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Classical Music/idenfying unknown piano piece

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Expert: - 10/12/2007


Question
QUESTION: I'm trying to find the title and artist for the following piece of music:
http://proverbs.theoslogic.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/Unknown.mp3

ANSWER: I've never heard it, alas.  Based on the harmonization, chord progressions and choices, and other elements of construction, my guess is that it's British or American from about 1830-1890.  mb

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marbeth -

Thanks for trying.  So far I've had 18 email responses all saying they had never heard it.  However, when I posted it to wiki's help desk, I did get one positive response (Chopin’s Largo in E flat major).  See if you agree with the following answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Reference_desk/Humanities#Unknown_piano_p

Answer
The piece you seek is definitely NOT the C Minor (OP.28 #20 "Funeral") Prelude, tho it is notate "largo" in the score.  

I find a piece titled "Largo" dated "July" (without a year, but possibly 1837) in E-flat Major.  It's one pg long in my edition.  It is thot to be a rejected finished piece/sketch for a prelude.  Starts with a quarter-note pickup (pitch is B-flat) and goes then to an E-flat Major triad (half-note, doubled E-flat in bass and tenor; RH has E-flat Major chord in 2nd inversion but with another G on top - - shame on Chopin for doubling the third).  Look in "Anson Introduces Chopin" (Willis). mb

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Marbeth

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I have a PhD in musicology, with expertise in medieval - Renaissance - Baroque - Classical periods, but I'll try to help you with any period.

>>*****IMPORTANT NOTE*****<<: I do not answer questions marked "private." I don't want to type the same thing to someone else later if I typed it to you already! If you mark your request "private," I will send it back to you requesting you to remove the "private" flag. Thanks for your understanding. Remember, I'm a volunteer.

My answers are not toss-offs. If I don't know the answer, I will do my best to find it.

I have many requests to identify a piece of music. If I can't identify it, I will tell you (1) what composer I think it is; (2) what composer or composers I think it is not; (3) what style period, genre, etc. I think it is or is not. And give you any other help I can to help you find the answer.

Please find a clear clip. In the interest of good computer hygiene, I will not download a clip. Nor will I go to a site where I must "register" in order to hear the clip. Please mount the clip on a public site for which you can give me a direct URL. Thanks for your understanding in this. Remember, I'm a volunteer!

Students, I do NOT do homework questions. The purpose of answering questions on assignments is not only to learn the information, but to LEARN HOW TO FIND IT. Re-read chapter. Look in the index. Look in the references given at the end of the chapter or elsewhere in the book. You also probably can find the answer using Google. Don't be lazy. I wouldn't be doing you any favors by doing your homework for you! I already know the answer. You don't. You need to find it. MORE IMPORTANTLY, you need to learn HOW to find it. That's the whole purpose of education, after all!

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