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The Breughel Boys

Score for harpsichord I & II
PEL4012-Harpsichord

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Instrumentation / Accompaniment
Page count
8

A DUET FOR TWO HARPSICHORDS

This delightful harpsichord composition is from Paul Halley's Triptych CD.  Combining two themes that evoke a mental image of 16th century country dancing, akin to a Breughel painting, the joyful, carefree mood is further enhanced when the themes combine in a broad palette of playfulness.

* This piece was originally written for two harpsichords. It could be played with any combination of harmony instruments. It has, on occasion, been performed with harpsichord and acoustic guitar.

Included on the Pelagosmusic recording "Triptych", featuring keyboard works of Paul Halley (PEL1003)

    Video
    'The Breughel Boys', comp. Halley, performed by Paul Halley
    Notes

    COMPOSER'S NOTES
    Paul Halley
    'I was adamant that there be a short solo work for harpsichord included on my album, 'Triptych'. This is a solo insofar as it involves only one instrument and one player, but it does require four hands. Barring any freaks of nature, this could only be accomplished for my solo CD in a recording environment where overdubbing is possible. A live concert performance of this work will, of course, require two players. 

    The first theme that I play on the "buff' stop came along pretty quickly. The second theme took a surprising amount of time because I was looking for a melody that had nothing to do with the first theme but nonetheless would "fit" when played with it. The result is, I believe, the first humorous piece that I have written to date and I can't help but think of those boisterous, dancing peasant in many of Pieter Breughel's paintings.'


    Included on the Pelagosmusic recording "Triptych", featuring keyboard works of Paul Halley (PEL1003)

    Catalogue number
    PEL4012
    Duration
    02'00"
    Difficulty
    Uses / Season / Theme