Etudes, part 1

 

In my world of polyphonic and/or two-handed contrapuntal techniques, I am continually learning new and extended techniques.  Many of these techniques relate to two-handed tapping techniques on double-neck instruments: using one hand per neck and playing polyphonically.  This includes two or more simultaneous differing parts.

While this opens up new planets of artistic expression, it also opens new planets of technical demands.  I am constantly and daily shedding these techniques and learning new ones.   

This morning, I was working with the metronome on 3:2 rhythmic figures wherein I'm simultaneously playing three-note figures in one hand against two-note figures in the other.  I was using both single notes and chords in various combinations.  Chords against chords, single lines against single lines, and a mix of those.  This is a fantastic rhythmic texture.  Also at times a little challenging to execute; at least, for now.  

As I was shedding this, I decided to devise a line or example to help in better learning this polyrhythmic technique.   I had thought of writing out one figure, like a single bar.  As I did that, I almost involuntarily kept going, and in a couple of minutes had written out a full page for this specific two-neck polyrhythmic technique.  It morphed from a single one-bar example into a full-on etude.

I've not written many etudes, but maybe this is a harbinger of future and additional etudes.  Whatever it may be, it's certainly proving to be helpful and illuminating.

A funny thing about the evolution of etudes in the classical world.  "Etude" is the French word for "study," and etudes were originally created to focus on and perfect a specific technical skill or technique.  They were never intended to be concert pieces.  In other words, etudes were conceived of and utilized as learning and practicing materials.  Eventually, some of them found their way into the concert and performance repertoire.  Examples are Chopin's etudes and Debussy's etudes; though there are indeed more, up to and including those by Cage and Ligeti.

More to come.

 

-kk