Citadelle

The artists’ inner world is their citadel, the source of their inspiration and a refuge where they may reconnect with themselves.

A plaintive song emanates from the cello, supported by granitic, unchanging piano chords. The piano then takes the floor with a powerful theme in long note values (meas. 13) that unfolds in various instrumental combinations.

The light, carefree beginning of the following section (meas. 38-77) is reminiscent of a dance yet it gradually loses momentum to the point where it finally disappears. The chords, plaintive song and initial theme then resurface (meas. 78-115) but their heavy, tragic and sinister progression collapses on itself in the end.

The final section (meas. 116-188) is also a dance and the use of harmonics and pizzicato gives it an ethereal character. Like so many pleas, begging motifs lead to recollections of the beginning (meas.189-221) before an inexorable ascent towards a massive, hieratic chord.

The initial chords bring the piece to a close on a hopeful note.