Composer

:

Mily Balakirev

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

ca. 1850 - 1909

Publication Date

:

1909

Average_duration

:

13:24

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Mily Balakirev's 'Suite for piano, 4 hands' is a four-movement work composed in 1890. The piece was premiered in the same year in St. Petersburg, Russia. The suite is written for two pianists playing on a single piano, and it showcases Balakirev's skill in writing for the keyboard. The first movement, marked 'Allegro vivace', is a lively and energetic piece in 6/8 time. It features a playful melody that is passed between the two pianists, accompanied by a driving rhythm in the left hand. The second movement, 'Romanza', is a slower and more lyrical piece. It begins with a simple melody in the right hand, accompanied by a gentle arpeggio in the left. The melody is then passed between the two pianists, building to a climax before returning to the gentle opening theme. The third movement, 'Scherzo', is a fast and playful piece in 3/4 time. It features a lively melody that is passed between the two pianists, accompanied by a driving rhythm in the left hand. The movement is characterized by its use of syncopation and rapid scale passages. The final movement, 'Finale', is a lively and energetic piece in 2/4 time. It features a driving rhythm in the left hand, accompanied by a playful melody in the right. The melody is passed between the two pianists, building to a thrilling climax before returning to the opening theme. Overall, Balakirev's 'Suite for piano, 4 hands' is a charming and virtuosic work that showcases the composer's skill in writing for the keyboard. The piece is characterized by its lively rhythms, playful melodies, and intricate interplay between the two pianists. It remains a popular work in the piano duet repertoire to this day.

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