Damase, Jean-Michel : Toccatine C-Dur
Work Overview
First Publisher:Henry Lemoine
Instrumentation:Piano Solo
Genre:toccata
Copyright:Under Copyright Protection
Commentary (1)
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
Last Updated: December 1, 2020
[Open]
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
The Piece
It is a five-page miniature in free form. Allegro, 4/4 time, C major. The cover indicates "Moyen" (Intermediate), suggesting it is also intended for learners. The opening section, primarily featuring alternating chords played by both hands, presents musical ideas consisting solely of subtle harmonic changes. Gradually, expansive melodies skillfully coordinated between both hands and light melodies in the high register appear fragmentarily, leading to a lively development. Modulations occur frequently, but the transitions are easy to follow. Given the relatively moderate metronome marking (quarter note = 116), one approach might be to aim for a veiled, delicate sound, emphasizing the refined harmonic shifts within a narrow range rather than overemphasizing mechanical agility.
Dedication and Matthieu Gonet
This work was dedicated to Matthieu Gonet (b. 1972), who was 13 years old at the time. Gonet's talent was discovered by Gabriel Tacchino in his early childhood, and he was active from an early age, for example, playing the hands of Mozart on the harpsichord in a 1982 TV drama (aired on French private broadcaster TF1) depicting Mozart's boyhood (at age 10). Later, at the age of 14, Gonet was admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris, where he studied under Yvonne Loriod and others. In the 1990s, he expanded into musicals and popular music, establishing his reputation as a composer, conductor, and pianist. Currently, he is primarily active in composing music for film and television. Recent film scores include "The Canterville Ghost" (based on Oscar Wilde's novel, 2016) and "Madame" (released in Japan in November 2018).