UTSYO CHAKRABORTY __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________
Facing the Night
Three Nocturnes for Solo Piano
To Anand Seshadri, with the greatest respect
"Facing the Night" is a set of three nocturnes composed out of a long-standing desire of writing something exclusive for Anand Seshadri, who has always been a consistent and encouraging supporter of my music. Written in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and having been afflicted by the third wave in the early days of this year, I felt a strong urge to tackle this issue through my music. I wanted to reflect upon what I felt about the virus and its far-reaching implications on the lives of us, common citizens of the world. What came out of this process of rumination were these three shadowy pieces along with coming to terms with the stark self-realisation that nothing is and never will be the same after this viral rampage.
The three nocturnes of this set are: 1. Mystère – a study in trills, tremolos and various permutations of the minor second interval 2. Lumière – flashes of light, sometimes evanescent while sometimes prolonged sparking through the darkness 3. Hymne - a consolation; a tender sigh of moving ahead.
The cycle should last approximately 10 minutes in length.
-U.C.
Mystère
5 Light, suspended [ = 50] Differentiate dynamics!
3
s.
4 3 3 5 5
8
3
3
()
3
5
5
trillo
5
3
3
3
5
12
3 5
5
()
gl is
I.
5
5
3
15
18
()
3
3
3
()
3
3
25
3 5
22
2
3
3
5
3
3 3
3
36
()
3
5
3
3
7
5
3
3
3
3
32
34
s.
3
gl is
29
♭
3
3
3
4
38
()
s gli
s
k) l ac . (b
3
5
3
5
harsh
42
48
3
gliss. (black)
like snow, slowly descending
40
5 6
rubato
3
5 as before, hushed
= 30 molto rit. 3 5 3 3 5 5
slowly raise pedal
II.
7 7 7 Lumière
[ = 120]
3
7
crystalline
7
10
3
3
3
3
2
Rubato [ = 110]
13
3
3
slow arpeggio
16
6
6
19
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
()
6
21
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
23
6
()
25
()
28
7
32
As before [ = 120]
6
7
7
7
radiant
7
crystalline
7
3
37
49
43
3
6 3 6
slow arpeggio
53
4
6
III. Hymne
5
Poignant [ = 72]
tunefully
9
13
17
2
21
25
38
34
29
5
G♯
pedal lightly
42
46
50
54
58
5
tunefully
vanish into the distance... rit.
3