8. In Mid-Ocean.
The Sea Pieces contain some of the finest of MacDowell's suggestive tone poetry. They are chiefly remarkable for their exhibiting the composer's ability to suggest a big scene, or a dramatic or emotional content of far-reaching significance, in an incredibly small space. The power and breadth of some of the pieces is great, while their beauty of tone, displaying the powers of the pianoforte from pppp to fff, is rich and full in its harmonic construction. Although the chords seem to call for orchestral colouring, the effect is always clear and ringing on the pianoforte, whilst the melodies are some of the most noble and dignified of MacDowell's short pieces. As a contrast to the strength of some of the numbers in the set, others are of an exquisite and quiet beauty. Altogether the Sea Pieces make up one of the most superb pianoforte albums in existence, for they are tone poems of unsurpassed beauty, strength of character, nobleness of thought and unerring atmospheric suggestion, touching the high water mark of the composer's inspirations. Each piece is headed by a verse of the composer's own writing, except the first, sixth and seventh, which have single lines only. The poems are included in the published book of his verse.
1. To the Sea (With dignity and breadth). This is headed:—
Ocean, thou mighty monster,
and is a tone poem of remarkable power. It is but thirty-one bars in length and yet it contains more solid material, breadth and perfectly concentrated splendour than many an orchestral tone poem of symphonic proportions. The graduations of tone found in the piece are very fine and could only have been written by one who knew intimately the tonal resources of the modern pianoforte. The chord writing spreads over a wide area of the keyboard, but is remarkable for its clarity. It is indeed extremely difficult to call to mind any other composer who could have painted a tone picture so big in outlook and so complete in itself, in such a small space as MacDowell has done here.
2. From a Wandering Iceberg (Serenely). This piece suggests a towering iceberg gradually approaching, passing by in all its splendour, and going on toward realms of burning light. The tone variety ranges from as soft and smooth as possible to a virile, orchestral fff. The melody of the piece is very beautiful and the whole thing has a curious icy clearness about it that is remarkably realistic. The last seven bars contain music as tender and serene as anything MacDowell ever composed.
3. A.D. 1620 (In unbroken rolling rhythm). This represents the voyage of the pilgrim fathers and is a four-page piece, about double the length of the preceding two. Its character is generally stern, and the rolling of the lumbering ship is vividly suggested. The middle portion consists of a magnificent song marked Sturdily and sternly, but without change of rhythm. The tune is not beautiful, but it is strong and inspiring, and in these respects it is unique. Its power is remarkable even for MacDowell. As the preceding part gradually led up to the song, so in its repetition it gradually dies away, as if the ship had approached and passed by, bearing its load of the men, women and children who were to found the great Republic of the West.
4. Starlight (Tenderly). This is a tender and beautiful little inspiration. It has a melodic and harmonic outlook of the exquisite poise that marks MacDowell's finest work. The light and shade of the piece call for perfect control of tone production on the part of the performer. It is lighter and more finely conceived than the preceding pieces in this set, and is a very perfect tone suggestion of the loveliness of a quiet, starlit sea.
5. Song (In changing moods). This opens softly with a cheery song which has a rough and hearty chorus. A deeper emotion is sounded where the music is marked passionately, and after this comes a passage of wistful tenderness. The song is resumed, together with its chorus, but near the end the tender portion is recalled, and the piece ends with a subdued and thoughtful reminiscence of the air.
6. From the Depths (In languid swaying rhythm).This is one of MacDowell's greater inspirations and is headed:—