Avenoir: Solo Piano

‍avenoir - n. the desire that memory could flow backward

Commissioned by and dedicated to Corey Hamm

We take it for granted that life moves forward. But you move as a rower moves, facing backwards: you can see where you’ve been, but not where you’re going. And your boat is steered by a younger version of you. It’s hard not to wonder what life would be like facing the other way…

This product includes a PDF score of Avenoir, a virtuosic piano solo approximately 12 minutes long. Stylistically it has similarities with Ravel’s “Ondine” from Gaspard de la Nuit. it is a tour-de-force piano solo requiring virtuosity and stamina. I suspect only a few, highly capable pianists will tackle this so if you do, please let me know; any performances (I'll add to my events page), feedback on the piece, your experience of learning, questions. I'd love to hear from you about it.

Here's a video of the midi realisation I created while writing the piece. The score scrolls in time with the music.

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Performance Notes:

1. Accidentals apply for the whole measure.
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2. Foreground melodic lines are conveyed using a hierarchy of accentuating notation; progressing from softly emphasised (tenuto), to accents, to notes with double tails, and arriving at the most strongly pronounced: accented notes with double tails.
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3. The often-present, detailed, mid-register moto perpetuo voice should be played as evenly as possible,
   and reside in the background of the overall sound, allowing the foreground melodic material to be heard clearly.
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4. Notes have been ascribed to left and right hands by the composer, but further adjustments and improvements by the performer are welcomed.
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5. The same applies to pedalling.

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More information on the work page on this website Avenoir (about)

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