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tango paseo

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tango paseo

douglas cohen

tango paseo (1988)

tango paseo was composed at the request of pianist Yvar Mikhashoff for inclusion in the Tango Project, his life long collection of tangos for piano by contemporary composers.

The Argentinean tango, a syncopated dance in two, is contrasted here with the improvised feel of a Spanish paseo (early passacaglia). The tango's syncopation is replaced by a triple meter pattern layered over the notated duple meter.

   
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der stein, die leiter und der traum des jakob

der stein, die leiter und der traum des jakob (1992)

The extended piano work der stein, die leiter und der traum des jakob was inspired by the biblical story of Jacob's dream of angels ascending and descending a stairway into heaven. The water color by William Blake of the same scene was also on my mind.

This composition was dedicated to Mauricio Kagel on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

Jacob's Ladder by William Blake, c. 1800.