Thomson's Double Glissando Etude
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2026 1:23 pm
Glissandos aren't just for trombones.
Sez a commenter...
I presume this piece qualifies as "camp", meaning intentionally bad, but it does fill the request. Check out the crazy zig-zag whole tone glissando.
I'm reminded of a jazz band rehearsal in college where the director stopped to make a comment, turned to the piano player and said, "Paul, a good piano player uses a glissando about once a year. You've used three in the last five minutes."
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Sez a commenter...
I've read that this sort of long slide was much more feasible in Beethoven's day when pianos had a shallower action.I met Virgil Thomson (no P in his name, by the way) in 1980, a couple years before he died. He talked about this etude specifically, it was for a guy who wanted to build his stamina for glissandi. But, the guy said it hurt too much to play it!
I presume this piece qualifies as "camp", meaning intentionally bad, but it does fill the request. Check out the crazy zig-zag whole tone glissando.
I'm reminded of a jazz band rehearsal in college where the director stopped to make a comment, turned to the piano player and said, "Paul, a good piano player uses a glissando about once a year. You've used three in the last five minutes."
.