Rocherolle, Eugenie Ricau : The Way We Danced, 1949-1999
Work Overview
First Publisher:Belwin Mills
Instrumentation:Piano Ensemble
Genre:pieces
Total Playing Time:17 min 00 sec
Commentary (1)
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
Last Updated: October 4, 2023
[Open]
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
Rocherolle's original piano duo piece is available in two versions: one for piano four hands (one piano) and one for two pianos four hands. This suite is inspired by dances popular over a fifty-year period in the latter half of the 20th century. The outer movements are up-tempo, full of entertainment, and entirely in the style of light music. The middle movements slow down the tempo, featuring a series of slow to medium numbers full of mood. The title (The Way We Danced) is clearly based on the original title of the film 'The Way We Were'. The nostalgic flavor of the middle movements is just like a classic film from yesteryear, as if Barbra Streisand's voice can be heard. This work was commissioned in May 1999 for the 50th anniversary of the founding of The Duo-Piano Group of the Darien Community Association, Darien, CT. It is dedicated to the memory of Juliet Shaw (1903-1994), a pianist and theremin player who was close to Rocherolle. Shaw, who was based in Connecticut and dedicated herself to performance and education, played a leading role in the aforementioned duo-piano group. Her eldest daughter, Sandra Shaw Murphy, now continues her mother's activities. The significant alteration of sound distribution between the one-piano, four-hand version and the two-piano, four-hand version, according to their respective characteristics, is evidence of the composer's mastery of both forms. Both versions are written in a natural and logical manner. They are easy to play, approximately at the level of Czerny Op. 299 (School of Velocity) to Czerny Op. 740 (Art of Finger Dexterity), and are widely suitable for lessons, recitals, and concerts.