Solfeggietto in C minor
Scene: Tom sends the Phelps family letters from an “unknown friend” that warn that a band of desperate gangsters are planning to steal Jim. Tom, Huck, and Jim are in the shed when local farmers attack, thinking they are the gangsters. Tom Huck and Jim escape through a hole they cut in the wall. Tom makes a noise, attracting the men’s attention, and is shot in the leg as they run to the canoe. (chapter 39)
Connection: This song is entirely made up of scale and arpeggio variations. There are no rests, and the only way to play it is to relentlessly plow through it. Played at a quick tempo, it feels like you’re in a chase scene as you desperately try to hit the notes correctly
Tico-Tico no Fubá
Scene: Huck and Tom steal a variety of household objects (candles, spoons, sheets, etc.) as a part of their complicated plan to free Jim. The missing things infuriate Aunt Sally, as she cannot figure out how to prevent them from being stolen. (chapters 35-37)
Connection: A tico-tico is a small Brazilian songbird that is similar to a sparrow. The song title translates to “tico-tico in the cornmeal”. Despite its lively tune, it is actually a lament that a tico-tico stealing the cornmeal and nothing can be done to stop it.
Ay-ay-ay
Scene: Upon finding where Jim is being kept on the Phelps’ property (the dauphin sold Jim to the Phelps behind Huck’s back), Tom comes up with a dangerous and overly complicated plan to free him and insists that they follow the examples of dramatic escapes from romantic literary classics (34-39)
Connection: This song is dramatic and flamboyant from the start with crashing chords. In under a minute, there many grace-note flourishes and thrills throughout the melody, along a key transposition and octave transposition. This song took me the most attempts to record out of the set, simply because there are so many details you have to hit. Similarly, Tom’s plan risky and over-the-top, and involves many excessive parts to add to the “glory”.
Tuxedo Jazz
Scene: The duke and dauphin pretend to be the expected brothers from England of a recently deceased local man, Peter Wilks, in order to gain their inheritance. Even though the duke and dauphin are suspicious, (their English accents don’t even sound right), they are still tearfully welcomed by the town and Peter Wilks’ three daughters. (chapter 24-25)
Connection: Short rests in both the bass line of the left hand and the melody of the right hand create a suspicious mood. The right hand has deliberate chords, like someone is plotting something. The duke and dauphin pretend to be grief-struck brothers, but they are actually making plans to get away with Peter Wilks' money.
"Allegro" from Water Music
Scene: Huck and Jim rescue two men fleeing an angry crowd. They find out later that they are professional con artists. The younger man declares himself an impoverished English duke, and the older man insists he is the dauphin, the long lost son of King Louis XVI. Huck quickly realizes that the two men are liars, but keeps his knowledge a secret and follows along as the “duke” and “dauphin” insist on being pampered like royalty. (chapter 19)
Connection: Water Music was written to fulfill King George I’s request for a concert on the River Thames. Because of that, it is associated with royalty and aristocracy. The steady quarter notes and eighth notes give it a stately rhythm and the melody in D Major is proud and composed.