Performance Technical Guide of Makrokosmos Volume Ii by George Crumb: An Extension of the Piano

George Crumb often writes his music in a radical way for the piano, constantly asking the performer to play on the inside of the piano, a technique in which he is pretty much a pioneer. This book talks about the exploitation of a new and hitherto unexplored range of color that can be accessed with the hands and fingers inside the piano or by inserting sound-altering devices into the strings. However, he writes in textures and styles that clearly relate to Debussy and Chopin, particularly in his use of the sustaining pedal, and in the way, he sets up a layer of sustained sound through the pedal into which he then places his melodic and rhythmic ideas. He often mentions his indebtedness to these great masters of the past in his music program notes. He even sometimes quotes directly the music of Chopin or Beethoven within his own compositions. In that regard, Crumb sees his music in an evolutionary way. In George Crumbs piano music Makrokosmos Volume II, the pianist has the added issues of often having to play while standing, including playing on the keys and inside the piano while standing. These, and many other physical difficulties abound in this music, are dealt with throughout this technical guidebook.