Wyschnegradsky - Twenty-four Preludes in Quarter-tones; No. 8

Ivan Wyschnegradsky (1893-1979) is typically acknowledged as a microtonal composer who spent most of his creative life in Paris and Germany developing his theories and "ultrachromatic scales." Before his emigration to Paris in 1920, he studied composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and became an avant-garde composer. Wyschnegradsky was clearly a disciple of Scriabin's music. He actually experienced something like an epiphany after hearing Scriabin's works and thereafter became a mystic, abandoned his Wagnerian approach to music, and emulated the "scriabinesque." His early orchestral work "The Journey of Existence" owes much to Scriabin's "Poem of Ecstasy". However, he was more interested in pursuing quarter-tone composition and even had Scriabin-like visions that this kind of music would push mankind to the next step in evolution. Composers like Messiaen and Boulez appreciated and performed his microtonal music, but there is virtually no interest in Wyschnegradsky today.

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[mcbainst]

more cow bell

[stanchinsky]

Great!

[squadala994]

Musical portrayal of the Doppler effect.

[a1s2d3f4g5q1w2e3]

@semieuphoric According to Wikipedia, yes, two pianos. I must say, that I seem to hear the "bouncing around" from ear to ear, which would also indicate two instruments. Also, it reminds me of my own recordings (with another pianist) of another famous proponent of quarter tone piano music - Mildred Couper.

[TheNuncFluens]

@ZRMDMK you can't, you need a quarter tone piano to play this.

[GrauenausderTiefe]

thanks so much for showing the score ! we want more scores

[marclebarbare]

Magnifique!

I guess, Terry Riley was inspired by this when he composed "Lands end".

[ZRMDMK]

how do you play this on a piano that only has 12 tones per octave :S I don't understans :S

[NavidK0]

@semieuphoric Most people would have to play with two pianos, one being a quarter sharp higher. However, Ivan had a custom-piano, one with two rows of keys that could be tuned separately.

[semieuphoric]

How is this played? Is it a single piano tuned in quarter tones for part of its range? Is it two pianos? or ....?

[RSwordIAAA]

@thphaca the case is different in europe though, and in some parts of america there are microtonal concerts being presented- Boston microtonal Society being one. .

[RSwordIAAA]

@thphaca get gardner read's microtonal notation book and youll see that hundreds of people have composed using quartertones, fifth tones, sixth tones, and beyond using a variety of experimental intonation systems..13-96 tones... its quite popular in new music programs in schools, in America unfortunately - everyone is more interested in American Idol - so yes with society and the mindset here it may take awhile, but music connoisseurs and lovers will find it.