Sometimes a great effect can be created by choosing extreme tempi. Choosing a very fast tempo can make otherwise perfectly ordinary notes, suddenly seem special in a way. And the same goes for an almost absurdly low pace. It gives the notes something extra, provided the tune can withstand the slow pulse. There is a … Read more
New Moon. ln former days taking piano or violin lessons pretty much always included learning how to compose and how to improvise. Bach taught his students how to improvise, unless they seemed to be entirely tonedeaf, according to his son Carl-Philipp lmmanuel. Beethoven was an excellent improviser, Mozart was also an improviser. There is a … Read more
All kinds of composers have tried to create new and remarkable sounds on a piano, by laying objects on top of the strings, or by attaching things to the string. A well known pioneer in this field is John Cage who wrote several pieces for the so-called ‘prepared piano’. Beer caps, clothes pins and pieces … Read more
Once upon a time when l was a physical marvel and a visual delight (not), l had a seemingly not very meaningful experience that would nevertheless emerge in my work as a composer later on. l was eightteen years old and we had just taken our final exams in high school. The results hadn’t come … Read more
