"Randazzo," by Dolores White

Dolores White at Oberlin Conservatory.

“Randazzo” is a spirited upper mid-intermediate piece with a wide range of dynamics and characters packed into three pages. The piece is roughly in ABA form, with an energetic A section and a lyrical B section, presenting an opportunity for students to work on character shifts. In the A section, the left hand plays a winding, playful melody while the right hand accompanies it with offbeat, staccato triads which follow the downward contour of the melody. A short but dramatic transition leads to a development-like section in which the original melody is fragmented and expanded upon in new keys. The B section features long, legato phrases in the right hand over a lilting left hand pattern. On the last page, the A section returns and builds to an exciting finish.

The greatest challenges in “Randazzo” include integrity between the hands and fluidity during fast passages. In the first ten measures, the left hand plays staccatos, slurs, and dotted slurs in quick succession while the right hand plays staccato chords, presenting a challenge in coordination. The piece also features quick triad leaps in the right hand, such as those in mm. 11-12. The right hand must move very quickly, sometimes landing on chords with several accidentals. Students can also work on their fluidity in the fast passages, some of which include many accidentals, such as in m. 29 and mm. 32-33. The most difficult passage is the parallel sixteenth notes in mm. 13-14, which can be awkward to play.

Practice strategies

• Practice each hand separately in the A section, paying close attention to articulation.
• Isolate the triad leaps first seen in mm. 11-12, moving the hand silently between positions to feel the distance before playing out loud.
• In mm. 13-14, divide the sixteenth note passage into chunks of two or three notes, blocking each chunk. Also, practicing with dotted rhythms may help to increase the speed. 

Dolores White (1932-2023) was an African American composer, teacher, and performer. She was born in Chicago and studied piano and composition at Oberlin Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music. She taught at several institutions and was passionate about African American arts, Afro-Cuban music and dance, and the important role of women in music. She composed both instrumental and vocal works, often with international influences. 

Sources

• Dolores White: African Diaspora Music Project
• Dolores R. White: American Composers Alliance
• Image: Oberlin Conservatory Launches Dolores '54 and Donald '57 White Prize

Randazzo, by Dolores White. Julia Warnock, piano.