Tres estudis contrastats (Three contrasting etudes), for piano

The origin of these Three contrasting etudes stems from a request from my friend, the great pianist Antoni Besses, to write a short piano piece in homage to a composer and friend of his who had recently passed away. This gave rise to Opposing Dialogues. To avoid leaving the work as an isolated piece, I decided to write two additional compositions and form a cycle of Three Studies for Piano.

Diàlegs oposats (Opposite dialogues) plays with the extreme registers of the piano, which converse from a distance. The darkness of the low register contrasts with the brightness of the high register. The music takes on a dramatic character in a large central crescendo that culminates in a tense and dissonant moment. Afterwards, under the initial pedal on C, the music relaxes and returns to the opening dialogue.

Creuaments (Crossings) is a study of serene and melancholic character, built on the constant crossing of the hands as they dialogue across the registers. Following an A–B–A form, the central section offers a climactic point of tension created by the imitative counterpoint of the voices.

Virtuosístic (Virtuosity) is a more conventional study in relation to its title: brilliant, fast, and energetic, it highlights various pianistic techniques in an especially luminous and virtuosic piece.

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