Twenty-Four Preludes for Piano (Auerbach)

Twenty-Four Preludes for Piano (Op. 41) is a set of 24 preludes composed by Russian emigre composer Lera Auerbach in 1999. The work alternates between major and minor, following the progression of relative minor starting from C major and concluding on D minor. The work was commissioned by Tom and Vivian Waldeck in collaboration with the Caramoor International Music Festival. The work is dedicated to Tom and Vivian Waldeck. The premiere was given on 23 July 1999 in New York and was first performed by the composer herself.

The piece takes 39 minutes in a standard performance.[1]

Form

The long-range form follows the tonal progression of the relative minor, the descending minor-third key that is associated with every major key. Also, the work oscillates between major and minor throughout the work, while the tempo markings do not indicate any pattern and are instead tied to the individual key itself.

  1. C major Moderato
  2. A minor Presto
  3. G major Moderato
  4. E minor Appassionato – Nostalgico
  5. D major Andantino sognante
  6. B minor Chorale
  7. A major Andante
  8. F sharp minor Presto
  9. E major Allegretto
  10. C sharp minor Largo
  11. B major Misterioso
  12. G sharp minor Allegro bruto
  13. F sharp major Andante
  14. E flat minor Allegretto
  15. D flat major Moderato
  16. B flat minor Allegro ma non troppo, tragico
  17. A flat major Adagio tragico
  18. F minor Grave
  19. E flat major Adagio religioso
  20. C minor Misterioso
  21. B flat major Allegro moderato
  22. G minor Andante
  23. F major Allegretto
  24. D minor Grandioso

Recordings

  • 2004: Academy of Music, Lera Auerbach (piano)[2]
  • 2015: Centaur Records, Inc., Eli Kalman (piano)[3]
  • Score (Editions Sikorski/Exempla Nova)[4]
  • Performance Guide for 24 Preludes for Piano (Nezhdanova-Cunningham, 2017)[5]

References

  1. ^ "Lera Auerbach" (PDF). October 16, 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. ^ "AUERBACH Preludes and Dreams BISCD1462 [GH]: Classical CD Reviews- September2006 MusicWeb-International". www.musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  3. ^ "CRC 3441 Homo Ludens: Piano Music of Lera Auerbach". www.centaurrecords.com. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  4. ^ "24 Präludien". shop.bauer-hieber.com. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  5. ^ Nezhdanova-Cunningham, Elena Victoria (2017). "Performance Guide for 24 Preludes for Piano" (PDF). Retrieved 7 March 2022.


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