Introduction & Capriccio

Introduction & Capriccio is a two-movement piano solo work featuring two contrasting moods. Like two whimsical musical vignettes, although dissonant, they are also pleasant, effervescent, and bright — if not also showing a joyous side — of an overall impressionistic style, not unlike that of Debussy.

Introduction is a brief dance-like movement that starts out with a commanding scale-based section that recurring descends in its form. This passes into a stern yet playful interplay between the two hands before it abruptly comes to an end after a series of quickly falling and rising flourishes and moving dense, two-handed chordal bell-like patterns that suspend time and motion. This movement lasts around about two minutes.

Capriccio is a quick piece played leggiero. Noticeably heavier and fuller, it is much more solidly structured and thick than its predecessors. The entire temperament of the piece suggests a spirited affability, but as its title suggests, this movement is more active and forceful. The piece winds to a close after a lengthy two-handed twisting and turning of lines that are almost exclusively in upwards or downwards appoggiatura-like scale fragments interspersed with punctuated dissonances. The piece lasts about two minutes in duration.