Premiered by Elaine Keillor in 1989, Micromotions exhibits Weinzweig’s lifelong interest in jazz and blues. His introduction to the work explains that “the performer will encounter such stylistic rhythmic actions as swing, blues, and ragtime.” The most transparent example of this influence comes in the final extended piece (of 20 pieces), which Weinzweig marks “swing,” “shimmy,” and “rag.”
Micromotions contains twenty pieces, each titled for its metronome marking (1. quarter = 60, 2. quarter = 80, and so on). Weinzweig typically juxtaposes slow and fast tempos (for example, 3. quartet = 60, 4. quartet = 126), but some adjacent pieces display only a subtle shift in tempo. The pianist also plays the tambourine to add to the rhythmic vitality of Micromotions.
Written by Alexa Woloshyn
Micromotions (1988)
1. quarter=60, 2. quarter= 80, 3. quarter=60, 4. quarter=126, 5. quarter=60, 6. quarter =138, 7. quarter =60, 8. quarter=120, 9. quarter=60, 10. quarter=92, 11. quarter =60, 12. quarter=72, 13. quarter =50, 14. quarter=56, 15. quarter =60, 16. quarter=112, 17. Swing quarter=120, 18. quarter=144, 19. quarter=50, 20. quarter=60
Solo Piano
Duration: 34 minutes 40 seconds
First Performance: 8 March 1989, Ottawa; Elaine Keillor