J.Rummel
Tyrolienne
Overview
This bright and cheerful piece evokes the folk dances of the Tyrol region, nestled in the Alps. Tyrol conjures images of the distinctive Tyrolean hat and traditional folk costumes, with people dancing on vast alpine meadows. While the Alps often bring Switzerland to mind, Tyrol actually spans Austria and Italy on the eastern side of the mountain range. Isolated by surrounding peaks, the valley communities developed their own unique culture.
The composer, Joseph Rummel (1818-1880), was a German-born composer and pianist from a multi-generational musical family—his father, son, and grandson were all musicians. He was active in Paris and London, leaving behind over 500 compositions.
The structure follows a rondo form: A-B-A-C-A-B-A, preceded by a 2-bar introduction. Section A is in C major, B in G major, and C in F major. The main theme features a distinctly folk-like rhythm, while the middle section (F major) captures the typical Tyrolienne character. The melody evokes the spirit of yodeling, the famous Alpine singing style. The key to performance is "lightness." Play the right hand lightly using fingertip rebound; for leaps, move your whole arm and aim for a bright tone. The left hand can easily overpower the melody, so support only beat 1 and keep the rest soft (mp or below). Use pedal shallowly and briefly on the downbeat only, releasing quickly.
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