zoom_in Click to enlarge

Henry Cowell

▲ ▼

description Henry Cowell Overview

Henry Cowell (1897-1965) was an American composer, pianist, and music theorist associated with experimental modernism. He developed the string piano technique, in which a performer plucks, strums, or touches the strings inside the instrument, and he used tone clusters made by sounding adjacent notes together. These methods expanded the range of sounds available from the piano and challenged conventional ideas about rhythm and musical texture.

help Henry Cowell FAQ

Who was Henry Cowell?

Henry Cowell was an American composer, pianist, and music theorist who lived from 1897 to 1965. He was associated with experimental modernism.

What is Henry Cowell's string piano technique?

String piano involves reaching inside the instrument to pluck, strum, or touch its strings. Cowell developed and used the technique as part of his experimental approach to piano sound.

What are tone clusters in Henry Cowell's music?

Tone clusters are groups of adjacent notes sounded together, often by using the hand or forearm across the keyboard. Cowell used them as part of his modernist exploration of new piano sonorities.

What kinds of music did Henry Cowell write?

Cowell wrote orchestral, chamber, vocal, and other experimental works. His output also included music for piano and reflected his work as a composer, performer, and theorist.