Terrence Niska
Composer • Arranger
Opus 3, No. 24
Composer Notes
Whereas Naturszenen No.16 is the aftermath of a forest fire, this scene takes place during the height of the inferno. One cannot escape the sense of a ravenous hunger found in the incessant motion of the piece as the flames leap from tree to tree, engulfing all in their path. The air is choked with ash and a heat that cannot be withstood. The flames reach ever higher driven by winds created as a result of the intense heat. Nothing can stop the destruction until all sources of fuel have been devoured.
This piece evokes a definite feeling of the late Classical/early Romantic period and the technical demands on the pianist are not insignificant. While there is a melody to be brought out in the right hand amidst the constant swirl of 16th notes, the left hand leaps about to fill in the harmonic underpinnings.