| Rhythmicana | |
|---|---|
| by Henry Cowell | |
 Cowell at the piano, c. 1920s | |
| Catalogue | HC 557 |
| Composed | 1938 |
| Performed | February 11, 1940 |
| Movements | 3 |
| Scoring | Piano |
Henry Cowell's 1938 work Rhythmicana is a suite of piano pieces centered on polyrhythms and dissonant counterpoint. It is known for its unusual time signatures, with the first two movements being in
1 time, and the third movement having the polymeter of
4 in the right hand and
4 in the left.
Background
Cowell had already used the title for his rhythmicon concerto seven years earlier. The complexity results from Cowell's lifelong preoccupation with rhythmic exploration. The piece is dedicated to J. M. Beyer.
The last three measures of the first movement, showing the conflicting polyrhythms and tone clusters
References
- Madeleine Goss, Modern music-makers; contemporary American composers. Dutton, 1952, p.272.
- Barelos, Stacey. "Henry Cowell--Piano Music--Rhythmicana [1938]". www.cowellpiano.com.
- Barelos, Stacey. "Henry Cowell--Piano Music--Rhythmicana [Endnote 1]". www.cowellpiano.com.
External links
- Rhythmicana, HC 213: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
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