Texas Landscapes, "Twosomes". Four Original Piano Duets for Early Intermediate
Texas Landscapes is a Collection of 4 Duets, inspired by places, memories, and my imaginings of Texas: each piece as different and unique as the many different landscapes you’ll find in the State. (23 Pages) (Please consider printing a single page at a time to make it easier to assign to different students)
We begin our journey with Bailar al Sol. I’ve spent a good deal of my life in South Texas, surrounded by the rich Mexican-American culture: the food, the decorating, and the music have always been a favorite. I love to see the Mariachi bands as they accompany the beautiful Folklórico Dancers. Bailar is written in the Key of F Major - it’s a “Ranchera Valseada”. Ranchera or Canción Ranchera, being a genre of traditional music from Mexico and Valseada, the Spanish word for Waltz. The Left hand accompaniment leaps along in a Latin style Bass line and mimics the plucked Bass guitar. The “B” section offers an abrupt change to an A Major key center, bringing some drama. The “C” section takes off a beautiful scale like, lyric melody that leads to the climax of the piece in measure 59 - 67, where the sequenced figure builds and rushes ahead, until we finally find our way back to the “A” section in measure 67.
Next stop is Sweetwater Junction. I have to confess, I’ve never been there- yet! But in my mind, I can imagine my 2nd Great Grandmother as she came to Texas from Alabama in 1873, by train. I can hear the “clickety-clack” of the rails and the rhythm that gently sways the 9 year old girl to sleep. The upbeat melody sets the stage and the syncopated rhythm shows her excitement. Sweetwater is written in the Key of G Major, with both parts having a chance to share the melody. Several important Piano techniques presented are melodic phrasing & balance, syncopation, cross handed arpeggios, and tempo change.
Stop and take a moment to reflect in Pleasant Grove, near Crockett, Texas. Inspired by a trip to visit ancestors in a Cemetery, this piece ponders about “what could have been”. Listen for the Church bells that ring at the beginning and the end. The lyrical melody flows through our memories as if a spirit who walks among us. Written in the Key of E minor and 3/4 Time. Grove is a musical description of heart ache, loss, but also hope.
Caprock Canyon gives you a glimpse of the wide open spaces of West Texas: rugged and wild, still to this day. Majestic in nature, the music will make you feel like you are there. This piece begins with the sounds of a Red Tailed hawk as the sound bounces off the Canyon walls. Be sure to allow lots of space between phrases to listen for the echos. Written in F Major and 4/4 Time. The syncopated rhythms in the Secondo in m. 13, moves us along, as if we are now flying high in the sky with the Hawk- soaring above it all. Both parts enjoy the melody. Several important Piano techniques presented are melodic phrasing & balance, syncopation, and tempo changes. This has been a student favorite!
