Rocherolle, Eugenie Ricau : Six Moods
Work Overview
First Publisher:Kjos
Instrumentation:Piano Solo
Genre:pieces
Total Playing Time:7 min 00 sec
Commentary (1)
Author : Nishihara, Masaki
Last Updated: February 8, 2024
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Author : Nishihara, Masaki
Rocherolle's first published piano piece. Aside from unpublished etudes, this work marked the starting point of Rocherolle's piano compositions. Until the 1970s, Rocherolle focused on composing choral works, theatrical music, and wind band pieces, but this work served as a turning point, leading to her entry into piano composition. This background is precisely what laid the groundwork for Rocherolle to write numerous piano pieces based on unique ideas, fundamentally differing from other composers who specialized solely in piano. Many current profiles of Rocherolle from various publishers state things like "her first published piano piece was well-received, and she gradually shifted her focus to composing piano music," and "her first published piano piece" indeed refers to this very work. Indeed, even now, I find it to be a highly appealing collection of pieces. Each piece has a title, but it is not direct programmatic music. It is purely about "mood." For example, even the final piece, "Fiesta," evokes not the lively festival itself, but rather the languid afterglow once it has ended. It maintains an appropriate distance from its subject matter. Overall, it is too relaxed to be considered classical, yet too refined for popular piano music. It is suitable for both children and adults to play. Learners can challenge themselves by reaching for it, and performers can use it for a change of pace. It is well-balanced in every aspect, never grows tiresome to listen to, and does not target a specific demographic of players. Rocherolle's overwhelming strength was clearly demonstrated from her very first work. Eventually, Rocherolle's works garnered widespread support from learners, educators, enthusiasts, and performers across the United States, leading her to continue publishing over 100 piano pieces over 40 years.
Pieces
- Pastorale | Allegro, 3/4, G minor
- Mini-March | Allegro, 4/4, C major
- Daydreams | Andante, 4/4, C minor
- Caravan | Moderato, 4/4, D minor
- Downstream | Moderato, 2/2, C minor
- Fiesta | Moderato, 4/4, C major