Composer’s Note:

Homage To Corelli is dedicated to Claire and Antoinette Cann who are presenting the World Premiere of this magnificent work.

Homage to Corelli was inspired by Terry Winter Owens’ love of La Follia, a set of variations by the Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli. While La Follia is based on a folk tune, the Homage to Corelli is based on an original theme by Owens. The 15 variations are strongly Baroque in style and idiom but the theme itself, consisting of seven rather than the customary eight measures, embodies both a major and minor dominant – elements which give the music a modal flavor and poetic expressiveness.

The 15 variations present the theme in many aspects – beginning with a lyrical unfolding of the theme, to a majestic declaration, to a tender Cantabile and culminating in an impassioned Presto. As the work progresses, the variations become increasingly abstract and technically demanding yet always retain an enchanting, lyric quality. The two pianos are wedded into a whole, often perceived to be greater than its parts and play against one another in characteristically Baroque counterpoint. The stunning resonance and richness of two pianos was a source of great inspiration to the composer.

The tradition of composers paying homage to other composers is a glorious one and has brought great works to the concert repertoire. Beethoven composed variations on a theme by Diabelli, Brahms on a theme by Handel, Rachmaninoff on a theme by Paganini. Schumann paid homage to Chopin and Ravel to Couperin. The list goes on and on.