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Nocturne #1 by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse;
For Late-Intermediate Pianist. Approximately 4’40.”
Winner 2013: Music Teachers Association of California Honorable Mention Award for Composition – Teachers’ “Teaching Piece” Division.
Program Notes:
This Nocturne is written as a teaching piece to help students prepare for the harder Nocturnes of Field and Chopin. It challenges students in many areas, including the interpretive challenge of balancing a cantabile melody over a flowing accompaniment throughout a wide dynamic range. In order to effectively perform this piece students must also study voicing within chords, and employ judicious use of pedal depth, combined with legatissimo touch, all while applying a lyrical execution of technical exercises such as several types of ornamentation, and arpeggiated and chromatic patterns. Furthermore, this piece challenges students to be able to follow more than one melodic line at a time, and seamlessly switch attention between hands, while effectively overcoming rhythmic challenges by utilizing rubato in a very organic manner.
The emotional appeal of this piece lies in that it allows students to portray a vast color palette and a range of emotions such that within a relatively short piece they may display a tender melancholic tone as well as a much more impassioned sound. The ternary structure of the piece is designed to be easily visible to the student, making the task of pacing assignments easy for the teacher because the piece is readily divisible into sections. The simple lyrical theme is instantly charming to audiences and has been requested by older adults in particular!
Many of Mrs. Vlasse's compositions are published by bpr music. Contact the composer to obtain scores for anything not sold through bpr music.
For Late-Intermediate Pianist. Approximately 4’40.”
Winner 2013: Music Teachers Association of California Honorable Mention Award for Composition – Teachers’ “Teaching Piece” Division.
Program Notes:
This Nocturne is written as a teaching piece to help students prepare for the harder Nocturnes of Field and Chopin. It challenges students in many areas, including the interpretive challenge of balancing a cantabile melody over a flowing accompaniment throughout a wide dynamic range. In order to effectively perform this piece students must also study voicing within chords, and employ judicious use of pedal depth, combined with legatissimo touch, all while applying a lyrical execution of technical exercises such as several types of ornamentation, and arpeggiated and chromatic patterns. Furthermore, this piece challenges students to be able to follow more than one melodic line at a time, and seamlessly switch attention between hands, while effectively overcoming rhythmic challenges by utilizing rubato in a very organic manner.
The emotional appeal of this piece lies in that it allows students to portray a vast color palette and a range of emotions such that within a relatively short piece they may display a tender melancholic tone as well as a much more impassioned sound. The ternary structure of the piece is designed to be easily visible to the student, making the task of pacing assignments easy for the teacher because the piece is readily divisible into sections. The simple lyrical theme is instantly charming to audiences and has been requested by older adults in particular!
Many of Mrs. Vlasse's compositions are published by bpr music. Contact the composer to obtain scores for anything not sold through bpr music.