Fantasy for two pianos and percussion
2022

In 2022, the composer Elena Sokolovski published a new composition "Music for two pianos and percussion". This piece of music differs from many of her other works by its pronounced, even hypertrophied features of polystylistics. We hear either rock, or pop music, or almost improvisational, intonations appear and disappear, as it were, of "old" music, but based on jazz harmonies and on the absence of metrical correctness. This music is repeatedly permeated with fragments from various compositions of other composers, genres, styles and eras.

The work has three parts. The joyful nature of the music of the first movement blooms with bright colors, creating a feeling of freedom of flight and vast expanse. The second part, due to constantly changing accents in the piano parts and the free vibraphone part, is devoid of a strong beat as such and flows in a continuous stream. The third part contains a quote from Antonio Vivaldi's cycle "The Four Seasons" ("Spring"), "Shape of My Heart" by musician Sting, Concerto No. 1 for clavier and orchestra (D minor) by Johann Sebastian Bach, The Beatles "Let It Be" and Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Pianists, when playing "Shape of My Heart" and "Let It Be", at the direction of the author of the work, must sing along to themselves the melodies of these compositions.

A huge role belongs to the performer on percussion instruments. In the first part, the musician plays the drum set, and in the second and third parts he acts as an academic drummer.

In general, the work of Elena Sokolovski has considerable freedom, melody and should certainly please the audience.

Marina Skrebkova-Filatova,
doctor of arts