Water Fantasia: a World Premiere!

water-fantasia1Masalar, Water Fantasia

Joined by my friend and colleague Joy Tappenden in a read-through of a charming piece for flute and piano, this is a recent rehearsal of Water Fantasia, composed by a student of hers, Marius Masalar. I will be performing this piece here with Joy at Cooksville United Church as part of a student recital that she is hosting on December 21st at 3pm, the last Sunday before Christmas. Joy is the organist and choir director at the Cooksville United, and when we collaborated a few years back – music for a funeral, of all things – we discovered that we are both seasoned members of the Royal College of Examiners, going on the road as ambassadors for the Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations 2-3 times per year conducting music exams for candidates of all ages.

Water Fantasia has really grown on me in the short time that I’ve had to rehearse it with Joy. There is a distinctive style here: fresh, modern, playful, and yet with a few surprises thrown in. Personally I love the contrast between the lyrical and more rhythmic sections, not to mention the carefree sense of humour that comes through…and this in a composition penned by a student who isn’t yet 20 years of age!

Feel free to drop by on Sunday, December 21st if you want to hear some terrific piano playing as performed by some of Joy’s students, along with a more polished version of this original piece for flute and piano! I understand that Mathius is planning on dropping by, so I look forward to meeting him…unless I’m mistaken, this will be the official World Premiere of Water Fantasia!