Landscape of Shadow and Light - David Evan Thomas

Composer: David Evan Thomas

Instrumentation: Solo piano

Duration: Approx. 7 minutes

Date Written: 2012

Additional Information: Viewed from the side in an abstract way, the piano keyboard is a little black-cliffed Dover coast. Or is it a delta, fed by thirty-odd rivers? It is certainly a landscape, the apparent contours of which change with the season and time of day. Landscape of Shadow and Light traces a Chopinesque path from F minor to A-flat major, but it moves through many other keys on its way, touching each of the 88 keys and even implying some that aren’t there. And is that a Hardanger fiddle tune that pops up en route? It’s a tribute to the dedicatee, Thelma Hunter (1925–2015), who was proud to be “100% Norwegian.” Thelma’s contributions to musical life in the Twin Cities were many and legendary, from teaching at the University of Minnesota to appearing as soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra. Landcape was commissioned  by her family and friends for her 88th birthday; she requested that it include every key of the modern piano.  Pianist Ann DuHamel included Landscape on her Prayers for a Feverish Planet tour, performing the work in dozens of programs, including at the10th Porto Pianofest in Portugal.