Product Description
These 10 impromptus evoke a wide variety of landscapes and moods, exploring a range of styles, both popular and classical, both historical and modern. Pianists may play the whole collection, a subset of it, or a single movement.
Program Notes
Impromptu No. 1 starts with a stentorian, bell-like opening. As the mood lightens, a pentatonic passage briefly evokes American folk music. After a passage through dark and oppressive salt mines, the opening material returns, bringing back a sense of measure and control.
Impromptus No. 2 and 8 are both atonal and most indebted to 20th century modernist models, with the canons of No. 2 reminiscent of Ligeti and the playful No. 8 humoresque evoking Babbitt.
Impromptu No. 5 and No. 6 are popular in inspiration: No. 5 evokes jazz and No. 6 a folk guitar groove. Meanwhile, the waltz in Impromptu No. 3 is contrasted with the fanfare of a radiant and summery middle-section.
Impromptus No. 4, 7, and 9 are slow, static, dream-like movements. Impromptu No. 4, which quotes Westminster Quarters, is a parable on time. The short Impromptu No 7 is peacefully aquatic, while Impromptu No. 9 quietly aches in a mournful lament.Lastly, Impromptu No 10 provides a buoyant, virtuosic ending for the set. In the spirit of a Schumann grand finale, the music stays in continuous motion through various landscapes before climaxing in a thunderous valedictory gesture.
Impromptu No. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WryZR9WDW9A
Impromptu No. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVANCXHDK2M
Impromptu No. 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssz3mk_JM8A
Impromptu No. 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo4VZLxafhk
Impromptu No. 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E67VIpnF1zQ
Impromptu No. 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT4OWWAEe-8
Impromptu No. 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFM1wpDGSiE
Impromptu No. 8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFGMkECY_sk
Impromptu No. 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qpTZ4_1oEM
Impromptu No. 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5F8ea60s90
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.