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Henry Cowell wrote his Piano Concerto (formally Concerto for Piano and Orchestra) in 1928.

Piano Concerto
by Henry Cowell
Photo of Henry Cowell c. 1924
Catalogue	HC 440
Composed	1928
Performed	December 28, 1930
Movements	3
Scoring	Piano concerto

The piece contains many innovative uses of dissonance, cluster chords and extended uses of form.[1]

History

Cowell completed his Piano Concerto in 1928, and premiered the first movement as soloist with the Conductorless Orchestra of New York City in April 1930; he was also the soloist in the first complete performance on December 28, 1930, with the Havana Philharmonic conducted by Pedro Sanjuan. It was only until 1978, long after the composer's death, that its first full performance was done in the United States.[2]

Movements

The concerto is in three movements.

I. Polyharmony

The first movement, Polyharmony, begins with an orchestral tutti.

II. Tone Cluster

III. Counter Rhythm

Instrumentation

Woodwinds

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

2 Clarinets

2 Bassoons

Brass

2 French Horns

2 Trumpets

3 Trombones (third doubling bass trombone)

Tuba

Percussion

Timpani

Unpitched percussion (snare drum, tam-tam, cymbal)

Piano

Strings

16 Violins

8 Violas

8 Cellos

4 Basses

See also

• List of solo piano compositions by Henry Cowell

References

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