Helena Winkelman

Impromptu

In her Impromptu, Helena Winkelman conjures an atmosphere of timelessness, employing musical elements variously meditative and percussive, punctuated by shadowy accents in the contrabass register and delicate flourishes in the soprano. This masterful composition, engrossing and adventurous, is a rewarding challenge for the performer.

Performing notes
Attentive pedaling is key to producing the spectral resonances in this Impromptu.
The impressionistic atmosphere of the piece requires a carefully gauged use of all three pedals, even where not expressly noted in the score.
Especially with the right pedal many small ad lib. changes are necessary to create this impressionistic atmosphere. The central pedal only holds the bass notes.
Care must be taken that the pedals are not changed at the same time to avoid the third pedal affecting notes that should not be.
The composer wrote Impromptu with Schubert's Hungarian Melody (D817) playing in her mind's ear, and suggests that her Impromptu be programmed to follow it attacca in performance.