Four easy dances for piano 111

Four easy dances for piano

by Arvo Pärt

Contents:
Puss In Boots
Little Red Riding Hood And The Wolf
Butterflies
Dance Of The Ducklings

_Foreword
Arvo Pärt, who was born in Paide, Estonia in 1 9 3 5, wrote his "Four Easy Dances for Piano" for a children's theater in the years 1 9 5 6 -57. Now made available once again via this new edition, these pieces are among Pärt's earliest published compositions.

The first two dances were inspired by familiar folktales from the collection of the brothers Grimm. In the first dance, the solemnfaced "Puss-in-Boots " presents himself to the Kind as the emissary of the purported Count of Carabas. The shrewd tomcat's double play is amusingly depicted in this piano piece. The contrasting figures of "Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf" are represented by descriptive themes and differing tempi. Perhaps these pieces could be used for acting out the folktales to music.
"Butterflies" is the title of the third piece, which uses a quick figure in the discant to portray the creatures' gentle flutterings. This delicate picture is interrupted by an expressively melodic middle section. Here, as weü as in the other short dances in this group, the sensitively employed contrast in the timbres of the piano registers becomes apparent. A1though the piece is not difficult, it nonetheless uses much of the keyboard.
The "Dance of the Ducklings" also depicts contrasting scenes in the anim.al world. After a happy and effortless swim, the ducklings go on land, where they waddle around awkwardly and try to dance. The simple techniques that Pärt employs have a delightful effect. These four charming, sonorous, and appealing dances are just as humorous as they are poetic. They are worthwhile early pieces by an important contemporary composer whose published works for piano have so far not been numerous.

Michael Töpel

Eres Estonia Edition
Estonian Music
Music from Estonia

ISMN 979-0-2024-2163-5