Ben Tibbetts Studio: Piano Performances and Original Music

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Prelude in C minor

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Prelude in C minor is a standalone piece for solo piano. It was written and recorded in 2008 at the University of New Hampshire.

For me, this was a rare example of composition without reference to a piano or computer. In fact, I didn't even really hum through it when I was writing. I composed straight onto manuscript paper and worked out the sound in my head.

This was the first piece I tried that with that felt successful. Before the Prelude in C minor, I sort of did that with writing lead sheets on the bus to school. Without access to an instrument, I had to imagine how they would sound. Generally speaking, those didn't work out, but I think this one came out well. I still don't tend to write this way, but it was satisfying to feel like I could if I wanted to.

That process influenced the composition, I think. Perhaps it made me conceive of each voice more intuitively, from the gut without much prior analysis. It was also written very slowly, at least compared to working on a computer.

There is something nice about writing by hand. When I do it, I feel more emotionally attached. The sheet music feels more like a piece of art in and of itself. I don't feel that way about digital notation.

Sheet music for this piece is available to subscribers.

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