Composer

:

Donald Martino

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Fantasy

Compose Date

:

1978 - 1981

Average_duration

:

29:18

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Fantasies and Impromptus is a composition for solo piano by American composer Donald Martino. It was composed in 1986 and premiered on March 22, 1987, by pianist Gilbert Kalish at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The piece consists of four movements, each with its own distinct character and style. The first movement, marked "Fantasia," is a free-form exploration of various musical ideas, ranging from lyrical melodies to virtuosic runs and arpeggios. The second movement, "Impromptu I," is a lively and playful scherzo, featuring rapid-fire runs and syncopated rhythms. The third movement, "Fantasia II," is a more introspective and contemplative piece, with a slower tempo and more sustained harmonies. The final movement, "Impromptu II," is a virtuosic tour-de-force, featuring rapid-fire runs and arpeggios, as well as complex rhythms and harmonies. Throughout the piece, Martino employs a wide range of compositional techniques, including serialism, atonality, and polyrhythms. Despite its modernist tendencies, however, the piece is also highly expressive and emotive, with a strong sense of lyricism and drama. Overall, Fantasies and Impromptus is a challenging and rewarding work for pianists, showcasing Martino's unique voice as a composer and his mastery of the piano as an instrument.

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