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World Premieres of Two New Works for Solo Piano by Vijay Iyer

Jun. 24, 2022

World Premieres of Two New Works for Solo Piano by Vijay Iyer

Last month saw the world premieres of two works for solo piano by Vijay Iyer. For My Father, composed in memory of the composer's father, Dr. Yegnaswami Raghunathan, was commissioned by DACAMERA and premiered by Sarah Rothenberg on May 10 at The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas. Plinth (for Kwame Ture)was premiered by Shai Wosner at the Wiener Konzerthaus on May 25. The piece was composed as a variation on a theme by Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Remember, remember always, that all of us are descended from immigrants and revolutionists." The composer notes:

"Plinth (for Kwame Ture) celebrates the life and activism of Kwame Ture (born Stokely Carmichael, 1941-1998), an immigrant from Trinidad to the U.S. who became a fierce champion for civil rights. With his robust critique, tireless organizing, and visionary transnational scope, Ture challenged the idea of the well-behaved, assimilated immigrant, instead committing himself to the cause of equal rights for all. This piece does not narrate his life, but aims to offer an occasion to contemplate his legacy, as a pedestal displays and gives support to a sculpture."

Listen to Vijay Iyer's Crown Thy Good from the "America/Beautiful" Project (2021):

(Crown Thy Good/Vijay Iyer/Min Kwon, piano)

To learn more about Vijay Iyer, visit: schott-music.com.


Vijay Iyer
For My Father (2021)
In memoriam Y. Raghunathan (1933-2021)
for solo piano
I. Prelude: Orison
II. Fugue: Upastuti
10'

Plinth (for Kwame Ture) (2020)
for solo piano
8'

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