Berceuse Pour Deux (1997)    

Michael Elliott

Michael wrote this delightful work to celebrate the births of our younger children, Virginia and Edward.  It is composed in such a way that the parts can be played individually, as solos, or together on two pianos, piano one being written in 6/8 time and piano two in 2/4 time.

The lullaby displays to great effect a poignant lyricism within a contrapuntal framework.  As each part is written to stand alone, we have chosen on this recording to begin the piece with a statement of the second lullaby's opening theme.  Piano 1 then enters in bar 9 with a beautiful melody, which features octave leaps and falling seconds and leads us into the central section of

 the work with its interplay between the pianos.  A climax of scalic passages follows, after which the lyrical opening melody of Piano 1 returns to bring this exquisite miniature to its gentle conclusion.

Michael Elliott studied composition with Lennox Berkeley at the Royal Academy of Music.  His instrumental works include his Piano Sonata premièred at the Cardiff Music Festival and his Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor which was premièred and toured by the Malmö Orchestra of Sweden. He has also written numerous choral works.  This lullaby is the third work that he has written for the Cann Twins.

© Claire and Antoinette Cann 1996