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. The complexity results from Cowell's lifelong preoccupation with rhythmic exploration. The piece is dedicated to J. M. Beyer.

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.