Chaconne

‘The work was written in 1962 during my studies at the Moscow Conservatory. The Chaconne is my first commissioned work, commissioned by the pianist Marina Mdiwani, a pupil of Emil Gilels and winner of the first Tchaikovsky Competition. I tailored the piece to the specific abilities of this pianist, who has a powerful chordal playing and a lively temperament.
In contrast to the traditional Chaconne, this one is extremely virtuosic and rich in contrast. It consists essentially of chordal variations that display a strong dynamic tendency towards the end.’ (Sofia Gubaidulina)