Nickos Harizanos (GR) – To B
Nickos Harizanos about his piano piece “To B”
“The work “To B” is accompanied by a subtitle “… the ghosts he was hunting, are still here”, a quote written by the composer and referred to Beethoven’s unrealisable dreams and ideas as long as to the work’s character and symbolisms. Everything in the work is based on the dualism or has a frontal descriptive meaning and a second symbolic or metaphorical layer. The piece is divided in two distinctive parts. In the first there is an extensive use of modal scales with an ascending move which mix in the middle and lead to the second part where all the material are developed. The pianist is requested to hum and sing some notes with the mouth closed, hit and mute the strings in the soundboard of the piano and also to have some specific notes always sustained. All these elements function as a shadow, a ghost of the work, like a work within a work. Finally, in the piece, one can listen to some obsessive repeated notes or short motives that are also metaphorically connected with Beethoven’s often use of such musical material that carrieslso a meaning – core idea far from the music.”
Sheet Music Edition Vol. 1 – available here: SHOP
Piano piece “To B” – Concerts
22. April 2015 – world premiere – Rheinhotel Dreesen, Bonn – Susanne Kessel, piano
23. August 2015 – Studio der Beethovenhalle, Bonn – Susanne Kessel, Klavier
About Nickos Harizanos (*1969)
Nickos Harizanos was born in Athens. He studied composition, orchestration, harmony, and counterpoint in Athens from 1992 to 1999. He then continued his studies in composition at Manchester University (2000-2001), graduating with a research Master’s degree (MMus) in composition. He has been offered an open place for PhD studies in composition at the University of Cardiff (UK). His music has been performed in Europe, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America. He has received numerous first prizes and distinctions in international and national composers competitions. His music has been broadcast by the Greek National TV and Radio stations along with International TV stations in Spain, and Radio stations in the USA and Europe. Nickos is member of the Greek Composers Union (GCU), the Hellenic Electroacoustic Music Composers Association (HELMCA) (Greece), Research Centre of Contemporary Music (founded by Iannis Xenakis) (KSYME) (Greece). His name is included in Who Is Who Encyclopaedia (2006 edition onwards). His works are published by Schott (Germany), Editions Musica Ferrum (U.K.), Da Capo Music Ltd (U.K.), Gold Branch Music Inc. (U.S.A.), Arcomis (U.K.), Contemporary Music Research Centre (KSYME – CMRC) (Greece). Website Nickos Harizanos