Karlheinz Essl

Portrait

on common ground

for cello and piano
2020

Dedicated to Emanuele Torquati and Francesco Dillon



Basics | Video| Score | Performances


About

Throughout the piece, a 'drone' based on C is held in the middle pedal of the piano. This pitch and its spectral components create a shimmering background that represents the 'common ground' on which the harmonic structure of the piece is based. At the very beginning, the pianist silently presses the 5 octaves of this note (also with the nose) and holds it with the middle pedal until the end of the performance.

This short composition lives from the interaction between cello and piano - a kind of discourse that encompasses a wide variety of expressions and reactions. Apart from the obvious dialogue aspect, both players, with their individual instruments, are part of an unusual "hyper-instrument" that they shape and modify together.


Video

World premiere of on common ground, performed by Francesco Dillon and Emanuele Torquati
Istituto Italiano di Cultura Vienna, 29 June 2021
Filmed by Simon Essl


Score

Here are some pages from the score of on common ground.
The full score can be downloaded for free. Please note that the music is protected by copyright.


on common ground - score: p.1
on common ground - score: p.3
on common ground - score: p.6

© 2020 by Karlheinz Essl



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Updated: 26 Apr 2023

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