Rhythmicana
Avant-garde piano composition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
1 time, and the third movement having the polymeter of 3
4 in the right hand and 5
4 in the left.
CatalogueHC 557
Composed1938
PerformedFebruary 11, 1940
Movements3
| Rhythmicana | |
|---|---|
| by Henry Cowell | |
Cowell at the piano, c. 1920s | |
| Catalogue | HC 557 |
| Composed | 1938 |
| Performed | February 11, 1940 |
| Movements | 3 |
| Scoring | Piano |
Background
Cowell had already used the title for his rhythmicon concerto seven years earlier.[1] The complexity results from Cowell's lifelong preoccupation with rhythmic exploration. The piece is dedicated to J. M. Beyer.[2][3]
