Dr. Vera Ivanova, Composer
Vera Ivanova,
composer

'...internationally recognized as an emerging artist of great talent.'

Campus Times (University of Rochester/Eastman)

Aftertouch

for Piano (2005)

This title Aftertouch implies the composer’s intent to make the listener pay attention to the life and death of each sound with regard to the variety in attacks and decays.

Program Notes:
The word aftertouch is a term used to describe the response of a key on electronic MIDIkeyboards to pressure. On an electronic keyboard with aftertouch, a performer can
change the amplitude of the pitch after the attack by varying the pressure with which one
holds the key. While this feature is not an option on a classical acoustic piano, where the
sound of the pressed key simply fades out after the attack, the richness and variety of the
piano timbre is far more superior and individual on every single instrument.
Exploring the sensitivity of the piano keys to the different types of pressure (including the
silent pressure of the keys with the Sostenuto pedal held) is my interpretation of the term
aftertouch, if one can apply it to the acoustic piano. On the other hand, this title implies
the composer’s intent to make the listener pay attention to the life and death of each
sound with regard to the variety in attacks and decays. This variety and timbral richness
of the instrument, along with the resonances of short and sustained sounds, which
produce quite different effects, were the main inspiration for this piece.

Instrumentation
piano
Duration
c. 7-8 minutes
Premiere
March 9th, 2006, Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music, Daniela Mineva (piano)
Audio Sample
Score Sample
Aftertouch (pg. 3-4)
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"Aftertouch" for piano by Vera Ivanova by Vera Ivanova on Scribd

Performances:

April 12th, 2011
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005) - Mark Robson
Zipper Concert Hall (Los Angeles, CA)
Part of the Piano Spheres concert series.
March 10th, 2011
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005) - David Hughes
Paris, France
November 22nd, 2010
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005) - Ivan Sokolov
The Union of Moscow Composers Recital Hall (Moscow, Russia)
32nd International Contemporary Music Festival, "Moscow Autumn"
March 13th, 2010
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005) - Daniela Mineva
CSUF Recital Hall (Fullerton, CA)
9th Annual Cal State Fullerton New Music Festival
March 11th, 2010
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005) - Daniela Mineva
September 20th, 2008
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005) - Daniela Mineva
Moscow, Russia
Gnesin Academy of Music piano recital
April 13th, 2008
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005)
Steinway Piano Gallery (Miami, FL)
New Music Miami Festival
February 25th, 2008
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005)
Salle de l'Institut (Orléans, France)
8ème Concours International de Piano d’Orléans
February 6th, 2008
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005) - Daniela Mineva
Kilbourn Hall, Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY)
February 2nd, 2007
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005)
Dohnanyi Recital Hall, Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL)
Florida State University Festival of New Music
July 16th, 2006
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005)
Cortona, Italy
Cortona Contemporary Music Festival
World Premiere
March 9th, 2006
Aftertouch, for Piano (2005)
Rochester, NY
Composers' Forum