Bicycle - A Duet for Piano and Bicycle

 

 

(See the score to this composition here.)

The song "Daisy Bell" was composed British composer Harry Dacre in 1892. It is famously the first song that was ever sung by a computer! In 1961 an IBM 7094 became the first singing computer when it performed "Daisy Bell". In Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film, 2001:A Space Odyssey, The rogue HAL 9000 computer sings "Daisy Bell" as "Dave" works feverishly to disconnect HAL's circuits.

Of course, everyone is familiar with the piano. The piano is a common instrument in musical styles from classical to jazz. The musical bicycle is not as common. In fact, I found it necessary to design the bicycle for this project from scratch. My musical bicycle has most of the features of standard bicycles but one uncommon feature is that it has three handlebars arranged in tiers much like the keyboards of a large pipe organ. 

Sound generating devices are mounted on each tier of the handlebar set. The sound generating devices include chromatically tuned bulb-horns of the sort often used as a warning device on a bicycle. Another handlebar mounts chromatically tuned bicycle bells. Several percussion devices are mounted here and there, and of course Bicycle brand playing cards are attached so that the wheel spokes create the nostalgic "motor" sound as the drive wheel turns. You can hear the bicycle wheel spinning against the cards in many spots throughout this performance of "Bicycle"! Of course this bicycle is a virtual one! 

 "Bicycle" currently consists an Introduction, Theme, and four variations. In the rather extended introduction the piano and bicycle interact. The "introduction" is actually longer than the theme! 

Following the introduction, the theme is a literal quotation of "Daisy Bell" in which the piano presents the melody and outlines the harmony in a straight-forward manner. The bicycle accompanies the piano lead as musically as possible for a bicycle. A simple variation follows the theme with the bicycle tacit until the very end.

While I was working on the 2nd variation I experienced a bit of the same curiosity and morbid pleasure the Dr. Frankenstein must have felt as he stitched together his creation. In my mind's eye, I kept seeing Marty Feldman reaching for the jar containing "Abby Normal's" brain!

The 3rd variation takes the form of a "Jig", a fast folk dance characterized by leaping motions. The initial melody is presented "upside-down" for two bars before it rights itself in the piano'l left hand. The middle section is more freely presented in a dialogue between the right hand and left hand of the piano part. The "bicycle" instruments are present but in a somewhat more subdued role. 

Variation 4 (Beethoven's Bicycle) transforms the familiar melody into C# minor and arranges a la the first movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata"!

I may compose one or two more variations before I consider this piece to be finished. Check back from time to time!