“Echoes” by Kathryn Louderback (An Original Composition)

Echoes was created out of an improvisation.

I remember sitting at the piano, letting my fingers dance. Sounds old and new filled my ears as I shut my eyes and let the music wander as it chose. A lush chord here juxtaposed with a sharp rhythm there, painting waves and light gliding across an eager, empty canvas.

My heart sang.

Luckily I had had the foresight to connect my computer – with my notation software open – to my piano, so I got a real-time recording of the whole improvisation.

But this improv session did not generate a piece. I spent some time trying to rework the whole improv into a piano solo, and – quite frankly – I got bored. The sounds are nice, but as a whole piece it’s pretty repetitive, and there’s not much thematic development.

That’s when I realized that the improvisation did not create the piece. It did, however, create the basis for the piece. I developed the first few seconds of the improvisation into the main theme for the final piece. Check out the rising arpeggio at the very beginning of Echoes. This theme is explored throughout the work.

Also, listen to the thematic idea that starts at 2:43. This theme winds its way up through the piece until the resolution at 4:00 (listen specifically starting at 3:38 for the overlap).

If you read my last blog, you might recognize the piano arpeggio ostinato in the bass. Yes, that was directly inspired by that film’s score. 🙂

The title stems from the beginning and ending of Echoes. I had the harmonic idea of the two changing chords (for those of you wondering, it’s A minor to E-flat Major) stuck in my head, and if you listen closely you can hear echoes of those chords throughout the piece. And many melodic ideas repeat slightly varied as the piece progresses, which supports the “echo”.

Echoes is a piece of exploration. It combines characteristics of modernism (the exploration of sound) with Romanticism (the exploration of emotion through melody and harmony), and I hope it brings you on a journey with me.

*If you would like to download the sheet music, click here.

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I'm a pianist, composer, writer, photographer, and overall classical-music-lover who is always open to new sounds.

30 thoughts on ““Echoes” by Kathryn Louderback (An Original Composition)

  1. The music is beautiful. I love how you described your composition process and show the beginning inspiration piece and how it led to the one you finished with. I don’t know much about music technically (I’m one of those who just knows what she likes) but your writing was easy for me to follow — thank you for the quick definition of Modernism and Romanticism.

  2. Pingback: Echoes – W+W
  3. Oh WOW! I am so glad I came over to check out your blog and posts! This is so cool! As a fellow pianist, I am happy to know this kind of blogging is possible! I’m going to follow you just because this is so very different than any other blog I’ve ever come across.

    As for this particular piece of music, I definitely enjoyed your second movement (the one with all the arpeggios), and I’m glad you came back–“echoed”–the first movement’s style at the end as it helped the first to make sense. Nicely done!

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