For many years, creating a sense of permanent motion through harmony and voice leading has been one of my main interests in composition. I have found inspiration in aural illusions such as the Shepard tones, as well as in the optical illusions created by M.C. Escher. In the brief Rhapsody for 2 pianos, I created a progression that moves permanently in contrary motion and expands its register from a unison to 3 octaves over the course of the entire piece. This constant expansion of the register is only briefly interrupted in the middle section of the piece, where an unstable development unfolds but finally succumbs to the strong gravitational force of the opening movement.
Duration: 6 min.
This performance: Marina Kondrashewa, Sebastian Chica