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Robert Levin Reprises Bernard Rands’ Preludes for Piano

Mar. 04, 2013

Robert Levin Reprises Bernard Rands’ <em>Preludes</em> for Piano

Bernard Rands originally composed his magnificent set of 12 piano preludes for his friend and colleague Robert Levin in 2007 on a co-commission from Maria and Robert A. Skirnick and the Ruhr International Piano Festival. Mr. Levin now brings this enthralling set of solo piano music to the Northeast in his solo recital at the Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A Professor of performance and analysis at Harvard University, Mr. Levin presents the Preludes as part of Harvard University's Music Department Recital Series on March 27. Rands writes:  

The creative challenge was to compose a work whose 12 sections are integrated into a formal whole at the same time as each Prelude has its own formal integrity and thus can be selected and performed separately from the others. Robert Levin's experience, skill and knowledge of early keyboard music(s) was influential in determining the spirit and character of each Prelude.

When Debussy completed his Preludes he wrote that he thought they would take their place 'to the left of Schumann and to the right of Chopin.' I would suggest that mine are to the left of Bill Evans and to the right of Oscar Petersen, without implying any specific jazz influence but simply that the work of those two great jazz composer/pianists has always been a joy to me.

Gloria Cheng presented the US premiere of Bernard Rands' Preludes in September 2011 on the Colburn School’s "Piano Spheres" series in Los Angeles.

More on the life and work of Bernard Rands is located at www.bernardrands.com and www.schott-music.com. 

Bernard Rands

Preludes (2007)
for solo piano
40’

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