Griffes - The Fountains of the Acqua Paola

"The Fountains of the Acqua Paolal" from the Roman Sketches Op. 7 (1915-1916)

Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884-1920) is often fancifully titled the "American Impressionist." At the age of 19, Griffes traveled to Germany to study with Engelbert Humperdinck, through which he became enamored with the compositions of R. Strauss, Wolf, and Brahms. Griffes' earliest works are indelibly Wagnerian, but he later emulated what was then modern French and Russian music, namely Debussy and Scriabin. After four years abroad, he returned to America and taught at the Hackley School of Music in New York. In less than a decade after his return, critics praised Griffes as an original voice in a rather sterile juncture of American art-music. Influenza claimed his life, however, at the age of 35. He left a small but remarkable oeuvre and one can only wonder if he would have become a major American composer had he lived longer.

Quote by Michael Lewin: "The four pieces comprising the Roman Sketches, Op. 7 take the composer into an even more personal sound-world... 'The Fountains of the Acqua Paola' is harmonically the most conservative of the four, with glittering technical brilliance. It is an attractive water piece in the tradition of Ravel's 'Jeux d'eau' and Liszt's 'Les jeux d'eaux a la Villa d'Este'. Featuring a beautiful left-hand melody decorated by right-hand arpeggios and double notes, the music successfully captures the shimmer and spray of foam and fountains."

Category:

Music

Tags:

• debussy
• ravel
• scriabin

[chopzart]

where to download this for free???

[Hexameron]

No where; purchase the recording for $4 from amazon

[Vook]

I absolutely love this piece and I'd love to learn how to play it, but it's far too difficult at the moment.

But seriously, I love how it sounds like an entire ensemble of sounds is playing at once...and I love the ending too. Like, the final wave of water comes out, the fountain grows still...and then just one little bubble comes up to the surface and pops. :D

[UneducatedMuslim]

Pure genius. Many Thanks Hexameron.

[frankentomato]

I'm ashamed that I've never heard this. This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

[windstorm1000]

Pure genius. America's 'Debussy'.  Unfortunately, his early death was the greatest tragedy for the American musical scene. We did not recover the path Griffes would have gone down--the path went to folk, jazz, blues--but not Griffes's musical language.

[MsElmosgirlfriend]

@chopzart check out 'listen to youtube.com'

[ludwigvan17]

Absolutely wonderful. Hexameron. Thank you.  These are the hidden treasures I've been looking for. lol

[lovesGenet]

Thi sis famous .but i never knew it.Makes liszt's fountains seem even more ingenious.This is sprawling but stillincredible music.trying to come into new world but stilllargely romantic trying to be big.The genius of the 20th century is being systematic witout archness and not being large.HavergalBrian,Shostakovi­ch and many others hold on to Wagnerian Largesse. Webern ,Ravelknew where it was. the age of minutie explored without seeming titanic

[Sensenwerk]

@chopzart imslp (google it, free score collection site)

The composer is dead for 90 years now. So no hesitation to download free scores.

[SailorVVV]

@ch252525 K? i've never seen it before

[ch252525]

@SailorVVV that's pretty common..

[Vook]

@Aul1kki I'm learning it now, actually...but I won't be able to make much headway on it until I'm done with Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G Minor.

[HighGuy512]

@SailorVVV seven crotchet beats in a bar. :D Lovely isn't it?