Dr. Vera Ivanova, Composer
Vera Ivanova,
composer

'...internationally recognized as an emerging artist of great talent.'

Campus Times (University of Rochester/Eastman)

Octavissimo

for piano (2018)

Octavissimo is composed at Mark Robson’s request for his “Debussy project” – a collection of twelve pieces composed by different Los Angeles composers to commemorate Claude Debussy’s anniversary through alluding to one of Debussy’s “12 Études” (L 136, composed in 1915).

Program Notes:
Octavissimo is composed at Mark Robson’s request for his “Debussy project” – a collection of twelve pieces composed by different Los Angeles composers to commemorate Claude Debussy’s anniversary through alluding to one of Debussy’s “12 Études” (L 136, composed in 1915). Given an option, I picked Debussy’s “Étude V” (Pour les octaves), being attracted to intricate hexachordal patterns of quickly alternating sixteen notes, alternating between unisons and octaves, and framed by Romantic (not yet impressionistic) use of octaves in outer sections of this Debussy’s miniature. Apart from an inexact quote from this etude, I also loosely quoted another well-known Debussy composition – his Prelude II for piano from Book I “Voiles…” (1909), which precedes the quote from Pour les octaves. The humorous ending is in a spirit of yet another Debussy’s miniature – “Golliwogg’s Cakewalk” (1906-08) from his suite for piano “Children’s Corner” (L 119).

Instrumentation
piano
Movements
1
Duration
c. 3 minutes
Premiere
Piano Spheres concert series, Mark Robson's recital on September 11, 2018
Score Sample
Ivanova, Vera - Octavissimo-p1
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Performances:

September 15th, 2018
Octavissimo, for piano (2018) - Mark Robson
Villa Aurora (Pacific Palisades, CA)
This piece was commissioned by Mark Robson and Piano Spheres for the "Debussy Project" commemorating the composer's anniversary.
World Premiere
September 11th, 2018
Octavissimo, for piano (2018) - Mark Robson
Zipper Hall (Los Angeles. CA)
This piece was commissioned by Mark Robson and Piano Spheres for the "Debussy Project" commemorating the composer's anniversary.
Preview of the World Premiere
September 6th, 2018
Octavissimo, for piano (2018) - Mark Robson
Santa Monica Public Library (Santa Monica, CA)
This piece was commissioned by Mark Robson and Piano Spheres for the "Debussy Project" commemorating the composer's anniversary.