Waldstein Express

6 minutes.  Based on the opening two measures of Beethoven's Sonata No. 21 in C major.
Performed at the 2009 Slobomir International Music Competition in Bijeljina, Repubic of Srpska.
2 pianos - 8 hands,   2 pianos - 4 hands,    1 piano - 4 hands       $15 electronic delivery       ORDER
8 pianos - 16 hands    $30 electronic delivery      ORDER

VIDEO: Dubravka Radovic, Jasna Jusovic, Vesna Zelenovic, Milena Vukosavljevic, Slavisa Stojanovic, pianos (students of Prof. Dr. Dubravka Jovicic), performed May 2009 in Bijeljina, Repubic of Srpska

Video of complete work

WALDSTEIN EXPRESS
for 2-pianos 8-hands
Dubravka Radovic, Jasna Jusovic,
Vesna Zelenovic, Milena Vukosavljevic,
Slavisa Stojanovic
(all students of Prof. Dr. Dubravka Jovicic).
performed May 2009 in Bijeljina, Repubic of Srpska

There were five students who wanted to perform this piece, so to add to the humor of the piece, the fifth player meanders in as though he is a passerby, and rotates into the piece.  What enthusiasm in this performance! 

The work is based on the opening two measures of Beethoven's Sonata No. 21 in C major "Waldstein" and also briefly quotes Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Bach's Prelude in C major from the WTC, plus a little Gershwin and Jerry Lee Lewis.

 

Ayers' Waldstein Express selected for national composers' conference

photo of John Brown concertApril 3, 2009.   Jesse Ayers' Waldstein Express for 2-pianos 8-hands was performed at the national conference of the Society of Composers held in Santa Fe April 2009.  This is the second time Ayers music has been performed at an SCI national. In 2005, his work for wind orchestra The Fire of the Living God was performed at the SCI National Conference in Greensboro, NC.

 

 

 

Program Notes

Minimalist Beethoven rushing down the tracks!  Waldstein Express is an energetic fantasia based on the first movement of Beethoven's Sonata No. 21, (Op. 53) "Waldstein."   Beethoven's opening two measures are repeated throughout (á la Steve Reich) as a ground bass, with other motivic fragments from Beethoven's original appearing in the upper voices along with freely composed material.  Other cameo appearances include the bass line from the coda of the first movement Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, the opening of the C major prelude from the Bach "Well Tempered Clavier," a little Gershwin, and a little Jerry Lee Lewis.

The score carries the dedication "to my friend and colleague, Sandra Carnes, Chair of the Department of Fine Arts and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies, Malone University."