Product Description
Inspired by the new adult sci-fi/fantasy book Trials of the Innermost by Jonathan Fuller & Kristina Kelly, Zinvars Theme is a literal character piece. The 2nd movement of the Etherea Suite, this original piano solo allows players to explore a musical landscape of mystery, magic, and the power of nature, with hints of Gregorian chant, pipe organs, and medieval Europe.
Similar to the first movement (Vayriels theme) of the Etherea Suite, Zinvars Theme explores phrasing, pedaling, varied articulation and timbres, and creating a musical story through sound. This piece would appeal to students who are musically sensitive, who enjoy movies/video games with an adventure element, or those that want to play music that sounds harder than it looks. For piano teachers, this can be an introductory piece before studying Romantic literature of Chopin, Debussy, or Schumann. It could be sight-reading for working on voicing, piano textures, and conveying contrasting themes. Also, the piece is a great addition of new music by a living composer in a studio recital!
For students and piano enthusiasts, technique challenges lie in the left hand, keeping the arpeggiated notes even and smooth, to capture the "ebbing and flowing" atmosphere. Melodic phrases are 4-8 measures long, with a simple melody that should be played with a singing tone. Zinvars theme has an overall ABA form.The piece is moderate tempo, lyrical, with bits of virtuosity towards the end. The middle section carries a dignified tone, followed by a free-form chant-like calmness, before returning to the quiet rumbling that dramatically erupts at the end. For added playful "magic," the opening 6 note melody is based on the letters of Zinvars name.
Co-author Jonathan Fuller described Zinvar this way, the basis of inspiration for the piece: "[Zinvar is] Inquisitive, intelligent, and imaginative, outwardly soft spoken, but inwardly feels deep emotion and passion. His optimism is tempered by knowledge and the loss of his family as a young man, Although part of a religious order he is inherently skeptical of blind belief, but still embraces abstractions like love and fate. I imagine a song that ebbs and flows like a riverat times placid and calming, but underneath an air of urgency that turns into a torrent of rushing melody."
The piece allows opportunities for expression, requires touch sensitivity, attention to pedaling, balance between melody and accompaniment, and showing differences in mood. Average Performance Time 3:33. If you enjoyed this piece or bought it for your student(s), please leave a review! Connect with me via social media and share video performances of this piece and your experience with the music. Feedback is welcome! Thank you! Instagram: @jwupiano | YouTube: www.youtube.com/@JwuPiano
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.