Tales of an Old Grandmother

Tales of an Old Grandmother, Op. 31 (Russian: Сказки старой бабушки, translit. skazki staroĭ babushki) is a piano composition by Sergei Prokofiev. It was composed in 1918 premiered by the composer itself on January 7 next year in New York City. It has an approximated duration of ten minutes and it was first published in Moscow in 1922. It was composed during Prokofiev's exile in the United States after the outbreak of the Russian revolution. An arrangement for orchestra also exists.

Background

The pianistic output of this period is scarce since Prokofiev centered all his efforts into composing his opera The Love for Three Oranges. He also composed around that time Four Pieces, Op. 32. Both were composed in order to mitigate his ongoing economic situation due to the delay of the opera's premiere;[1] however, he did not obtain the money in royalties he expected for them.[2]

Description

The piece can be described as an old grandmother narrating tales to his young grandson that listens carefully in her lap. Its a musical page full of nostalgia.[3]

The work comprises four untitled movements:

  1. Moderato
  2. Andantino
  3. Andante assai
  4. Sostenuto

References

  1. ↑ Prokófiev 1991, pp. 266–68.
  2. ↑ Juan Sebastian Avendaño Fonseca. "Contextualización de la Sonata n. 2 op. 14 en Re menor de Sergei Prokofiev" (PDF) (in Spanish).
  3. ↑ "Prokofiev, S.: Childhood Manuscripts (Dossin)". www.naxos.com. Retrieved 2018-01-09.

Sources

  • Prokofiev, Sergei (1991). Soviet Diary 1927 and Other Writings. London: Faber and Faber.
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