related works
Genre:
Vocal music
Subgenre:
Voice and piano
Scoring:
zang pf(org)
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Piano 4 hands
Scoring:
pf-4h
The Memory of Roses / Louis Andriessen
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Piano; Piano 4 hands; Violin and keyboard instrument
Scoring:
pf / pf4h / vl pf / vc / ob trb glock / hp / voice pf / sopr fl vc / GK4
Sonate biblique : pour la fête de Noël, piano à 4-mains / Marius Monnikendam
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Piano 4 hands
Scoring:
pf4h
composition
The Little Prince : Suite for piano four hands / Rens Tienstra
Author(s):
Tienstra, Rens
(Composer)
Description:
The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1900–1944) is the story of an aviator who, stranded in the desert, encounters a young prince. During their talks, he discovers the prince has visited various planets, Earth being the last of his visits. Although styled as a children’s book, The Little Prince is known and famous for its profound observations about themes of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. The book has been translated into over 505 different languages and dialects worldwide, being the second most translated work ever published.
The current work for piano four hands is a musical reflection on the book’s themes and atmosphere, in line with similarly-spirited French works such as Ravel’s Ma Mère l'Oye, Debussy’s Children’s Corner and Poulenc’s L’histoire de Babar.
In particular, it was the versatile playing of pianists Stanislav Jar and Laura Balicov that motivated this composition. The suite is dedicated to Stanislav and Laura, in recognition of their highly-inspired and dedicated musicianship.
Rens Tienstra