Music for piano Five Impressions Joseph Briggs-Ritchie   Five Impressions for Piano Melody Whimsy In the Style of Scriabin Winter Prelude Three-Part Invention   Buy this book now   £10.00 + p&p Joseph Briggs-Ritchie: Profile & Catalogue of works

Performance Notes

Melody
Rather reminiscent of an old folk tune, the melody should have a singing quality to it but it should not be played too sweetly as this may detract from the intrinsically darker hues of the minor key tonality. The bass also has something of a melodic quality to it therefore the performer should strive for a balance between the hands. Bars 53 - 68 require a marked dynamic contrast with the rest of the piece, gentle and with careful pedalling.

Whimsy
A flowing piece based on semiquaver figures and strictly diatonic harmony. The melodic line is frequently in the same hand as the accompaniment, requiring the performer to emphasise the one while keeping the other subordinate. The accented notes in bars 26 and 28 should also be particularly bell-like above the attendant semiquavers. Pedalling is indicated at the start and is regular throughout in order to create the desired sound. The tempo must be constant throughout with no rubato though do be mindful of the dynamic changes. As the piece is a 'whimsy' it should come to a very sudden stop, like a passing fancy.

In the Style of Scriabin
An ominous little waltz in the style of the extended tonality of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin. Rubato is a key aspect in creating the right atmosphere and therefore this piece should not be rushed. Pay close attention to the dynamic gradations and sudden changes of mood. Pedalling is at the performer's discretion.

Winter Prelude
This is a rather impressionistic piece, written to evoke the cold, icy stillness of a winter's day, therefore it is important to make this piece as atmospheric as possible. It should be played with a lightness of touch for the most part and the repetitive, Alberti-style left hand figures and broken chords should not sound monotonous.

Three-Part Invention
Although this piece was inspired by the music of Bach and is composed in a baroque style, it was written very much for the piano and not the harpsichord, a fact that the pianist should bear in mind with regard to use of the sustain pedal. However as the direction pedale ad lib. ma con descrezione indicates, it should be used carefully and not to excess as this will result in an undesirable blurring of the individual voices of the piece. Careful fingering will also be required.

Melody

 

Winter Prelude

Series:	Contemporary Music Series
Title:	Five Impressions
Works:	Melody Whimsy In the Style of Scriabin Winter Prelude Three-Part Invention
Composer:	Joseph Briggs-Ritchie
Instrumentation:	Piano
Level:	Intermediate
Format:	Stapled score
Size:	A4
Weight:	80gm
ISMN:	979-0-57046-134-9
Our Ref:	SM0477
Publisher:	Creighton's Collection
Edition/Year:	First Edition September 2014
Origin:	Wales, UK