A Hudson Cycle (2005)
for Megan & Charles on their wedding
6'
A Hudson Cycle was written as a wedding gift for two friends. This is music of longing and anticipation; losing a beautiful place, approaching a beloved person. The right hand and the left struggle to synchronise, now succeeding, now failing to coincide. The primary rhythmic figure—a restless polyrhythm of two beats in the right hand for every three in the left—should recall the onward rush of the titular river. - Program Notes © 2007 Daniel Johnson
Composer’s Note: One of the worst things that can happen to you when you live in New York is that your friends get married and move away. A Hudson Cycle is, while dedicated specifically to my friend Megan, dedicated also to everybody left behind.
A Hudson Cycle is recorded on Bedroom Community Hvalur 001 (Nico Muhly Speaks Volumes).
Nico Muhly, piano
Nico tracking A Hudson Cycle in Salurinn, Kópavogur
4 Comments
October 15th, 2007 at 12:25 am
softness, yearning, loss, love, left, and taken.
moving.
rain.
and
time.
October 17th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Haunting….I was truly moved by this piece….
Hopefully I can come to see you at the NY Public Library…
Peace,
Dave
November 5th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
This made me cry at work. Beautiful piece Nico.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
just FINALLY got my hands on Speaks Volumes and this track made me sob. uncontrollably. it sounds like a melancholy dialogue between two solitudes - a place, a person. gorgeous.
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