Playing Together

For the last Tuesday class, I wrote Playing Together: Theme and Variations for Two Pianos. Although it was my first time to compose theme and variations so that the piece was not mature, I conceived the term variation as a technique as well as a structure. The melody of the theme was quite simple in relation to the note "A." I also intended to contrast black keys and white keys, one of the representatives of the piano. The piece consciously had "two" variations, whose characters were contrast to each other.

One of the unsatisfied things was that the first audience of the piece, including me, could not listen to perfect sounds of the complete form because our classroom had only one piano. However, overall, it was satisfied and very precious experience for me. I recognized the importance of balance between the theme and variations. Unlike other forms, variations should be considered as abstract of the theme. The variations should be familiar with the theme, but should alter rhythm, tempo, dynamics, or context in order to create new modes of music.

In addition, by the experience, I thought myself as a musician, not only pianist. The composition of the theme and variations helped me develop in relation to the thinking of other composers and performers. While composing the particular piece, I depended on established models and criteria of compositional practice, and as a result, I could decide to adjust, redevelop, and transcend my musical ideas. Furthermore, I was necessarily asked to seriously think about the instrument, piano. In terms of writing the piano piece, I should understand special and unique features of the piano. The appreciation of the instrument also helped me, as a pianist.