The Dance Suite across time

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Nicholas Fanara full profile / Solo piano / 1 musician

Full program notes

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808
I. Prelude
II. Allemande
III. Courante
IV. Sarabande
V. Gavotte alternativement
VI. Gavotte II ou la Musette
VII. Gigue

"… Bach’s English Suites, written 1713 ~ 1714, are a set of works drawing upon the character of dance tunes which originated in the late 1300s. Each one contains movements from the dances, often separated by their unique rhythmic drives, tempi, and meter."

Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)
4 Pieces, Op. 32
I. Danza
II. Menuetto
III. Gavotta
IV. Valse

"… Prokofiev’s 4 pieces are relatively unknown works which give us insight into his realization of the dance movements. In stark contrast to Bach's, these pieces explore a vastly different harmonic space and structure."

Ludwig van Beethoven (1780 – 1827)
Sonata Op. 54 in F Major
I. In tempo d’un menuetto
II. Allegretto – Piu allegro

"… The sole Sonata of Beethoven’s set of 32 to begin with instructing the performer to play, 'in the tempo of a minuet.'"

Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)
Mephisto Waltz, No. 1

"… Far from the nature of a typical waltz, Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz is a devilish take on Nikolaus Lenau’s 1836 verse drama “Faust.” From the start of the piece, the sound of an orchestra tuning introduces us to the scene of a wedding feast at a village inn, soon breaking into dance. From here, the interactions of Mephistopheles, Faust, and the victim of a seduction, Gretchen, play out in dramatic fashion turning what began as an innocent wedding dance, into a frenzy."

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