Distant Memories
Encyclopedia
Distant Memories is the 3rd piece of music for piano from Alexina Louie
's Piano Music
. It was commissioned by the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects in 1982. It uses changing meters and "senza misura", meaning "without measure".
was to create 4 contrasting works; Louie wanted "each work to address a new compositional, pianistic, or notational 'technique' or 'device'. At the same time, I did not want to write a dry pedagogical piece, as these pieces often are."
s (as opposed to measure numbers; or the omission of bar lines), which is marked by senza misura, or "without measure". This technique is also used in Louie's other pieces, which creates rhythmic complexity.
-like passage. 3 sharps are added in the introduction, though there is an absence of any key signature
and a distinct key is still avoided. Pedal point
s are used in the left hand, and the E and C sharp notes are emphasized throughout the berceuse section. The time signature appears on the 3rd line and measure
s then begin.
is quasi berceuse, or "in the style of a lullaby". The theme has tenuto
accents at the beginning of each bar, emphasizing the shifting meter
in this section.
Alexina Louie
Alexina Louie, OC, FRSC is a Canadian composer of Chinese descent who has written many pieces for orchestra, as well as pieces for solo piano.-Biography:Alexina Louie was born in Vancouver and received an...
's Piano Music
Piano Music
Piano Music is a suite of four short pieces composed by Alexina Louie in 1982 for the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects. The four pieces are The Enchanted Bells, Changes, Distant Memories, and Once upon a time....
. It was commissioned by the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects in 1982. It uses changing meters and "senza misura", meaning "without measure".
History
The intention for Piano MusicPiano Music
Piano Music is a suite of four short pieces composed by Alexina Louie in 1982 for the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects. The four pieces are The Enchanted Bells, Changes, Distant Memories, and Once upon a time....
was to create 4 contrasting works; Louie wanted "each work to address a new compositional, pianistic, or notational 'technique' or 'device'. At the same time, I did not want to write a dry pedagogical piece, as these pieces often are."
Senza misura
Instead of bar lines, the performance time is given in secondSecond
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
s (as opposed to measure numbers; or the omission of bar lines), which is marked by senza misura, or "without measure". This technique is also used in Louie's other pieces, which creates rhythmic complexity.
Introduction
The beginning is fluid, with a cadenzaCadenza
In music, a cadenza is, generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display....
-like passage. 3 sharps are added in the introduction, though there is an absence of any key signature
Key signature
In musical notation, a key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating notes that are to be consistently played one semitone higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes unless otherwise altered with an accidental...
and a distinct key is still avoided. Pedal point
Pedal point
In tonal music, a pedal point is a sustained tone, typically in the bass, during which at least one foreign, i.e., dissonant harmony is sounded in the other parts. A pedal point sometimes functions as a "non-chord tone", placing it in the categories alongside suspensions, retardations, and passing...
s are used in the left hand, and the E and C sharp notes are emphasized throughout the berceuse section. The time signature appears on the 3rd line and measure
Measure
- Legal :* Measure of the Church of England is a law passed by the General Synod and the UK Parliament equivalent of an Act* Measure of the National Assembly for Wales, a law specific to Wales passed by the Welsh Assembly between 2007 and 2011...
s then begin.
Section B
The tempoTempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
is quasi berceuse, or "in the style of a lullaby". The theme has tenuto
Tenuto
Tenuto is a direction used in musical notation. Arguably, it is one of the first directions to be used in music notation, as Notker of St...
accents at the beginning of each bar, emphasizing the shifting meter
Meter (music)
Meter or metre is a term that music has inherited from the rhythmic element of poetry where it means the number of lines in a verse, the number of syllables in each line and the arrangement of those syllables as long or short, accented or unaccented...
in this section.