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Gould, Morton : Pavanne (Second Movement from Symphonette No. 2)
Work Overview
First Publisher:Belwin-Mills
Instrumentation:Piano Ensemble
Genre:pavane
Total Playing Time:3 min 00 sec
Copyright:Under Copyright Protection
Original/Related Work: Gould, Morton 《Pavanne (from American Symphonette No. 2)》
Commentary (1)
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
Last Updated: July 18, 2023
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Author : Nishihara, Masaki
This is the second movement of Morton Gould's orchestral work "American Symphonette No. 2," arranged by the composer himself for piano duo. Separate versions were created for piano four-hands and two pianos. A piano solo version also exists. The original piece is the middle movement of a light classical suite (three movements in total) incorporating elements of jazz and pop. It modernizes the archaic image of a pavane by employing blue notes, swing, and seventh chords. With its elegant flow and appropriate wit, it has enjoyed long-standing popularity since its release. It is said that it was always played during the commercial breaks of "Shabondama Holiday" in post-war Japan, meaning tens of thousands of Japanese people heard this piece via television every week. Due to arrangements tailored to the characteristics of piano four-hands and two pianos respectively, there are significant differences in the writing of both versions. Although a product of a period when Gould increased his focus on conducting and composing, his six years of performance experience as a piano duo with Bert Shefter are well utilized. Both versions are approximately Czerny 30 difficulty level. The two-piano version, in particular, is arranged to be easy to play. Allegretto, 4/4 time, F major. It begins with a simple, bouncy bass line supporting a smooth melody, developing with lightness.