Easy or hard? Manuel Ponce's charming Mazurka No. 20 (pianist Duane Hulbert)

It's harder than it sounds. It's easier than it looks. It's Manuel Ponce's Mazurka No. 20!
Notes from pianist Dr. Duane Hulbert:
"Have you NEVER HEARD OF Ponce? You're in for a treat. This fabulous composer is best known for Estrelitta (listen to my friend Julio Elizalde accompany violinist Ray Chen    • Ray Chen plays Estrellita - My little Star  ).
I was unaware that Ponce composed so many pieces for the piano until another friend, the pianist Ricardo de la Torre, gave me a book of Ponce's piano music. What gems!

Manuel Ponce (1882--1948) was one of the foremost Mexican composers from the early 20th century. Much of his music is comprised of works for guitar, however, his piano works continue to be among the most charming, yet unknown works in the piano repertoire. Ponce's set of twenty-five Mazurkas are reminiscent of Frederic Chopin's mazurkas

I have chosen the Mazurka No. 20 in A minor as as perfect example of this style. Listen for dark melodic brooding lines in the tenor voices, accompanied by shimmering sixteenth triplets throughout. (0:07)
A "B" section appears midway through the work (1:17) marked "più vivo" (more lively) , where descending lines form a beautiful secondary theme in F major.

After a brief recapitulation of the opening theme, a new theme in A major follows (2:32) with the marking espressivo. It's fascinating how many of the melodies follow a descending pattern of notes, almost as if the music "showers" down to the listeners.

The work ends with a final recapitulation of the brooding A minor opening theme (3:48). The music dies away (4:19); Ponce marked it, "soavissimo: (very sweet, very gentle, very delicate).

I hope you enjoy Manuel Ponce's Mazurka No. 20."

Dr. Hulbert received his BA and MM from The Juilliard School of Music and his DMA from The Manhattan School of Music. Hulbert received the Gold Medal at the 1980 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and also won prizes in the 1981 Leeds Competition and 1985 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. He has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the United States and has given recitals at Merkin Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In 2002, his recording of the piano works of Alexander Glazunov was nominated for a Grammy Award. Dr. Hulbert taught at the university level for over thirty years.

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