Rosenblatt, Alexander : Sleeping Beauty Jazz Fantasy on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, dedicated to Serene Kato
Work Overview
Instrumentation:Piano Ensemble
Genre:fantasy
Total Playing Time:5 min 25 sec
Commentary (1)
Author : Kato, Reiko
Last Updated: April 12, 2022
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Author : Kato, Reiko
This piece is a piano duet dedicated in 2014 to Serion Kato, daughter of pianist Reiko Kato. It is a reconstruction of Tchaikovsky's ballet music "The Sleeping Beauty," Act I, "Waltz," transforming it from a triple meter into a light, bright, old-style jazz in quadruple meter. The piece is packed with Rosenblatt's characteristic playful approach to masterpieces from all eras and regions, featuring complex rhythms and unique harmonies, resulting in a highly engaging work. Although it is of high difficulty, it is likely that an increasing number of pianists worldwide will take on the challenge in the future.
Tchaikovsky's ballet music "The Sleeping Beauty" is often referred to as one of the "Big Three Ballets" along with his other compositions "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker." It also appeared in the 1959 Disney film "Sleeping Beauty," where it was sung by Princess Aurora under the title "Once Upon a Dream."