Composer

:

Nikolay Medtner

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Character Piece

Average_duration

:

15:21

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Nikolay Medtner's 'Fairy Tales (Skazki) (3) for piano Russian Fairy Tales, Op. 42' is a set of three pieces for solo piano. The composition was completed in 1922 and premiered in Moscow the same year. The three movements are titled 'Baba-Yaga', 'The Maiden and the Nightingale', and 'The Magic Mirror'. The first movement, 'Baba-Yaga', is based on the Russian folktale of the same name. Baba-Yaga is a witch who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs and can move around. The music is dark and mysterious, with a sense of foreboding. The use of dissonance and chromaticism creates a sense of unease, and the rhythm is irregular, adding to the sense of unpredictability. The second movement, 'The Maiden and the Nightingale', is based on another Russian folktale. The music is much lighter and more lyrical than the first movement, with a beautiful melody that represents the nightingale's song. The use of arpeggios and trills creates a sense of fluttering, like the bird's wings, and the music builds to a climax before fading away. The final movement, 'The Magic Mirror', is based on a story about a mirror that shows the viewer their true self. The music is introspective and contemplative, with a sense of searching. The use of rubato and tempo changes creates a sense of fluidity, like the shifting images in a mirror. The music builds to a powerful climax before resolving in a peaceful coda. Overall, Medtner's 'Fairy Tales (Skazki) (3) for piano Russian Fairy Tales, Op. 42' is a masterful example of programmatic music, using musical elements to tell stories and evoke emotions. The use of Russian folktales adds a sense of cultural identity to the music, and the technical demands of the piano writing showcase Medtner's skill as a composer.

More....