Cinnamonbear - Tansman La Grande et la Petite Ourses: Message Board

Cinnamonbear's Comments

This is from the fourth and final book in a series of progressive studies, "les Jeunes au Piano," by Alexandre Tansman. The book is titled, "Au Telescope." The piece is "La Grande et la Petite Ourses," or, "The Big and the Little Dipper." It is the last in the book. A parenthetical reference after the title reads, "fugue." It is marked "Allegro moderato," and evokes shimmering starlight and the two grand constellations connected in a deep and wide sky. The book was printed in 1951, but an inscription after the last piece indicates the works were finished in "Paris 1939."

The piano is a 1940 Lester spinet, tuned to the Equal Beating Victorian Temperament III at A443. So, in a way, you could say this piece is played on a period instrument!

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Name	Date	Comment
David Baptista	2011-09-06 08:04:02	I love how the fugue is so baroque in sound and structure, but yet the harmony slowly shows us the slightly different reality. Very nicely articulated! I love each of the voices (but especially the bass one :P)
Carey	2011-08-30 15:58:39	So this was composed around the time the Mighty Lester was born....... You play this SO WELL .......beautiful !!!!
Cinnamonbear	2011-08-28 19:59:20	Ooo! wr! I think you are right!!! I got the sense that the first notes were individual stars, but did not see the "constellation" until you pointed it out for me! The first phrase is certainly the big dipper--7 stars, 7 notes. The last two notes of that phrase are the outside of the dipper that point to the the little dipper. The second phrase, then, is certainly the little dipper--7 stars, 7 notes. You have officially blown my mind, wr! Ha-ha!!! Thanks for the kind comments, everyone! Thanks for listening!
wr	2011-08-28 03:05:12	Cool piece, and well-played. The opening notes seem to outline part of the shape of the Big Dipper - the first two notes are the two "inside" stars of the dipper and the last three are the handle.
kck	2011-08-22 10:08:01	Also love the climax - what an exciting piece!
Inlanding	2011-08-21 13:23:34	Very interesting work. Better than that, superb playing of it. Such a treat!
Julian (SlatterFan)	2011-08-20 15:31:41	I like how it sounds just like Bach at first, then you gradually realize that it must be someone else! Wonderful climax. Beautifully played.