Extending the Piano

Beyond the Black and White

What is Extended Piano?

Extended piano is any technique used tocreate a different sound or timbre withthe piano using a method besidestraditional playing on the keys.

Composers

Erik Satie, Piege deMeduse (1914)

John Cage, Sonatasand Interludes(1960), Amores(1943)

Arvo Part, TabulaRasa (1977)

Henry Cowell, TheBanshee, Aeolian Harp,The Fairy Answer

George Crumb, LittleSuite for Christmas(1980), MakrokosmosVolume II (1973),Celestial Mechanics(1979)

Types of Extended Piano

Prepared PianoAmplified PianoPlucking/Strumming the stringsHarmonicsSympathetic vibration

Prepared Piano

Placing objects inside the piano tocreate a different timbre, throughtheir rattling or vibrating.

Composers to note: John Cage, HenryCowell, Erik Satie

Example: Sonatas and Interludes - JohnCage

Cage - Sonatas and Interludes

A listing of all theneeded items toplace in the pianoand where to placethem, located atthe front of thebook

Page 1, Sonata I of Sonatasand Interludes - Cage

Besides the differentlook of the page, thenotation is the same.The piano is played onthe keys, very muchlike normally, but withthe objects inside thepiano, it sounds verydifferent.

Amplified Piano

Using microphones to amplify thesound of the piano, thus changing itsome through microphone placementand increasing or decreasing the levelof amplification

Example: Makrokosmos Volume II -George Crumb

Crumb - Makrokosmos II

The top portion ofthis page of theprogram notes isdevoted to talkingabout microphoneplacement for aamplified piano

Plucking/Strumming Strings

Plucking the strings inside the pianoand sweeping the strings to create asound more like a stringed instrumentplayed pizzicato

Examples: Aeolian Harp - HenryCowell, A Little Suite for Christmas,A.D. 1979: VI, Canticle of the HolyNight - George Crumb

Crumb - A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979 VI. Canticle of the Holy Night

Harmonics

Harmonics involve touching certainplaces on the strings to produce a pitchother than the one of the string beingtouched

Example: A Little Suite for Christmas,A.D. 1979: II, Berceuse for the InfantJesu - George Crumb

Crumb - A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979 II.

SympatheticVibration/Sostenuto Pedal

Sympathetic vibration is playing one set ofpitches while keeping the dampers of otherstrings up thus allowing these strings tovibrate without being played, this iscommonly achieved through use of thesostenuto pedal

Example: A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D.1979: V, Nativity Dance - George Crumb

Crumb - A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979 V. Nativity Dance

Silent Depression

Silent depression of the keys followed bystriking other keys and letting them go,while still hold the silently depressed keys isa sub category of sympathetic vibration.The strings of the silently depressed keysresonate from sympathetic vibration causedby the struck keys

Example: Processional, George Crumb

Crumb - Processional

Tone Clusters

This form of linenotation is used toindicate toneclusters, where allof the keys betweeneach note on eitherend of the line areto be played.