two new pieces

[liszmaninopin]

I rented a book from our local library the other day with piano scores.  Two caught my eye-one that I am familiar with: Ives' "The Alcotts;" and one I'd not heard of before, Walter Piston's "Passacaglia."  Has anybody here ever played the Alcotts?  Ever even heard the Passacaglia (which I am completely unfamiliar with)?

[liszmaninopin]

this is the problem with obscure repertoire-it's hard to find info about it, lol

[ted]

The Alcotts is the third movement of the Concord Sonata. It's based on a Beethoven phrase with which Ives was often preoccupied - obsessed might be a better word. Ives had a poultice of philosophical associations with his music - transcendentalism and other notions - but you don't need this programme to enjoy his music. This one is not too hard and I like it very much as a stand alone piece. Ives always used a liberal sprinkling of chord types and positions and this little piece has some very nice moments. Well worth learning.