FANTASIA/ FANTAZIJA

FANTASIA/ FANTAZIJA for solo piano (1997)

Raminta Šerkšnytė Fantasia/ Fantazija. Ieva Jokubavičiūtė, piano
Raminta Šerkšnytė Fantasia/ Fantazija. Raminta Šerkšnytė, piano

PROGRAMME NOTE:

The piano is one of my favourite instruments and my first major, and this is the reason why I attempted to write a composition in which the majestic qualities of the piano – an exceptionally expressive timbre and a multidimensional texture – would be revealed as fully as possible.

‘Fantasia’ is made up of two constantly changing themes. They are both based on the same C♯-D♯-E-F♯-G♯-A line and its transpositions. The first theme (Lento molto rubato) has melancholic and wistful character, one of ‘inaccessible distances’, which I express using the minor third and the piano’s high register. The fast and restless character of the second theme (Vivo brillante) is like a surge out of a melancholy torpor, expressed in a virtuosic pointillist texture.

Throughout the composition both themes change their forms gradually, constantly acquiring new shades of meaning, until finally they intertwine in the climax. In the coda there is a return to the original state of a bright longing, as if returning ‘back into a dream’. In this case, the latter is represented by the transformed C-D-E-F-G-A line.

‘Fantasia’ is written in a neo-impressionist manner and for this reason the performer is given a lot of freedom, particularly as to rhythm in the tempo rubato sections. So my wish is that those performing this composition be as poetic and subtle as possible.

Raminta Šerkšnytė

YEAR OF COMPOSITION: 1997

INSTRUMENTATION: piano solo

DURATION: ca. 8′

COPYRIGHT: Raminta Šerkšnytė

SCORE: Printed and PDF scores are available at the Music Information Centre Lithuania

RELEASE:

CD Ieva Jokubavičiūtė – Northscapes –Sono Luminus DSL-92251, 2021

MORE INFORMATION AT MICL