Piano studies

2006 & 2011

Philip Venables

Studies 13 (and Study 4 that was subsequently withdrawn) were written for and dedicated
to Daniel Browell, for a performance at the 2007 Park Lane Group Series, 8th January 2007,
at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London.
Studies 4 & 5 were written for Alissa Firsova for the Presteigne Festival Composer
Competition 2011. They were given their public premiere by Daniel Browell at the
Rodewald Concert Hall, Manchester, on 22nd August 2012.

www.uymp.co.uk
University of York Music Press Ltd.
Tel: +44 1904 432 434 / E-mail: info@uymp.co.uk
Dept. of Music, University of York, York YO10 5DD, U.K.

www.philipvenables.com
ISMN M-57036-078-9

Piano studies
Philip Venables
Duration c.17 minutes

2006
I.
II.
III.

For chords: weight, legato and stretching

For staccato chords
For tremolo

These studies took Debussys tudes as their starting point. Debussys inclination to make
piano studies more than just exercises but musically intelligent and expressive pieces
influenced me greatly during the composition of these. However, formally, the studies take
a simpler, more modernist approach than Debussy did. All the studies are descriptively
named in the same vein as Debussys tudes.
2011
IV.
V.

Scherzo (for tremolando)

Rondo (for use of pedals)

Unlike the earlier studies, these two studies steer away from technical focal points,
however, towards more of a compositional study. Both movements experiment with
classical forms, bringing them far away from their original modes of expressions
sometimes even subverting them but maintaining some kind of essence of what was
there. Out of this I have fashioned what I would consider to be a reflection of the classical
form: miniature movements with simple and transparent textures, few ideas and a certain
neatness.

PV

Performance notes
1.

These studies can be performed in any order deemed musically sound by the
performer. This order is only suggested.

2.

If the stretching is not possible, the chords must be spread as quickly and discreetly
as possible.

For chords: weight, legato and stretching

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p cantabile, tranquillo e legato sempre

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use middle pedal to sustain outer lines (all the notes of the outer lines can be depressed before beginning).
* The intention is to play the outer lines with the little/outer fingers and the inner tremoli with the
thumbs/inner fingers, in order that the outer lines can be sustained without pedal.

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Rondo: for use of pedals

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Lento: peaceful, with poise q = 64

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