The name is absent

102

Larsen’s primary method of creating an American atmosphere without any
extramusical material is her use of rhythm. In her hierarchy of musical elements, this is
more important to her than melodies and harmonic structure: “I do have a style, but the
style is not recognized in the consistent use of a harmonic language.. .My style can be
recognized by its rhythm more than anything else.”²⁵ When asked about her influences,
she further expands on the importance of rhythmic energy:

Yes, I look for color, first and foremost, which is why I can play a CD of
Debussy, followed by James Brown, followed by Hank

Williams.. .Secondly, I look for a healthy struggle for rhythm to get out.. .1
am very much a child of rhythm, and less a child of melody, even though I
grew up as a singer.. .1 am much more interested in the parameter of
rhythm and its emergence, really, over the parameter of melody in this
century. And so.. .1 look at Berlioz, I look at Debussy. I look at Stravinsky
too, of course.²⁶

In fact, Larsen has spent her entire life listening to and playing a widely diverse
repertoire of music. Many of the various styles that she grew up playing and listening to
factor into the Viola Sonata:

My piano teacher, Sister Colette, was extraordinary in the kinds of
repertoire she gave me. I played very unusual repertoire—Mozart, Bartok,
Stravinsky, Japanese music and boogie right away. That variety was very
important in introducing so many different musical sounds and colors to
27
me.

As a child, she especially enjoyed listening to Broadway musicals and stride boogie
piano recordings with her family. Throughout her career, she has incorporated specific
American musical styles in many of her works including the orchestral work The Ring of

Steve Rothenberger and George-Bloomfield, Susanne, eds., A Prairie Mosaic: An
Atlas of Central Nebraska's Land, Nature, and Culture (Kearney: University OfNebraska
at Keamey, 2000), 147.

James Briscoe, ed. Libby Larsen: How it Thrills Us (Bloomington, IN: Indiana
UniversityPress, 1997), 109-110.

Libby Larsen “FAQ” http://libbylarsen.com/index.php?contentID=232 (accessed 8
Febmary 2010).

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