Alberto Ginastera ： 12 American Preludes Pentatonic Minor Op.12-5

No. 5 from Ginastera’s 12 American Preludes. Based on a pentatonic scale, it draws tension and momentum from a deliberately limited range of notes. Within this brief prelude, the roles of melody and accompaniment, register, dynamics, and the placement of accents shift, creating a wealth of expression despite its concise writing. One of its highlights is the way the distinctive contours of the pentatonic scale are sharpened by rhythm, as well as the changing density of the sonority. In performance, keep the flow of the beat while giving each attack clarity, and carefully shape the contrast between harder-edged and more restrained sonorities to convey the work’s concentrated character. It is also important to remain aware of the direction of each short phrase.