Little Requiem in the Form of 3 Antique Dances - solo piano (2019)

Instrumentation: solo piano (or solo toy piano).
Grades: 2-4 (elegaic nature requires a mature performer)
Duration: 6 minutes 30 seconds.
Premiere: Anthony Moles at Songs and Dances by Moonlight, 21.09.19. Sydney, Australia.

SCORE: purchase here.

I. Lament in the form of a Minuet
II. Danse Macabre in the form of a Siciliano
III. Threnody in the form of a Sarabande

PROGRAM NOTE: A Requiem is a musical setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead, or an act or token of remembrance. Little Requiem in the form of 3 Antique Dances is an expression of the latter. However, as is tradition, I have used the pitches of the Dies Irae (Day of Judgement) plainchant in the Danse Macabre. This movement uses the beginning phrase of this chant as a starting point. The resulting music is rather gentle.  

The Antique Dances refers to dance forms often used by composers in the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical periods. Such dances were popular at the time and came to be used by composers in their work. In keeping with the rhythmic characteristics and overall structure of each dance, I hope to have created music that sounds both old and new.

Little Requiem in the form of 3 Antique Dances is dedicated to the friends and families of those who were taken too soon.