Grade 4 List C No.

Witches in the wind

Ernest Harry Adams

Composer
• Ernest Henry (“Harry”) Adams was an American pianist, teacher and composer.
• He was born in Massachusetts in 1886, and died there in 1959.
• Adams composed light piano pieces such as Witches in the wind, and also more serious
works such as Concert impromptu in D flat. He has faded into obscurity since his death.

Title
• The lively character and constant triplets in this piece depict witches soaring through the
air on their broomsticks.

Time and rhythm

• The time signature means four crotchet beats in a bar (simple quadruple time).
• There are triplets (epzz) in almost every bar of this piece. A triplet indicates three notes
(or notes and rests) that are played in the time of two.

Keys
• The main key of this piece is C major. Bars 17-24 are in A minor.

Analysis
• This piece is in ternary (ABA) form with a coda.

Section A (bars 1-16) All in C major. The accidentals in this passage add interest to the
music, but do not change the key.
Section B (bars 17-24) All in A minor. Chromatic scales are used in the right hand in bars
19-20 and 23-24.
Section A (bars 25-32) All in C major. The same as bars 9-16.
Coda (bars 33-35) Remaining in C major.

Signs and terms (Italian)

• Allegretto means moderately fast; scherzando means playfully.
• simile means similarly (referring to the pedalling).
• tenuto (-) means held and slightly emphasised.
• … indicates an acciaccatura (pronounced “atsh-yak-a-TOO-ra”) or crushed note.
• leggiero means lightly; animato means lively and animated.
• poco riten. (ritenuto) means hold back the speed a little.
• a tempo means return to the former speed.
• grottesco means grotesque (unnatural and bizarre).
Moto primo means return to the original tempo.
ß
•
• (sforzando) indicates a strong accent; sff (sforzatissimo) is a very strong accent.
• The pause (fermata) on the final rest means that the mood should be held after the final
note has sounded.
This instruction, printed in lighter type, is a suggestion from the Series 15 editor:
• q = 184 means that the suggested tempo is 184 crotchet beats per minute.

12 Copyright © 2015 by R. A. Hamilton

Prepared for Yong Cheong Lye. Order: 38548