John McCabe

Berceuse (Study No.13) for Piano

Berceuse was commissioned by the Birmingham Chamber Music Society for their Diamond Jubilee Season, 2011/12 - the first performance was given by John McCabe on 18th February 2012 at the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire. It is dedicated to John and Mary Joubert. The piece derives from three sources: the idea of the classical/romantic Berceuse (though in this case not so much a lullaby for children as is sometimes the case), the notion of two alternating themes of equal importance, and the style of piano writing in which the main part of the melody is heard in the left hand, rather than being right-hand tune plus left-hand accompaniment. The two main themes are closely related in style and content, and towards the end they are heard together simultaneously, in simplified form, quietly revealing the dual texture for which the piece has been striving.
John McCabe (2011)