Bernard Rands’ Three Pieces for Piano at Carnegie Hall with Jonathan Biss

January 21 marks the New York City premiere of Bernard Rands’ Three Pieces for Piano at Carnegie Hall. Pianist Jonathan Biss, described by the Chicago Sun-Times as a “poetic pianist of the first order,” premiered the piece in Mainz, Germany in December as part of his two-month international recital tour continuing through January 25.

Rands’ Three Pieces, written specifically for Biss, was commissioned by Music Accord, Inc. The music of these solo piano pieces reflects the desire to explore the legacy of the piano music of three of Bernard Rands' favorite composers: Scriabin, Debussy and Ravel. The first piece, Caprice, presents a succession of four distinct musical ideas, frequently juxtaposed, reordered and elaborated. The central piece, Aubade, is in essence a condensed, harmonic reservoir of the two outer movements, while the final pieces, Arabesque, is built upon a series of rotations of pitch successions each extending its register until the entire keyboard is engaged.

For more information on Jonathan Biss and his recital tour please visit www.jonathanbiss.com.

www.bernardrands.com
Bernard Rands-Composer Profile.

Bernard Rands
Three Pieces for Piano (2010)
for solo piano
I. Caprice
II. Aubade
III. Arabesque
15'