The Extension Technique and Interpretation of George Crumb s Solo Piano Works

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1 The Extension Technique and Interpretation of George Crumb s Solo Piano Works Abstract The new techniques and timbral exploration in George Crumb s Piano solo works are important in the developing of twentieth century piano music. He proved that piano is an instrument with a wide variety of sound potentials through his six 1 piano solo works. (Five Pieces for piano,

2 Makrokosmos Book I, Book II, Gnomic Variations, A Little suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979, and Processional) He integrates a variety of sonorities and textures into a unique pianistic idiom using unconventional technique. The style of Crumb s music mixed the conventional and unconventional formats. He adopted Henry Cowell s tradition with a touch of Chopin and Schumann. According to Crumb himself, he is also influenced by Bela Bartok, Claude Debussy, John Cage and Charles Ives. Crumb s music places a lot of significance on the areas of structure, rhythm, timbral exploration and idiomatic concept. He emphasizes time-suspension concept and the usage of prime number in his music. Because of a wide rage of sound, timbre, tempo and dynamics, Crumb s piano music produce an orchestral sound or chamber music quality. Amplification of sound, imaginative manipulations of strings pedal and frame, use of foreign materials and vocal effects, and tight control of tempo and dynamics contribute to this. The unconventional technique include: producing unconventional sounds on the strings with hands, such as pizzicatos, harmonics, muting and damping strings, martellato, trill and tremolo on strings, scraping strings glissandos on strings, striking the soundboard. He also manipulates objects on the strings, such as a chain, thimbles, tumblers, paperclips, paper, brush and plectra. Crumb in two volumes of Makrokosmos uses vocal and effects such as whistling, talking, humming, whispering, nasal singing and so on. Certain practical considerations on performance have to be considered, such as choosing a piano on which these works can be performed, deciding on a method of marking dampers and strings, selecting clothes determining the best amplification equipment, considering whether or not to stand, and deciding if lighting effects are desired. Crumb s music has opened up new dimensions in piano music. It has a quality of imagination, lyrical, beauty and genuine musical impulse. His music not only enhances the aesthetic values of sounds but also enlarges our sensibilities and vision for twenty-first century musical arts. KeywordsGeorge Crumb, Solo piano works, American Music, extension technique of piano music 2

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