Avshalomov/Bernstein 7: The Taking of T’ung Kuan 1

Posted on January 28, 2019

Avshalomov wrote The Taking of T’ung Kuan as his master’s thesis at Eastman, age 24.  He described its genesis:

“Here I was then, at the famous Eastman School of Music, one of the schools which father had suggested years back.  He had so many ideas for me that I was bound to take up one or another of them sooner or later.  His... Read More ›

Avshalomov/Bernstein 8: The Taking of T’ung Kuan 2

Posted on January 28, 2019

The Taking of T’ung Kuan is rather simple in construction: A-B-A, roughly, built on a 5-note heroic-fanfare motif announced at the start. That structure, however, contains nonstop “thrilling and effective” drama, as William Bergsma characterized it.  Bergsma continued: 

The five-note theme, in various rhythmic changes, is a constant thing….This brings out Avshalomov’s dramatic side.  So constant a preoccupation with a small thematic morsel leads... Read More ›

Avshalomov/Bernstein 9: The Taking of T’ung Kuan and PYP

Posted on January 28, 2019

The Taking of T’ung Kuan has had an especially significant role in PJS/PYP’s history: it was played for the thirtieth anniversary concert in 1954, for Avshalomov’s 25th anniversary in 1979, and again in 1988 before it would be performed as a part of the regular program in the 1989 European tour.  There is no one better qualified to discuss this aspect than... Read More ›