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American Fancy
for 4 hands or two pianos (2000)
American Composers Alliance,
7 minutes
 mp3
American Fancy (2000)
is a haunting, one-movement piece for two pianos based on patriotic
tunes, among which is the U.S. national
anthem. Sometimes the tunes are hidden, sometimes they are combined imitatively
or polytonally, and sometimes they appear with a new harmonization. The
piece reveals ongoing concerns about the course we are charting in the U.S. at
this time, but also
betrays
typical American optimism for the future. The title word “fancy” is
used in the sense of English 16th and 17th century keyboard and instrumental
fantasias, described by Morley as
follows: “The most principal and chiefest kind of music is the Fancy,
that is when a musician taketh a point at his pleasure and wresteth and turneth
it
as
he lists...”
The piece was premiered at the Sixth Festival of Women Composers
at Indiana University in Pennsylvania and at Regis College performed
by pianist Wanda Paik and the composer.
(See score
sample below.)
To order the
score: elizvercoe@yahoo.com
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