Prélude en Sol Mineur

Having played that little "Impressions du Soir" last night, I had the impulse to do some more "summertime dream music," and I think I came up with a good one!

César Antonovich Cui (18 January 1835 – 13 March 1918) was a Russian composer and music critic of French, Polish and Lithuanian descent. His profession was as an army officer (he rose to the rank of Engineer-General and a teacher of fortifications, and his avocational life has particular significance in the history of music. In this sideline he is known as a member of The Five, a group of Russian composers under the leadership of Mily Balakirev dedicated to the production of a specifically Russian type of music.

Cui composed in almost all genres of his time, with the distinct exceptions of the symphony, symphonic poem and the solo concerto. By far art songs constitute the greatest number of works by Cui; these include a few vocal duets and many songs for children.

In addition, Cui wrote many works for piano and for chamber groups (including three string quartets), numerous choruses, and several orchestral works, but his most significant efforts are reflected in the operas, of which he composed fifteen of varying proportions. Cui's works are not so nationalistic as those of the other members of The Five.

When I say that I wanted to play "dream music," that is how I conceived my performance.

Your dream begins. Not a nightmare, but still dark. You wander, then see something that looks familiar to you. Perhaps a lost love...

In your mind you hear it call to you, and you seek to wander down a once familiar street...

But that street is familiar no more. Your heart is pulled, perhaps to the point of breaking. You WANT it to be real, and you try to make it so, but it isn't.

Whatever it was, it's time is past, and you have to let it go, as you begin to drift back to some sense of consciousness.

The dream ends, you are "awakened."

But the sadness remains...

The score and photos are attached below.