Crunch (2021)

for Piano Four-Hands

Duration: 11’

Written for Kiazma Piano Duo and first premiered 7 December 2021, Melbourne Recital Centre, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, VIC, 6:30pm

Program Note

Crunch is a highly rhythmic work for piano four-hands which draws inspiration from honky-tonk, blues, punk, and grunge music.  In this context, the word ‘crunch’ refers to dissonance and rhythmic punch, which are explored on the piano in a variety of settings.  Crunch can refer to notes which are close together, creating perceived or actual dissonance, or to the attack of a chord. I also see it as a nod to the percussiveness and physicality of the piano, particularly in this four-hands setting. 

As a percussionist, I began writing the work using an electric drum kit, with different pitches assigned to corresponding drum pads. I see many parallels between piano and drum kit, particularly the instinctual way that hands and limbs talk to each other to create new combinations of patterns.  There are many recurring rhythms that appear across the piece which are reimagined punk rock drumbeats – sometimes this is obvious and other times this is disguised.

The work appears in five movements and each experiments with a different thread or imagining of ‘crunch’. The first movement sets up spiky honky-tonk-inspired patterns interrupted by punk rhythmic interludes, while the second sees the bass take up more of a solo role before collapsing into a duo duel. The third movement embraces extremes of register as a starting point and delves deeper into the duelling relationship between the duo. The insistent high register in the second half fuels a piano colour reminiscent of punk twang guitars. In the fourth, the tempo is pulled back to evoke a slow grunge feel. There is a sense of foreboding and a bluesy drawl here that I associate with mid 90s grunge bands, but perhaps with a bit more humour. And finally, the fifth movement sees the tempo snap back and embrace a jubilant, celebratory ending, underpinned by crunch chords.

Full Review from Classic Melbourne

“Pianistic fireworks were taken to a new level with the world premiere of Crunch by Holly Harrison, an emerging composer with an international reputation…It was inventive, witty and invested with thrilling rhythmic dynamism and momentum. And Go and Kawabata were in their perfectly synchronized virtuosic element.

For any member of the audience unfamiliar with Harrison’s work, this concert was something of a revelation. There is no doubt that we will be hearing much more from her.”

Performances

26 September 2024, Kiazma Duo, Beleura House & Garden, Mornington, VIC,

16 March 2024, Adam Herd and Alex Raineri, Espoo Cultural Centre, Finland – European Premiere

7 December 2021, Kiazma Piano Duo, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, VIC - World Premiere