Composer

:

Margaret Fairlie-Kennedy

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Compose Date

:

1997

Average_duration

:

12:19

Undertow is a contemporary classical composition by Margaret Fairlie-Kennedy, an Australian composer and pianist. The piece was composed in 2015 and premiered on the 22nd of August in the same year at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Undertow is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 10 minutes. The piece is written for solo piano and is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies, complex rhythms, and virtuosic piano writing. The title of the piece, Undertow, refers to the strong current that pulls swimmers under the water, and this theme is reflected in the music through the use of repetitive, swirling motifs that create a sense of tension and unease. The piece begins with a series of rapid, staccato chords that set the tone for the rest of the work. The opening section is marked by a sense of urgency and restlessness, with the piano part featuring rapid runs and arpeggios that create a sense of movement and momentum. As the piece progresses, the music becomes more complex and dissonant, with the harmonies becoming increasingly tense and unstable. The middle section of the piece features a slower, more introspective melody that provides a moment of respite from the frenetic energy of the opening section. However, this sense of calm is short-lived, and the music soon returns to its earlier intensity, with the piano part featuring rapid, virtuosic runs and arpeggios that create a sense of urgency and tension. The final section of the piece features a return to the opening material, with the piano part once again featuring rapid, staccato chords and swirling motifs that create a sense of unease and tension. The piece ends with a final burst of energy, with the piano part featuring a series of rapid, virtuosic runs that bring the work to a thrilling conclusion. Overall, Undertow is a challenging and complex work that showcases Margaret Fairlie-Kennedy's skill as a composer and pianist. The piece is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies, complex rhythms, and virtuosic piano writing, and its theme of the strong current that pulls swimmers under the water is reflected in the music through the use of repetitive, swirling motifs that create a sense of tension and unease.

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