Thomas Daniel Schlee

Romance sans paroles op. 66a

The intimate atmosphere of the first of the 'Trois Poèmes' op. 66 is evoked here in a purely instrumental form - technically easily accessible, with an expressive melodic and corresponding harmonic treatment.

I.: The opening movement is reserved for the piano; the initially earnest, solitary cantilena intensifies creating expectation. Suddenly
II.: the violin sounds. Its moving figures replace the now silent piano, also soloistically.
III. 'Passacaglia': The title is taken literally - the two instruments/persons encounter each other in the street. Two musical characters who meet at a specific point, recognize each other, but move on again, each one by itself.
IV. 'Rondo': The two of them dance together. Before me, I saw people dancing the Sardana - a round dance - in front of the cathedral of Barcelona. Four themes in different time signatures circle ceaselessly between the two instruments.
V. 'Fuga': At last, regardless, panic flight - again the title is taken literally ... Human, only too human …