Tiriel Suite: for violoncello & piano: 32 (Meladina Music)

TIRIEL-SUITE for cello and piano, op. 41c bis, 1983/2019, 17’ . Opera “Tiriel” op. 41, after William Blake’s first prophetic poem, was written by Dmitry N. Smirnov in 1985 in Moscow and staged in 1989 in Freiburg, Germany. This is a dark apocalyptic parable, which action occurs at the dawn of human history. The old blind Tiriel, a former tyrant removed from power and filled with the thirst for revenge, sends devastating, malicious curses to all destined to cross his path—to his sons, daughters, brothers, dear old parents Har and Heva, and, finally, to himself, and by this he brings death to all humanity. In the epilogue of the opera, the goddess Mnetha sings a lullaby to mankind, which had already passed away, saying that the evil, which led to this catastrophe, is inherent in human nature itself. The symphonic prologue to the opera is based on the motifs of this lullaby. Author’s transcription of the prologue: “Tiriel”, op. 41c, for cello and piano, has long been included in the repertoire of quite a few distinguished cellists. The same piece opens the “Tiriel Suite”, which is created by the composer in February 2019. The four movement cycle also contains: 2. The Dance of Har and Heva (from the 2nd scene), 3. Arioso of Har (from the 3rd scene) and 4. The Tyger, a song setting of Blake’s the most famous poem, which in the opera sounds at the beginning of the 4th scene singing by Ijim, the wild brother of Tiriel. The edition is provided with cello part attached to the score.