Taught by renowned pianist
John Mortensen
In this sequel to his course on Furno's First Partimento, pianist and historical improviser John Mortensen turns his attention to the minor mode in Furno's Partimento No. 2 in B minor, in which he demonstrates the core concepts and skills required to recognize the bass line's harmonies, realize them at the keyboard, and stylize them into interesting pieces of music. Join Mortensen and a whole generation of hitorically-informed classical musicians seeking to resurrect this lost tradition that was at the core of musicianship pedagogy training for more than two centuries.
Partimento No. 2 – Recognize
The first step to improvising using a partimento bass line is to recognize the possible harmonies signaled by the given scale degrees. Join concert pianist and historical improviser John Mortensen as he walks you through Giovanni Furno's Partimento No. 2 in B minor to practice recognizing both standard harmonizations and special "4-6 Exceptions" based on the Rule of the Octave.
Partimento No. 2 – Realize
The next step toward improvising on a partimento is to realize the harmonies implied by the given bass line. Join concert pianist and historical improviser John Mortensen as he walks you through Giovanni Furno's Partimento No. 2 in B minor to practice realizing chords above the bass, drawing on your knowledge of the Rule of the Octave.
Partimento No. 2 – Stylize (Figuration Prelude)
Now that you've understood the harmonies implied by a partimento bass line and realized them in generic block chords, you may now stylize it. There are countless 18th-century styles that are suitable candidates for Furno's Partimento No. 2, and John Mortensen introduces you to the process of stylization with one of the most familiar and accessible genres of the Baroque period: the figuration prelude.
Partimento No. 2 – Stylize (Diminution)
Join John Mortensen as he introduces you to the art of diminution – a stylization device that involves decorating your chordal realization with rhythmic filigree. Mortensen demonstrates two types of diminution as useful tools for decorating your own improvisations of Furno's Partimento No. 2: dotted diminution and non-chord tones.
Partimento No. 2 – Stylize (Fantasia)
Join John Mortensen as he introduces you to the weird and wonderful world of the free fantasia – a stylization device and improvisatory genre that can draws on the arpeggios of the unmeasured fantasia, as well as scales, trills, and suspensions over the bass. Mortensen demonstrates how to use these devices in Furno's Partimento No. 2, and how to apply voicing and timing to create special effects.
Partimento No. 2 – Demonstrations
John Mortensen plays through one possible realization of Furno's Partimento No. 1 in correctly harmonized block chords, followed by four stylizations: figuration prelude, neighbor notes, ornaments, and free fantasia.
Mortensen: Composition in B minor, on Furno's Partimento No. 2
John Mortensen performs an original composition based on Furno's Partimento No. 2 to demonstrate a model partimento improvisation.
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Unlock Course →As a leader in the international revival of historic improvisation, John Mortensen is noted for his ability to improvise entire concerts in historic styles, including complex compositions such as Baroque fugues.
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