Malý velký svet (Small big World) (30’) for piano and electronics is written for and with Luciane Cardassi, Rosabel Choi and Katherine Dowling. I met each of these pianists at the Banff Centre during my residencies there, and was struck by their individual approaches and sound in performing contemporary repertoire. I enjoyed the challenge of writing a piece that features the practice of three individuals on the same instrument. The piece is inspired by childhood and games, including the playful ways children use and learn to play the piano. There are musical allusions to and quotations of Robert Schumann’s Waldszenen, Franz Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor, Alban Berg’s Piano Sonata Opus 1, Béla Bartók’s For Children, Francis Dhomont’s Forêt Profonde, andLinda Catlin Smith’s Thought and Desire. I also quote all three pianists, whose improvisations I often used verbatim in parts of the piece. This piece is dedicated to my father, Franta.

Malý velký svet for piano & electronics

1. TWINKLE & LOOP
2. FATE
3. KNOCKING
4. NIGHT TIME
5. NOURISH
6. THE PANTHER

Please take a look at the MvS Hyperscore!

Listen to Luciane Cardassi, Rosabel Choi, Katherine Dowling and Ronelle Schaufele play Malý velký svet:

Watch the following parts on video
Katherine Dowling performing FATE at the premiere in October 2013:

Luciane Cardassi and Ronelle Schaufele performing THE PANTHER (viola version)