Music and Texts of GARY BACHLUND
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Partita No 6 for Harpsichord - (2019)
The work is predicated on a classic, five octave instrument, F to f. A opening gesture centers on the Lydian A flat as in the key signature more normally associated with E flat major and C minor, both of which domains also feature in this partita. Alterations between a single 8' and coupled 8' registers makes tor dynamic contrast.
A cadence on A flat becomes a cadence on E flat, and thereafter a short fughetta in E flat with stretti and a return to the A flat region are featured.
A quasi-percussive gesture on A flat leads to a double dotted episode with successions of closed seven chords, still sounding quite Baroque for the instrument and gestural shapes.
The same short episode and frustrated harmonic cadence leads to a more lyrical moment in C minor, again alternating a single 8' as against the coupled 8' registers for contrast within a straight forward repetition..
And following, a repetition of arpeggios first with the "buff" register and then a single normal 8'.
A final fughetta combines themes as the previous section simply abandons C minor in a single bass D flat, after which a first statement of the fughetta's subject is stated outright. What follows are additional statements in several harmonic domains far afield from the original, sometimes residing on E flat and sometimes on and around A flat. After a coda, the work ends as begun, with A flat, having functioned as Lydian tonic and root for the many related harmonic domains which figure in the multi-art work.
8 pages, circa 11' 30" - an MP3 demo is here:
The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this score.
