A musical thread runs through Work For Four Hands, as the title suggests. The story takes the form of a duet between the two voices of Alison Buxton and her cousin Benedict Vern, with the sound of the piano never far away. Benedict says little but communicates much – through music, rather than with words.
I've been asked for Benedict's playlist a number of times, and so here it is:
First and foremost is a Debussy prélude which, in a way, is a theme tune for the entire book. It's La fille aux cheveux de lin, number 8 from the Premier Livre.
Other composers are important too:Dohnányi |
Six Concert Études, Op.28, particularly numbers 3 and 4 |
Scriabin |
Sonata number 2 in G sharp minor; Études |
Rachmaninov |
Préludes Op.23, nos.5 and 2 |
Chopin |
Préludes (number 4 in particular); Nocturnes; Scherzos; Mazurkas |
Bartók |
Allegro Barbaro |
Mendelssohn |
Lieder ohne Worte, Caprice in A Minor, Perpetuum Mobile in C |
Liszt |
B minor sonata and Jeux d'Eaux à la Villa d'Este |
Ligeti |
Musica Ricercata |