Composer

:

Nikolay Medtner

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1905 - 1907

Average_duration

:

3:56

"Der untreue Knabe" (The Unfaithful Boy) is a piano piece composed by Nikolay Medtner in 1905. It is the tenth piece in his Opus 15 collection of piano works. The piece premiered in Moscow in 1906, with Medtner himself performing. The piece is in three movements, with a total duration of approximately six minutes. The first movement is marked "Allegro con fuoco" and is in the key of A minor. It begins with a fiery and passionate melody played in the right hand, accompanied by a driving rhythm in the left hand. The melody is then repeated in a higher register, with added embellishments and flourishes. The middle section of the movement is more subdued, with a lyrical melody played in the right hand over a gentle accompaniment in the left hand. The movement ends with a return to the fiery opening theme. The second movement is marked "Andante con moto" and is in the key of F major. It begins with a gentle and melancholic melody played in the right hand, accompanied by a simple chord progression in the left hand. The melody is then repeated with added ornamentation and a more complex accompaniment. The middle section of the movement is more agitated, with a faster tempo and a more dissonant harmony. The movement ends with a return to the gentle opening theme. The third movement is marked "Allegro molto" and is in the key of A minor. It begins with a fast and virtuosic melody played in the right hand, accompanied by a driving rhythm in the left hand. The melody is then repeated with added embellishments and a more complex accompaniment. The middle section of the movement is more lyrical, with a slower tempo and a more expressive melody played in the right hand. The movement ends with a return to the fast and virtuosic opening theme. Overall, "Der untreue Knabe" is a virtuosic and expressive piano piece that showcases Medtner's skill as a composer and pianist. The piece is characterized by its fiery and passionate melodies, complex harmonies, and virtuosic piano writing.

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