Stomp and Fugue in F minor

 

Stomp and Fugue in F minor - (2011)    

for piano

 

The driving syncopated invention opens this cut-time frolic, the 1920s era stomp progression  [ 1 ]  appearing twice in the parallel domains for F minor, before a return to the opening theme and gentle cadence.

 

 

The stomp progression may be seen beginning at measure 15, and again in a differing transposition beginning at measure 25, driving the piece back into a solid F minor tonic.

 

 

The fugue subject is based on a portion of the stomp progression, arpeggiated into arches and in its second appearance amusing joined with a small, inexact melodic fragment from a popular 1930s tune, Jeepers Creepers, by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer. The subject appears in the wide ranges of the piano, and the fugue ends with a ritardando and hushed final quote in the highest register.

 

 

The score is 4 pages, with an approximate performance time of 3' 40."  

 

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 piano score.

 

Stomp and Fugue in F minor

                    

NOTES

 

[ 1 ]    An eight-bar jazz standard succession of chords is said to have been first created by Jelly Roll Morton, and its popularity of the 1920s and later, it became used in many swingtime tunes and arrangements. The stomp progression is as follows:  

 

 ||:  IV7   #ivo7   |   I7/5   V7/IV   |   IV7   #iv°7   |   I7/5    V7/IV   | IV7   #iv°7   |   I7/5    V7/II    |   V7/V    |    V7 V7/IV   :||