The Banshee (1925) is a piano composition by American composer Henry Cowell (1897–1965). It was the first piano piece ever written to be performed entirely free of the keyboard, using only manual manipulation of the strings within the instrument to produce sound via the flesh and nails of the finger.[1][2][3]
Cowell stated that his inspiration in creating the "string piano" method of playing came from a desire to reinvent the landscape of piano technique, finding new usages and sounds for old instruments without necessarily inventing new ones. In addition to the string piano method changing the technical execution of producing sound, performance of The Banshee also required the performer to play the instrument in a new orientation, standing in the crook of the piano perpendicular to the strings, rather than seated at a bench.[4] This process of re-education was an intentional element of the piece, making conservatory-trained pianists re-assume the role of a new student, forced to individually pick out the notes on the strings to learn their placement. Due to this performance style, The Banshee was also a disruption of the contemporary expectations of piano recitals, intended to create discomfort for the audience as well as the pianist.[1]
Notated an octave higher, the score specifies 12 different methods for playing the strings, including the scraping of fingernails, using the flat of the hand, and the flesh of the fingers.[5]
References
^ abMARIA CIZMIC. "Embodied Experimentalism and Henry Cowell's The Banshee." American Music 28, no. 4 (2010): 436-58. doi:10.5406/americanmusic.28.4.0436.
^"Henry Cowell | American composer". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
^"Tricks or Treats: Henry Cowell - The Banshee". Consequence of Sound. 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
^Cizmic, Maria (2010-11-24). "Embodied Experimentalism and Henry Cowell's The Banshee". American Music. 28 (4): 436–458. doi:10.5406/americanmusic.28.4.0436. ISSN 1945-2349.
^"The Banshee, for piano strings, HC… | Details". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
External links
The Banshee video of performance by Joan Cerveró and Víctor Trescolí
banshee, cowell, banshee, 1925, piano, composition, american, composer, henry, cowell, 1897, 1965, first, piano, piece, ever, written, performed, entirely, free, keyboard, using, only, manual, manipulation, strings, within, instrument, produce, sound, flesh, n. The Banshee 1925 is a piano composition by American composer Henry Cowell 1897 1965 It was the first piano piece ever written to be performed entirely free of the keyboard using only manual manipulation of the strings within the instrument to produce sound via the flesh and nails of the finger 1 2 3 The banshee a spirit in Celtic mythology serves as the inspiration for the piece Cowell stated that his inspiration in creating the string piano method of playing came from a desire to reinvent the landscape of piano technique finding new usages and sounds for old instruments without necessarily inventing new ones In addition to the string piano method changing the technical execution of producing sound performance of The Banshee also required the performer to play the instrument in a new orientation standing in the crook of the piano perpendicular to the strings rather than seated at a bench 4 This process of re education was an intentional element of the piece making conservatory trained pianists re assume the role of a new student forced to individually pick out the notes on the strings to learn their placement Due to this performance style The Banshee was also a disruption of the contemporary expectations of piano recitals intended to create discomfort for the audience as well as the pianist 1 Notated an octave higher the score specifies 12 different methods for playing the strings including the scraping of fingernails using the flat of the hand and the flesh of the fingers 5 References Edit a b MARIA CIZMIC Embodied Experimentalism and Henry Cowell s The Banshee American Music 28 no 4 2010 436 58 doi 10 5406 americanmusic 28 4 0436 Henry Cowell American composer Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved 2019 10 10 Tricks or Treats Henry Cowell The Banshee Consequence of Sound 2011 10 09 Retrieved 2019 10 10 Cizmic Maria 2010 11 24 Embodied Experimentalism and Henry Cowell s The Banshee American Music 28 4 436 458 doi 10 5406 americanmusic 28 4 0436 ISSN 1945 2349 The Banshee for piano strings HC Details AllMusic Retrieved 2019 10 10 External links EditThe Banshee video of performance by Joan Cervero and Victor Trescoli Portals Classical music Music This article about a classical composition is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Banshee Cowell amp oldid 1102746919, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
