Julien-François Zbinden

Gam(mineries op. 110

The composer wrote this work with a fundamentally pedagogical character for young pianists. Beginning with each of the 7 notes of the scale, with 7 female first names, his intention was: - to give both hands an equally important role; - to familiarize young pianists with two-part counterpoint; - to characterize each piece systematically with one of the 7 intervals; - to accustom the ear to certain dissonances that naturally arise from counterpoint; - to free students from the strict tonal system and, thanks to chromatism, to lead them into a richer world of sound. So that this work can be played in whole or in part and regardless of the level of the performers, no tempo, nuance or phrasing indications are given. It is up to the teacher to choose a tempo adapted to the student's abilities. As far as nuances and phrasing are concerned, the pupil can either develop his own artistic imagination or accept that of his teacher. Julien-François Zbinden, Lausanne, Valombré, May 18, 2012.