Blue Rose

Many of Elena Kats-Chernin's works are written in a minor key, this one being one of the few exceptions. It is a shorter, more lively version of her piece For Rosa, written in 2001 in memory of an Australian patroness of Polish origin and based on two freely developed folk melodies. Irregular metres bring to mind Eastern European music and give the piece a dance-like character. According to the composer, the title refers to the blossoming and unfolding beginning of the piece, which then becomes increasingly powerful, 'earthy' and joyful like the blue light of dusk.