Larry Sitsky’s Century: A response to selected twentieth-century notation, associated piano techniques, and performance possibility

In 2016, the Australian composer, virtuoso pianist, and pedagogue Larry Sitsky (b. 1934) completed a three-volume set of 155 graded pieces for pianists entitled Century. The work focuses on certain twentieth-century innovations with regard to notation and associated piano technique(s)—distinctive issues not commonly explored pedagogically. This study addresses specific notational and associated technical challenges in selected pieces from Century. The study also provides performative and pedagogical suggestions derived both from Sitsky himself and from the author. The following notational categories are explored: clusters, feathered notation, and non-pitched notation. This research provides pianists with tools that may enable an understanding of specific twentieth-century notation and of associated pianistic techniques. Furthermore, the study establishes Century as a valuable, although hitherto neglected, pedagogical resource.

Grantor dc:publisher

Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Th'ng, Hannah

• Piano
• teaching
• Larry Sitsky
• pedagogical
• Century
• Australian piano music
• non-tonal
• clusters
• Arts and Humanities
• Theatre and Performance Studies

Identifier

info:doi/10.25958/5m9q-d324

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ro.ecu.edu.au:theses-3664