Oneiroi

solo piano
2013

“an ideal match of passion and humanity”
Seen and Heard International

Duration 9’
First Performance Sunday 7 July 2013; Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau, Mona Asuka Ott
Commissioned by the Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau
Recording Debut Disc At the Speed of Stillness, NMC Records (2015) more info

Charlotte has a worldwide, exclusive publishing agreement with Birdsong
Purchase Materials

Further Performances
12.09.14 Piano Salon Christophori, Berlin, Germany; Julien Quentin
11.04 .15 Specs On! Me Collectors Room, Berlin, Germany; Nestan Bagrationi-Davitashvili
19.05.15 Bilkent New Music Days, Ankara, Turkey; Müge Hendekli (Hezarfen Ensemble)
21.10.16 Stratford Upon Avon Music Festival, UK; Jonathan Musgrave, Contemporary Consort
3.12.16 Metallics Psappha, Manchester; Benjamin Powell Psappha Soloists
16.10.18 Purcell Room, London, UK; Huw Watkins
2.03.24 York Unitarian Chapel, UK; Hilary Suckling piano
13.8.25 Williams Hall, New England Conservatory, Boston, USA; Jialin Yao
30.8.25 Bolzano, Italy; Jakub Sládek, Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
31.8.25 Bolzano, Italy; Jialin Yao, Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
31.8.25 Bolzano, Italy; Yifan Wu, Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition

Commissioned by the Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau
Dedicated to Oliver Knussen

In Greek mythology, dreams are personified by dark-winged spirits called Oneiroi. They emerge at night from their cavernous home in Erebos, the land of eternal darkness beyond the rising sun. According to Homer, the Oneiroi passed through one of two gates: the deceitful dreams through a polished ivory gate, while the prophetic, god-sent dreams issue from a transparent gate made of horn. Since dreams are essentially a private inner space, a hidden dialogue of thoughts and emotions, the parallel of the Oneiroi is fitting in viewing the piece as a Spirit of dreams.

Works by Hans Werner Henze and Oliver Knussen inspired the piece. A dialogue of thoughts flow throughout- an incredibly private inner space, frequently returning to melodies, as if flashes of dream recur. Sometimes dark, isolated, and pensive, and at other times delicate, lyrical, and warmer in character, the music is in constant flux between a clear and a blurred state- one questions whether it is a dream or reality.