Preludes Revisited, for two percussion and piano includes one score.
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Review from Percussive Notes (2026):
This is a collection of pieces inspired by different Frederic Chopin Op. 28 preludes. Calling the method a “transformation,” Mark Saya describes it as follows: “eliminate much of the original prelude, then manipulate the remaining material in a variety of ways with one important restriction: each chosen note remains in the same rhythmic place as it was in the original.” Saya draws parallels of this method to “the music of John Cage, the graphic analyses of Heinrich Schenker, the paintings of Mark Tansey, and the writings of Tom Phillips.”
The Preludes Revisited collection contains eight Chopin preludes, each written for two percussion and one piano (with additional percussion instruments written in the piano part). The works are very much mixed instrumental trios with three equal parts. Overall, the rhythmic content is extremely complex. The layout of the notes is designed to act as one singular melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic entity; therefore, successful performances of these preludes require extremely proficient chamber music skills.
This collection is a unique take on Chopin’s preludes, but it is not accurate to call them transcriptions or even arrangements. They are more so original compositions that take inspiration from Chopin’s source material. In that regard, Preludes Revisited is a compositionally deep collection of works that are rewarding to perform and will scratch the musical itch found in pieces like Bartok’s “Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.”
Reviewed by: Tim Feerst
