Bolcom: Three Popular Rags (Hamelin) скачать в хорошем качестве

Bolcom: Three Popular Rags (Hamelin)

The Three Popular Rags were composed between 1967 and 1968, marks Bolcom’s first foray into ragtime writing, blending traditional rag structures with harmonic and rhythmic inventiveness reflective of his modernist leanings. Each rag showcases a distinct character, unified by Bolcom’s reverence for the ragtime tradition and his subtle wit. 1. Seabiscuits Rag (1967) This brisk and animated piece is written in classic rag form (AA BB CC DD + Coda) with a lively cakewalk tempo. Bolcom draws influence from early 20th-century novelty rags and stride pianists such as Eubie Blake and James P. Johnson. The work features a steady left-hand stride rhythm supporting highly syncopated and energetic right-hand motifs. Hints of chromaticism and occasional harmonic surprises offer a glimpse into Bolcom’s future modernist explorations. Seabiscuits Rag conveys a sense of bustling urban energy, evoking both humor and agility. 2. Tabby Cat Walk (1968) Marked "slyly" and set at a relaxed two-step tempo, this rag is a charming and whimsical character piece. Its structure (AA BB A CC DD + Coda) is marked by frequent pauses and unexpected silences, imitating the quiet and unpredictable gait of a cat. The right-hand melodies are comprised of narrow, staggered chords while the left hand maintains a detached, dance-like pulse. Slight dissonances and jazz-inflected harmonies add to the piece’s playful and mysterious tone. It ends with a sequence of deliberate silences, offering a clever and theatrical close. 3. Last Rag (1969) Composed as a reflective conclusion to the set, Last Rag is lyrical, slow-paced, and contemplative. It carries a tone of nostalgia, possibly hinting at Bolcom’s own ambivalence about continuing in the ragtime genre. The harmonic language remains gentle and largely diatonic, with occasional chromatic inflections. The structure is simple yet subversive, occasionally unsettling the listener’s expectations through displaced cadences and subtly irregular phrase endings. The piece evokes a quiet farewell, with a tone that is both sincere and understated. Each rag demands stylistic sensitivity. Seabiscuits requires rhythmic precision and dynamic clarity in the stride figures. Tabby Cat Walk relies on control and timing in its deliberate silences. Last Rag calls for lyrical phrasing and expressive restraint. Together, the rags reveal Bolcom’s ability to marry traditional ragtime language with modern expression, humor, and emotional nuance. 0:00 - 1. Seabiscuits Rag 3:42 - 2. Tabby Cat Walk 9:23 - 3. Last Rag Pianist: Marc-Andre Hamelin