wanna see what other stuff you have up your sleeve. :thumbsup:

Hello! Of course I would never mind - I would be very happy actually if somebody recorded my composition.

You might want to check out my trombone sonata, it's in traditional language and a little bit longer ;-)

Very enjoyable piece of music you have here ralph. You clearly know the style of the late-Romantic/Modern Russian pianists. Although I agree with the others and have to say that there is a tonal center.

Keep it coming