Textures & Harmony
Lesson time: (2min 17sec)
Annabel Thwaite shows how to bring out the harmony and texture in 'Danny Boy' - using the pedal to let the bass and overtones resonate, and adding an inner tenor line.
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This lesson is part of the course Learn Classical Favourites on Piano
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Lesson transcript:
Exploring Piano Textures and Harmony
Looking at the textures here, we have the idea that the piano can resonate more harmony as you develop the bass line.
For example:
- At the beginning, we have these three chords and then this bass line, which is still within that harmony of B flat major.
- You can only achieve that by using the pedal.
When you put the pedal down:
- The dampers come off.
- The strings are resonating, allowing all these overtones to be produced.
- This kind of thickness is developing even more.
Introducing New Elements
Another example is around Bar 17, when we want to maybe introduce a tenor line.
Do you see? We can have:
- A different timbre
- A bell over the top
We also want to look at emotive harmony. Every harmony could perhaps have an emotion behind it.
The one that strikes or comes right out at me is in Bar 29.
"Oh, Danny Boy."
It's almost the last time the singer is going to sing that, and there's the most exquisite harmony. Very odd, but in the context of the piece, it takes us by surprise.
Analyzing Uncertainty in Harmony
Look at In Sunshine from Bar 27. Here it is:
- There's that kind of uncertainty.
- It's a jazz harmony, but there's that uncertain feeling.
- Where's it going?
And then it resolves, but it doesn't resolve.
And then it resolves again, and we have our harmony and texture.
So, what we're doing all the time is listening to the interesting harmony and creating all these nuances within the pedal.
About the instructor
Recognised as one of Britain's most versatile and charismatic pianists, Annabel Thwaite enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, educator and examiner, and has won all the major accompanying prizes, including the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier, Gold Medal, and Richard Tauber Piano Prizes. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Roberto Alagna, Bryn Terfel, David Kempster and "Only Men Aloud!" Annabel has recorded for Universal records with the "Scottish Tenor", whose album was nominated for a Classical Brit Award and is regularly played on Classic FM. Twice the accompanist for the Festival of Welsh Male choirs, her performances at the Royal Albert Hall were recorded by Sain and have been aired on S4C. She is also a film session pianist, having recorded at Abbey Road the music for the film "Awake", the BBC Jane Austen series "Emma", "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister" and, most recently, she has appeared on both Blue Peter and "The Rob Brydon Show". "...no doubt helped by the obviously brilliant piano accompaniments from Annabel Thwaite...highly enjoyable." In her MusicGurus courses - Learn Christmas Classics on Piano, Learn Classical Favourites on Piano, and Growing Chamber Groups and Small Ensembles - Annabel shares the musicianship behind that versatile career. You will learn how to bring well-loved Christmas and classical pieces to life at the piano, develop your touch and phrasing, and, drawing on her award-winning experience as an accompanist, discover how to listen, lead and play together when making music with other musicians in chamber groups and small ensembles. read more