The Books
Item
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Score title
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The Books
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Composer
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Gloria Coates
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Program note
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"'The Books' for piano solo is based on a movement of a choral symphony I had written in 1984 with a text by my daughter, Alexandra Coates, who also attended the formation meetings of 'Frau und Musik'. In this work the principle harmonic material is derived from the 'forbidden' parallel fifths. (One is taught to avoid the use of parallel fifths in the study of harmony.) The harmonic structure is very wide for the stretch of the hands, but the chords may be arpeggiated, and with the use of the pedal the tones of the chord can melt together and also resonate in the overtones of the previous chord.
I dedicate this work to the 25th anniversary of Frau und Musik for their successful promotion of women in music, especially in Germany, replacing the traditional male standard in music with the new acceptance of women in the mainstream of musical life... just as the parallel fifths do not have to be avoided, but can be used to form a new harmonic structure in music."
Gloria Coates