Monday, December 24, 2018

Others, circa 1800-1850

Carl Czerny, 100 Progressive Recreations (alternate titles: Erster Clavier-Unterricht in 100 Unterholungen; 100 Recréations) is unusual for Czerny in that it was not assigned an opus number and the date of first publication is uncertain (at least, I can't find one easily). Also, somewhat unusually, the majority of the 100 pieces are simplified versions of familiar melodies or excerpts from larger compositions, as with Bellini's Norma in this case. This example is interesting for the suspension figure that begins with the dramatically emphasized and positioned ^6. The whole figure fits my category 1.3 best, even though the ninth is not attacked again on the strong beat.


Auber, Die Muette de Portici, n24 "Honneur" theme. Also in category 1.3 (arrow, second system third bar), but in 1.2 (arrow, second system sixth bar), the difference being that the latter is sounded on a weak beat.



Donizetti in Czerny, 100 Recreations. Category 1.3 in bar 7 (D6 on the strong beat resolves to C6 within the dominant harmony). In bars 3-4, however, I am wary of the 32nd note C6. If that is a resolution, then category 1.3 holds, but I prefer 2.1, an indirect resolution of ^6 to ^5 over the tonic chord, and therefore bar 3 is a proper dominant ninth chord.


Donizetti, Princess Helena's Polka, as arranged by Allen Dodworth (New York, 1847). The modern notation is by Robert A. Hudson. A clear V9 harmony with the uncommon rising resolution.


Rossini from La Cenerentola, in Czerny 100 Recreations. A simple emphasized upper neighbor/appoggiatura, immediately resolved within the V chord.


William Schubert, arranger, Three Favorite Polkas (Philadelphia, 1845), n1. Indirect resolution of the ninth to the fifth of the tonic chord, category 2.1.


Allen Dodworth, Very Best Polka (New York, 1850). The modern notation is by Robert A. Hudson. As above, indirect resolution (category 2.1). In bars 6-8, ^5 is easily imagined given the earlier figure in bars 2-4.


Henri Appy, Elizabeth Polka. Published in St. Louis in 1853. Direct (or very quick indirect) resolution (boxed). An ascending cadence gesture in bars 7-8.



W. P. Badger, Pascagoula Melodies n1: Union Polka (Boston, 1853). Direct resolution in the boxes.


Ferdinand Beyer, Trois Polkas, op 51, n1: Camellia Polka (Mainz, 1846?).