Gwyneth Walker

Rhythms from the North Country

for Piano (1987)

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Read a review of the CD The Sun Is Love, vocal music by Gwyneth Walker, NATS: Journal of Singing.
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Read a letter to Gwyneth Walker by Kevin Hahn, regarding the interpretation of this work.

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Download a PDF file of the score of this composition. This file of excerpted sample pages is for perusal only and is not printable.


Rhythms from the North Country for solo piano is structured by a clear and icily-stark harmonic framework. Against this simple background, various performance possibilities are explored -- strumming of strings, tapping of the lid and a finger tremolo on the side of the piano. The piece is athletic, unusual, and playful as it uses the piano lid, sides, and strings as percussion instruments of their own. The "north country" referred to in the title is the state of Vermont, the composer's home for the past many years.

Notes by the composer and Carson Cooman