Melody Puller, piano

Melody Puller currently lives with her family in North Idaho and teaches piano at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. Melody earned her master's degree from the University of Idaho, where she studied with Jay Mauchley. After graduating, she moved to Burlington, Vermont, where she had the opportunity to study with Elaine Greenfield, participating regularly in the Cathedral Arts Concert Series.
Melody writes:
"This program is given in loving memory of Judy Wizowaty, and includes works that Judy enjoyed in her lifetime. She was an art historian and enthusiastic piano student of Elaine Greenfield.
French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816 by J.S. Bach
Sarabande
Gigue
The selected movements from J.S. Bach's French Suite No. 5 are two of my favorite contrasting dance movements. The Sarabande originated in Mexico and traveled to Europe through Spain in the 16th century. During the 18th century, the Sarabande's most marked characteristics included a meter of three beats per measure and a slow, solemn tempo. The Gigue in contrast is a lively contrapuntal dance derived from the English and Irish Jigs that traveled to the European courts in the 16th century. Bach's Gigue demonstrates his exceptional fugal writing. In the second half of the Gigue, listen for how the subject (main melody) gets turned upside down.
Embryons desseches (Dried Embryos) by Erik Satie
I. d'Holothurie
II. d'Edriophthalma
III. de Podophthalma
This title may seem a little bit odd, especially in the light of the fact that there are epigrams concerning sea creatures at the beginning of each movement. Erik Satie enjoys having a little fun at the expense of himself and classical composers who might take their work too seriously. Here is what Erik Satie wrote about Dried Embryos: "This work is utterly incomprehensible, even to me. its singular profundity astonishes me. I wrote it in spite of myself at the urging of Destiny. Was I perhaps trying to create humor? That would not surprise me and would rather be my style. All the same I shall have no sympathy for people who make light of it. They stand warned."
Danzas Argentinas by Alberto Ginastera
I. Danza del viejo bolero (Dance of the old ox driver)
II. Danza de la mosa donosa (Dance of the graceful maiden)
III. Danza del gaucho matrero (Dance of the outlaw cowboy)
Each dance is evocative of its title. Listen for bitonality, harmonies built on 4ths and 5ths, interesting textures, and driving rhythms."