Matsudaira, Yoriaki : Allotoropy
Work Overview
Instrumentation：Piano Solo
Genre：Various works
Commentary (2)
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Last Updated: April 24, 2018
[Open]
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
After Formes pour piano (1959, later discarded), commissioned by NHK, and Instruction (1961), a product of the "Cage shock," Matsudaira composed Allotropy (1970) following a hiatus of approximately nine years. Chopin's "Raindrop" Prelude, suddenly quoted towards the end, achieves a significant effect due to its heterogeneity and is considered one of the representative examples of quotation in Matsudaira's works. As this quotation suggests, the work is centered around repeated notes (the title means "allotropy" or "same substance, different form") and consists of eight sections. Repeated notes are presented at the beginning, and after a period where clusters and repeated notes are combined, somewhat pointillistic repeated notes appear accompanied by vocalizations such as "ta" and "pa." Violent repeated notes of clusters accompanied by screams, a combination of voiceless "shu" sounds and repeated notes at ppp, and a comprehensive presentation of elements introduced thus far, lead to the "Raindrop" Prelude. The piece concludes with applause directed into the piano. In Aki Takahashi's recording, the final applause section is not included, but according to Matsudaira, this was based on Roger Reynolds' advice. On December 1, 1970, it was premiered by Aki Takahashi, to whom it was dedicated, at the Recital Hall of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. It was published by Suvini Zerboni.
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Last Updated: April 24, 2018
[Open]
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Allotropy (1970)
Allotropy (1970) is the third piece for piano by Yori-Aki Matsudaira after Instruction (1961), inspired by the so-called John Cage Shock, and Figures for piano (1959, withdrawn), commissioned by NHK.
Musical Characteristics and Structure
Chopin’s ‘Raindrop’ (Prelude op. 28, no. 15), cited suddenly at the end of the piece, sounds so peculiar that it is seen as one of the most prominent examples of citation in the works of Matsudaira. As this implies, repetitive sounds are a salient feature of this work (‘allotropy’ means different structural modifications of an element).
The piece consists of eight sections:
- The first presents series of repetitive sounds.
- The second presents combinations of repetition and clusters.
- Then, repetitions in a pointillistic style are combined with the pianist’s voice such as ‘ta’ and ‘pa’.
- This is followed by violent repetitions of clusters with scream.
- Then, quiet and pointillistic repetitions.
- The recapitulation of all the elements presented before.
- And finally the ‘Raindrop’.
Coda
In the coda, the pianist claps his hands near the strings of the piano. This coda was cut in the recording by the dedicatee Aki Takahashi, which was an advice of Roger Reynolds, as Matsudaira says.
Premiere and Publication
Allotropy was premiered by Aki Takahashi on 1 December 1970 at the small hall of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. The score was published by Suvini Zerboni.