5 Aphorisms (Schnittke)
Movements
i Moderato assai, inquieto: A tense, restless opening, ii Allegretto: A contrasting, often ironic middle movement, iii Lento: A slow, contemplative piece, iv Senza tempo: A “timeless” piece, often allowing free interpretation of time, v Grave: A final, solemn, and heavy movement.
Notes
Alfred Schnittke’s Five Aphorisms for piano solo (1990) are short, intense musical pieces known for their dense, introspective nature. Written late in his career in 1990, these concise works are characterized by shifting moods, spanning from uneasy moderato to profound grave. Schnittke dedicated the works to pianist Alexandr Slobodyanik (who gave the world premiere at Carnegie Hall that year), and to the Russian poet Brodsky.
