Fantasie #3 "Elegy" 
by Danaë Xanthe Vlasse

Piano Solo for advanced pianist. Approximately 13 minutes long. 

Program Notes:
This 3rd Fantasie, like the previous two Fantasies, is designed to be a transformative journey; this one is a journey of immersion and emergence. 

The piece is based on three themes as well as three motives that reappear throughout the work. The structure of the piece is as follows: 
Large Introduction, 
A-section, (at 2’36”)  
B-section, (at 4’19”)
Interlude, (at 5’00”), and C-section, (at 6’15”)
A-section, (at 8’20”)
B-altered, (at 10’18”), with Link (10’56”) to Coda, 
Large-Coda (11’24”), & Codetta (12’35”).

An outline of important musical material:

The Large Introduction sets the somber tone and introduces two themes as well as two motivic ideas: 
About the first two themes:

1st: the work opens with chords that represent a “Veil of Mystery against a back drop of Distant Thunder” – expressed as a gently rolled note cluster in the treble, against deep Bb octaves/note clusters. 
And the 2nd motivic idea is “Funeral Bells - both distant and near” which are either high repetitions of Bb, or low descending notes on Bb, Ab, Gb. 

About the A-B sections (at 2’36” and 4’19”):

The A-section introduces the final (3rd) melodic material on which the B-section builds. This new theme is less brooding but more emotionally declamatory than the previous themes. The “A-section-theme” is developed in its appearance in the Left Hand in the B-section, where it is simultaneously echoed inside the arpeggios of the Right Hand. 
The A-section also presents the final (3rd) motivic material: the notes which spell out the nickname of the lost friend: “Mister” (F, Bb, Eb, F, Eb, Db). These pitches are presented as a counter-melody to the primary melodic material of the A-section, and it is not immediately apparent that these are crucial to the remainder of the work, however, they re-appear very importantly in the C-section, and they lead the final utterances of the Codetta. 

About the middle of the work – the Interlude and C-section (at 5’00” and 6’15”):

The Interlude returns to the thematic material presented in the Introduction – as well as reminding the listener of the “Thunder and Bells” motives; these are then carried into a wild array of undulating arpeggiated passagework that explores “a world of unconscious, swirling memories.” The C-section develops the first theme from the Introduction but it is punctuated by the motivic material built on Mister’s name, as well as the descending “Bells” motif, which is inverted in an effort to turn around the darkness of the original funeral setting. Taken as a whole, the C-section’s “swirling memories” are a vast mix of emotions; they are a flight of fancy, sometimes gentle, but also bittersweet, even frightened, and they eventually grow into an overwhelming irrational anger at the unfairness of life’s harsh circumstances. 

The return to the A-B sections (at 8’20” and 10’18”):

The intense return to the second A-section is built directly out of the climax of the C-section, and now both A and B-sections are dramatized. 

The Link to the Coda (at 10’56”):
Following the second B-section, there is a “glimpse” of where the piece is going – the main theme from A returns in a major key, with a new-found sweetness never explored prior. This section could have concluded the work, but the structural weight of the vast Introduction begs for an equally grand conclusion! …

About the Coda (at 11’24”):
The Coda brings cohesion to the whole by presenting the themes from the Introduction in the relative major key, and releases the listener into a state of peace.

Fantasie #3 "Elegy" (please read the program notes!)

Danae Vlasse is a GRAMMY®-award-winning pianist, and composer whose music has been featured on international radio broadcast.  Furthermore, Mrs Vlasse is an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher with a degree in Piano Performance, and over 15yrs of teaching experience. 

All piano works posted on Soundcloud are printed and available for purchase at affordable rates. Contact the composer here; https://www.danaevlasse.com/contact.html

"I live my daydreams in music." ~Albert Einstein

Fantasie #3 "Elegy" (please read the program notes!)

Danaë Xanthe Vlasse (Danae Vlasse)