Un continuum de prairie et de chant

Piano four hands
4 minutes
2023

This work is a duet for piano four hands. Written as part of the Music Student Exchange project, with the Vivier Institute and its Ukrainian counterpart, Octopus, this project paired performers from Canada with composers from Ukraine, and vice versa. Inspired by the exchange aspects of the project, I used folk and modern songs from both countries as the basis for this composition.

The work is in two parts; the first is a slow-paced, choral-like, reflection on two folk songs; Ian Tyson’s “Four Strong Winds” from Alberta, and " Ой у вишневому саду" (Oh in the Cherry Orchard) from Ukraine. The piece opens with a slow chordal introduction where the two folk themes start superimposed and slowly move to become juxtaposed.

In contrast, the second section travels forward to the present, using hooks from contemporary pop songs from Canada and Ukraine; “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepson, and “Stefania” by Kalush Orchestra respectively. This section is fast-paced and fugue-like, embracing the contrapuntal texture that comes from moving the pop song motives from being juxtaposed, to superimposed.

Being a part of the MuSE Project was a rewarding experience. It enabled me to look into the music of Ukraine as well as my own country in a way I hadn’t before, as well as introduced me to two gifted music students from across the world. That connection is one I hope to maintain for years to come, and I would like to continue my collaboration and correspondence with the two pianists.