Tag Archives: Ragamalika—Four Pieces for Piano

Ragamalika—Four Pieces for Piano

Ragamalika—Four Pieces for Piano

Ragamalika—Four Pieces for Piano

This piece by Gerald Levinson was commissioned by pianist Marcantonio Barone. Ragamalika means “garland of ragas” and describes a practice in North Indian classical music where the soloist departs from one principal raga (melodic mode) and whirls through a series of others. The influence of Balinese gamelan can be hard in the bell-like resonances and flowing textures of the first and fourth pieces, “Prelude” and “Postlude”. The third, “En blanc et noir (pour les sonorities opposes),” is a study in opposed sonorities in homage to Debussy.

Ragamalika—Four Pieces for Piano, by Gerald Levinson, Theodore Presser Company, www.presser.com.