Pulchinella

Suite italienne  (from Pulcinella) by Igor Stravinsky (1934)

I Introduction

It is a shame that both the pianist and the violinist

Play as individuals soloists and not as a duet.

Not much feeling there.

II Serenata

They are getting slowly in the mood

It is still very mechanical and automatic

I suppose not enough common rehearsals

It is but an intellectual exercise.

III Tarantella

Slowly the violinist gets involved in the music

As she goes deeper she digs deeper

By that I mean she is using her body

To support the music by stepping firmly on her legs

To deliver the twang of a moody gypsy player

In a dark exotic smoky inn.

IV  Gavotte con due varianzoni

The mood changes suddenly

With swift and quick bow movements

And discordant banging on the piano

Curious and interesting facial expression of the pianist

Like an anxious bird in an adrenalin rush. 

They are now together and the music is alive.

Slow and elegant cadence of a mating game

Firm and powerful strokes of the bow

With the pianist in and out of the music

In a trance like state

When he realizes he is playing with somebody.

The audience is utterly still mesmerized

The violin seems to follow the rhythm of my writing

It clicks with every letter that I trace on the program

It's in a staccato rhythm while I am smoothly tracing the words

What a fusional and weird experience.

It is like a game to see who can be the swiftest,

And who will give up first.

They accelerate in a crescendo and I can't follow them there

As I am restrained by the size of the paper

And the intrinsic slowness of letter tracing.

They finish abruptly knowing they have won the game.

V Minuetto finale

It is again a game but this time between the pianist and the violinist

He keeps to a strict cadenced rhythm;

While she tries to lead him astray on the violin

He is relentless, she is circumventing him,

Trying to get under his guard by playing a few bars with him

Then taking him away in high variations

That flirts until they join together

In an almost jazzy air

To freedom, joy, youth and happiness.

 

The audience is giving them a standing ovation.

L. Bailliet ©

18/05/2012