''Nanosonatas'' (2006–2010) are piano compositions by
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
composer
Frederic Rzewski
Frederic Anthony Rzewski ( ; April 13, 1938 – June 26, 2021) was an American composer and pianist, considered to be one of the most important American composer-pianists of his time. His major compositions, which often incorporate social an ...
.
History
In the summer of 2006, Rzewski’s friend
Hideyuki Arata, a Japanese
scientist
A scientist is a person who conducts Scientific method, scientific research to advance knowledge in an Branches of science, area of the natural sciences.
In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, ...
specialized in
nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...
, sent him an article of three pages, that he had published in
Applied Physics Letters. The scientist happened to be an amateur pianist, so in return Rzewski decided to dedicate “Nanosonata” to him. Like the article, this first Nanosonata was written in three pages (about two minutes long) and, as the composer said, was technically somewhat demanding, but would not require the scientist to practice too much. Around the same time, Rzewski also had a commission from
Milton Schlosser in Edmonton, Alberta. The composer liked the first Nanosonata, so he decided to write more - for Schlosser and others - and get them together into books.
Eventually, the first “Nanosonata” became “Nanosonata Book I, No 1”.
Rzewski has composed 56 Nanosonatas, most dedicated to his family and friends, such as
Elliott Carter and
Pete Seeger
Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...
.
Constructs
* Book I（2006）
** Nanosonata No. 1 (To
Hideyuki Arata)
** Nanosonata No. 2~7 (To
Milton Schlosser)
* Book II
** Nanosonata No. 8~14 (To
Igor Levit)
* Book III（2007-2009）
** Nanosonata No. 15~21
* Book IV - Peace Dances (Commissioned by Robert Bielecki)
** Nanosonata No. 22~27 (To Sarah Cahill）
** Nanosonata No. 28 “It can be done!” (November 12. 2008) (To
Elliott Carter and
Pete Seeger
Peter Seeger (May 3, 1919 – January 27, 2014) was an American folk singer and social activist. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, Seeger also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of the Weavers, notably ...
)
* Book V
** Nanosonata No. 29~35
* Book VI
** Nanosonata No. 36 “To a Young Man” (To Noam Rzewski)
** Nanosonata No. 37 “To a Young Woman” (To Noemi)
** Nanosonata No. 38 “To a great Guy” (To Jan)
** Nanosonata No. 39 “To a Runner” (To Alexis)
** Nanosonata No. 40 “To a Dead Infant” (To Nicolas)
** Nanosonata No. 41 “To a Sweet Guy”
** Nanosonata No. 42 “To a Girl” (To Esther Rzewski)
* Book VII
** Nanosonata No. 43~49 (To Annette Morreau)
* Book VIII
** Nanosonata No. 50~56 (August 22. 2010) (Commande du Festival d’Automne a Paris 2010)
* Arrangements
** Nanosonata No. 12 arranged for violin and piano, 2008
References
External links
Zen-On Music Company Ltdpublishes the score to ''The People United Will Never Be Defeated''.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nanosonatas
Compositions for solo piano
Compositions by Frederic Rzewski