24 Preludes for Cello and Piano, Op. 47
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Piano
- Composed
- 1999
- Duration
- 46'
- Publisher
- Sikorski
Purchase or download
About this piece
Composed in 1999, this cycle of 24 preludes follows the circle of fifths through every major and minor key and is meant to be heard as a single continuous composition. Auerbach draws on many styles to reflect a contradictory era of madness, loneliness, brutality and nostalgia, and the final D minor prelude gathers themes from all 24 as tonality dissolves under apocalyptic piano chords. Commissioned by Tom and Vivian Waldeck with the Caramoor International Music Festival and dedicated to John Neumeier, it was first heard as a ballet in Hamburg in 2003 and premiered in concert at Caramoor in 2008 by Alisa Weilerstein and the composer.
Technical overview
Twenty-four contrasting miniatures spanning a wide stylistic and expressive range (markings include Allegro obsessivo, Tragico, Grave, Tempo di valse, Scherzando, Allegro appassionato), demanding command of every key and rapid changes of character; the cycle's context and order are, in the composer's words, very important for its comprehension.