Image in G major

The Image in G major is the third piece of the four piano pieces I wrote for relaxation after writing the very heavy String Sextet. I try to do something a bit different than the previous two pieces, as I actively use more quartal chords and pentatonics in the whole piece, and also invite a bit of impressionistic chords. This is my personal favourite of the set.

Here is the score and YT video:

(Final) Image in G major.pdf

Like the previous pieces, this one also comes from recycled materials. It comes from an unfinished Piano Suite I composed in 2016 Jan, but only with fragments of it including the first few bars, b.35-38 LH melody and some parts of b.58-72. Don’t know why I went for pentatonics that long ago LoL! One thing to note: b.43-46 is probably inspired by @Fugax Contrapunctus Pabio’s mention of Joe Hisaishi in his review of my Sextet, plus my recent listening experience of his music while watching Miyazaki’s films.

Hope you enjoy this small piece!

Henry

Hello

Great music!
The impressionistic mood is very well noted. Some things lead to Debussy like setting a Tonic with pedal on low notes or the “la cathédrale engloutie” style chords.
But also those continuous arpeggios remind me of some of Henry Cowell's techniques (although he did it inside the piano). It's a harp-like effect.
The fourth harmonies here sometimes lead to unexpected harmonic cadences and I quite like that.

A lot of juicy abrupt key changing here! And like @Luis Hernández said, this definitely reminds me of Debussy. And too bad you couldn't get this out when I did a short video on arpeggiated chords 🤪. But beautifully notated and great performance btw! Also, I didn't realize the pentatonic scale could be so beautiful and romantic. I suppose it has to do with how it's used.

Oooh I like that pedal tone on bar 9 onwards with neopolitan chords above it, heck I think this whole piece has this really nice neopolitan feel to it. Y'know, the 1st theme and the 2nd theme being G and A-flat. 

And I love that really recycled romantic theme from bar 35 onwards (legit gave me feelings fr). It really does contrast well with the impressionistic and lush bars before it. 

Not to mention the freaking modulation in bar 33 and 34 from G to A-flat. I like to interpret the quartal E-flat as to mark the impressionistic part and the sliding to E flat dominant 7, which resolves in A-flat, suggesting a traditional V-I, as to mark a more romantic approach on the proceeding bars.

I like the high register counter point on bar 55 to 58 too. A nice variation to contrast the previous bars.

Additionally, I like that you reference the beginning part at end the piece and then just hangs the final chord on a dominant 7 with the tonic bass to really punch in the end.

Overall, this piece feels really broad and wide, and I love ittt. Thanks for sharing!!!

Hey @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu!

Nice image!  It does also remind me of the very sweet-leaning Debussy piano pieces like the Arabasque's.  Also Debussy's Petite Suite for orchestra is another early work of his with this same kind of sweetness.  I've noticed some mistakes, either in the score or the performance.  In bar 49 you play a low Eb - in the score it's an Ab.  Also, in bar 54 your score shows a C bass note, but you play an Eb.  That kinda confuses me as to your intent harmonically, especially in the latter case.

I have to say my favorite parts of the piece are when you combine two ideas into a single figuration like at bar 19 - 20 where the right hand simultaneously plays the chords from the beginning while playing the pentatonic melody.  Actually, there are many places throughout the piece where the right and left hand imitate each other and 8th note apart which is a very cool contrapuntal effect.  Another cool spot is bars 55 - 58 where the left hand has the melody proper while the right hand plays canonic imitation a half note apart.  Very cool idea there.  Thanks for sharing this sweet, relaxing piano piece!

Nice work as always, this motif especially gets me

Kia Ora Henry,

This is unbelievably beautiful! As I mentioned to you on discord, parts of this piece remind me heavily of the second movement of your 3rd Sonata (Y'know, the one that sounds like "random music"). The section from bar 35 is probably the part that to me is the most reminiscent of that piece. Definitely my favourite of this set so far, though maybe my mind will be changed after laughing hysterically at the 'Joke' whenever you post it.

Ngā mihi,

Arjuna

henry ng, this here is a wonderful work. Thank you for giving me a preview of this work before posting. I feel you have taken a lot of inspiration from native themes and folklore of HK; this is a promising new direction in your style as a composer. I love the tranquility of the atmosphere, juxtaposition of the neapolitan harmony, and usage of 4ths and 2nds. I have to agree with darachmiad that the main melody is quite catchy, a little bit bluesy too. Sort of reminds me of music from my home country, but perhaps because I am homesick too.

Barely have anything to critique, looking forward to hearing more works. I truly think you are now building your own 1. originality 2. style and 3. uniqueness. 

On 4/20/2025 at 6:44 PM, Mooravioli said:

I feel you have taken a lot of inspiration from native themes and folklore of HK; this is a promising new direction in your style as a composer.

I couldn't agree more. I feel like your music has really blossomed since taking hold of this approach. 

This piece is so peaceful to listen to, and definitely crafts an image in my mind. I can't help but think of all the solo adventures you've been taking, especially the ones through nature. I feel like I know the beauty of HK without ever having been there by listening to this music. As others have said, the impressionism, quartal figures, pentatonics, and pedal tone are featured and explored really well. You're already so great at using thematic material wisely, and blended with your emerging uniqueness of voice couples so well. I sort of like the sudden key changes, as it's like bursts of color very reminiscent of the style.

Well done Henry, I can't believe you're already almost done with this set of pieces!

I just threw up several times yesterday and actually don’t get well for two whole weeks so I am less active here lol…

Hi Luis!

On 4/19/2025 at 6:50 PM, Luis Hernández said:

Great music!
The impressionistic mood is very well noted. Some things lead to Debussy like setting a Tonic with pedal on low notes or the “la cathédrale engloutie” style chords.
But also those continuous arpeggios remind me of some of Henry Cowell's techniques (although he did it inside the piano). It's a harp-like effect.
The fourth harmonies here sometimes lead to unexpected harmonic cadences and I quite like that

Thank you! I just try my newly acquired style after the Sextet and I quite like the result here. Never listen to Cowell’s piece even though his name is the same as me lol, but honestly I don’t like his idea to hurt the piano strings!

Henry