Music

La cadenza sia corta

Piano

For piano

La cadenza sia corta was commissioned by Stephen Pruslin, who gave its first performance in London’s Purcell Room in 1974.

About the work

The title is Beethoven’s direction to the soloist – let the cadenza be short – near the end of his fourth piano concerto.

In La cadenza sia corta, it refers to the short, cadenza-like sections which interrupt the main argument — based on a well-disguised mensural canon, with sections for left hand and right hand alone — and finally fuse with it in the coda.

Scores and recordings

La cadenza sia corta was published by Price Milburn Music in 1977.

La cadenza sia corta — publication

A recording was released on LP in 1979.

Flame Tree — LP