Robert Carl

Speaking Pianist

Composer's Note:

Car Radio Rant is an invective against one of those modern-day pests which eat away at the inner life of the musician. From its text, the "message" should be self-evident.

This piece should be performed with great brio, capturing the sheer, brutal energy of the thing it is taking to task.

The pianist should perform with the left-hand only, except for the one section where two piano staves are provided (corresponding to the text, "Even in the privacy of one's own home"¦"). One further exception is noted on page 1.

It is recommended that the pianist have some sort of vocal amplification, either a boom-mounted air mike which does not obstruct his/her keyboard activity, or better, a remote headset mike. Amplification should only be enough to ensure comprehensibility of the text at every point of the piece.

The vocal part ranges from more conversationally spoken (marked [Fr] for "free") to rhythmicized speech to sprechstimme (where some sense of pitch should be projected). All three are clearly differentiated by respective styles of notation.

Please note that except in the two-handed section, and the one indicated "loco" passage, the piano part is always one octave lower than notated.