Henry Cowell (1897-1965)

Three pieces by Cowell:

The Tides of Manaunaun (1917) – first use of the Tone Cluster.

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/mh/cow/Manaunaun.mp3]

Aeolian Harp (1923)

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/mh/cow/Aeolian.mp3]

The Banshee (1925)

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/mh/cow/Banshee.mp3]

Here are Cowell’s comments about these pieces:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/mh/cow/manaunaun-cow.mp3] [audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/mh/cow/aeolian-cow.mp3] [audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/mh/cow/banshee-cow.mp3]

Some insights into the performance of these pieces:

Q1. In what way are these works (and Cage’s works for prepared piano) subverting musical order?

hint: think of it in terms of what is considered musical material (that with which we make music), the piano as a symbol of musical evolution  (from bach onwards…), the tonal system and traditional form.