Desenclos "Prélude, Cadence et Final"

I've been digging out some of my old Paris Conservatory repertoire this Summer, simply to give me a change of pace from all the Bach and new music that I usually play, and it's been rather like putting on a familiar pair of jeans that have been well-worn. I got out the Martin Ballade (more about that a bit later), the Tomasi Concerto and this Desenclos piece, which was a Paris Conservatory exam piece. As all of these exam pieces are, it's fairly short (about seven minutes long) and does pretty much what you'd expect it to do. Of course, if you've ever tried to tackle this piece, it's sort of a strange experience the first time around, since the harmonic vocabulary uses lots of octatonic materials (it's a very good idea to first have a go at the Guy Lacour modeal études, as this seems to make other pieces that use these constructions easier to play).

The first major problem is always getting the first low "b" to sound. If this note doesn't sound, there's no point in even going any further. Since the introduction to this work is clearly inspired by Bach keyboard writing, you have to make that note equalize with the other notes in the phrase. If you get that note to speak, don't move because the next problem is to exactly the same thing with the phrase in the next measure. It's very much of a "less is more" kind of experience, in that no interpretation is either required or wished for. You play the notes and follow the phrases.

I've always enjoyed the main theme which follows, which seems to be sort of a juxtaposition of the principals of Gregorian chant with a short of "blue-note"-type harmonization. That part basically plays itself...but then you come to the next problem which is: what to do with the cadenza??

The cadenza is where it is because of the purpose of the piece, which is provide an examination piece that shows off both technical and musical aspects of playing and you have to use it as a transition from the slower introduction to the maelstrom of notes which follows (oh yes, you also need a very solid pianist to pull this one off!)...More later, because I'm...off to practice!