Four is a 9-minute piece for four hands piano characterized by rhythmic vitality and syncopation, a reflective and lyrical middle section, and a jazz-influenced finale, which involves some fun position changing and clapping.
Chika Nagisa and Ikuma Itoh perform Four in Tokyo in 2011.
PROGRAM NOTES
Four began as a set of four variations based on two themes: one quick and syncopated, the other broadly lyrical. After several performances I created this shorter version combining the first variation, part of the third variation, and the fourth variation into a single movement. The title refers to a predominant structural motif: four hands, 4/4 time, and the lyrical theme is (mostly) in four phrases of four notes moving up (or down) a scale. There is no definitive presentation of the themes; each section offers a perspective, like viewing the same object through different lenses.
— Bruce Stark
Four was commissioned in 2008 by Keys To The Future, and premiered at Mannes College the following year by Karen Hakobyan and Gabriel Escudero.