Composer

:

Igor Stravinsky

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

1920

Average_duration

:

6:34

Igor Stravinsky's Concertino for Piano, Four Hands is a short, neoclassical work composed in 1920. It premiered on October 28, 1920, in Paris, with Stravinsky himself and pianist Marcelle Meyer performing. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement, marked "Allegretto," is a lively and playful scherzo. The piano parts are often syncopated, with the two players trading off melodic fragments and rhythmic patterns. The movement is characterized by its lightness and energy, with a sense of constant motion and forward momentum. The second movement, marked "Andante," is a slower, more contemplative piece. The piano parts are more lyrical and expressive, with a greater emphasis on harmony and texture. The movement is characterized by its rich, warm sound and its sense of introspection and reflection. The final movement, marked "Allegro," is a fast and frenetic dance. The piano parts are highly syncopated and virtuosic, with a sense of wild abandon and exuberance. The movement is characterized by its rhythmic complexity and its sense of joyful celebration. Overall, Stravinsky's Concertino for Piano, Four Hands is a prime example of his neoclassical style, which drew on the forms and structures of classical music while infusing them with modernist harmonies and rhythms. The piece is characterized by its clarity, precision, and economy of means, as well as its playful and inventive use of rhythm and melody.

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