Rosenblatt, Alexander : If tango was invented by Russians
Work Overview
Instrumentation:Piano Ensemble
Genre:Various works
Commentary (1)
Author : Kato, Reiko
Last Updated: January 1, 2010
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Author : Kato, Reiko
The original piece was composed for a formation of violin, clarinet, piano, and string instruments. For his first performance in Japan on March 11, 2005, a two-piano version was newly composed and dedicated to Reiko Kato, and it was premiered worldwide by Kato and others. Initially, Rosenblatt had the idea, "Let's perform with four pianos at the Japan concert and dance around the pianos while playing tango! This is a good idea!" and chose a hall that owned four pianos. However, due to practical issues with finding a practice space, it was ultimately composed as a two-piano work. This tango possesses a character akin to a Humoresque (a piece with a humorous and whimsical nature). Surprisingly, the most popular Russian folk songs "Dark Eyes" and "Song of the Volga Boatmen," along with Tchaikovsky's "The Seasons – June: Barcarolle" and the "Waltz of the Flowers" from the ballet "The Nutcracker," appear within the tango style. At the climax of the score, it is also notated "Sing the main melody!" At the concert in Japan, two more performers joined for this "singing" section, resulting in a performance for two pianos, eight hands, with four people singing. While this work demands difficult technique, it is a dynamic and lavish piece that offers various possibilities in performance style. It is a favorite work of Rosenblatt, who is fond of tango.