Thanksgiving segues out of Swirls, into a slower pulsating low repeated note, F2. The tonal colour of the repeated note changes as the damper pedal movement combines with selectively sustained low Stuart piano sounds of F0 and F1 .The continued engagement and release of the damper pedal in combination with the selective sustain creates a ‘swell’ in the timbre of the note, momentarily opening up its harmonic spectrum. This implementation of tone colour in the Stuart sound is previously noted in the generic vocabulary at sound No.7 ‘Spectrum swell with damper pedal’. The highest note of the 102 key Stuart piano is played loudly at mm.5 in Thanksgiving to invigorate the sustained piano spectra. A chant-like melody (mm.12) offers a stationary reflection in its natural rubato pacing, and suggests time that stands still. This image is of ‘old time,’ thousands of years old. There are many opportunities for ‘stillness’ at Menindee. The feeling of the semi arid flat land that spreads out in all directions is quite a different feel for this coastal dweller. There is a feeling of containment.
An expressive processional follows mm 24., which becomes more stirring with each repeat. An imitation of the yidaki (didgeridoo) sound follows at mm.30, deploying the bright clean sound of the Stuart bass tones. Overall this movement expresses the depth of feeling we were all feeling at Menindee as we watched the young artists at work. Some of the painted images are set to the music on Thanksgiving.mov
Many images were painted on ‘keyboard strips’ of heavy tracing paper. These strips were cut precisely to be placed very close to the piano keys on the inside surface of the keyboard lid or fall board. The OUR MUSIC program image (Fig. 6.8), illustrates a keyboard strip painted by Menindee art student, Robert Ferguson. The strips were painted very colourfully by the younger Menindee artists and I must say it’s a great joy to play at the piano keyboard with all the ‘colour and stories’ right next to your finger tips. The strips also provided a chance for many of the students to contribute to the painting.
| First Steps – The Painted Piano Suite |
| Score: First Steps Appendix 8 p. 455 Audio Recording: First Steps std.rec.wav |
| Audio visual table 6.10 |
The third movement of the Painted Piano Suite is First Steps. This music describes the first careful steps taken early in life into a new experience, the first walk, the first swim, experiences that create a
