Rhythmicana

Rhythmicana
by Henry Cowell
Cowell at the piano, c. 1920s
CatalogueHC 557
Composed1938
PerformedFebruary 11, 1940
Movements3
ScoringPiano

Henry Cowell's 1938 work Rhythmicana is a suite of piano pieces centered on polyrhythms and dissonant counterpoint. It is known for its unusual time signatures, with the first two movements being in 1
1 time, and the third movement having the polymeter of 3
4 in the right hand and 5
4 in the left.

Background

Cowell had already used the title for his rhythmicon concerto seven years earlier.[1] The complexity results from Cowell's lifelong preoccupation with rhythmic exploration. The piece is dedicated to J. M. Beyer.[2][3]

The last three measures of the first movement, showing the conflicting polyrhythms and tone clusters

References

  1. ^ Madeleine Goss, Modern music-makers; contemporary American composers. Dutton, 1952, p.272.
  2. ^ Barelos, Stacey. "Henry Cowell--Piano Music--Rhythmicana [1938]". www.cowellpiano.com.
  3. ^ Barelos, Stacey. "Henry Cowell--Piano Music--Rhythmicana [Endnote 1]". www.cowellpiano.com.


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