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improvisational study #1: shingon mandaras (1981​-​1982)

by david toub

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Jordan C Perry
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improvisational study #1: shingon mandaras (1981-1982) for piano 02:05:04
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This was my first minimalist piece, and is a long, continuous work that covers a lot of ground. While it is a bit different from what I write these days, it has all the elements of my later works, including repetitive structures, combining dissonance with consonance, rocking fifths and repeated streams of eighth notes. The title denotes the improvisational nature of the work, and is how I have composed most of my music over several decades, via free improvisation rather than strict methodology (eg, serialism), although improvisational study #1 was a bridge between my earlier serial/12-tone works and my subsequent minimalist ("focused music") compositions.

improvisational study #1 is in two large sections without pause. The reference "shingon mandaras" is a term from Japanese art (I was taking a college course in it at the time) and I divided the work into two sections: kongokai (the diamond world in Shingón Buddhism) and taizokai (the womb world). Mandaras (also known as mandalas) are "cosmic diagrams" that have repetitive graphic elements that are often subtle variations on human-like forms or geometric shapes. As this was my first piece with repetitive rhythmic and tonal elements, I thought it was apropos.

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released July 10, 2023

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david toub Wyncote, Pennsylvania

I'm a Philadelphia-area composer who writes minimalist music, with a few works ranging from 2 hours to more than 4 hours. Several of my works have been commercially recorded, most recently by the Belgian pianist Stephane Ginsburgh for the World Edition label, and another album is forthcoming. Performances have taken place in several countries, including the US, France, Belgium, Ukraine and Japan. ... more

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