Sussman, H :: 3 Preludes en Miniatura

Henry Sussman - 3 Prelude Miniatures ( from the depths of the ocean ) for piccolo and piano. In three movements - I. L extasi de l abisme [The ecstasy of the abyss]; II. La santa benediccio del polp infantil [Holy blessing of the infant octopus]; and III. A les respiraderos hidrotermica. Ritu de les bavoses mistiques [At the hydrothermal vent. Rite of the mystic slugs].

The 3 Preludis hold a particular emphasis on the low and mid-range of the piccolo both aggressively and lyrically. The first movement s bubbling lines in the piccolo are driven by the piano s dark ostinato underneath, with moments of Romanticism bleeding through. The second movement begins with a piccolo recitative over the piano s descending slow arpeggiations; high hymnlike chords in the piano slowly emerge, with the piccolo unfurling with running notes based on the recitative. The third movement s aggressive beginning and end, highly rhythmic, is broken by a dreamlike piano texture underneath the singing line of the piccolo.