Noctave
The piece
The piece follows the two-part plan of Hungarian dance music: a slow, dark lassan, then a friska that runs away with itself; both words appear in the score. After a Lento a capriccio introduction, the Andante mesto unfolds a sombre melody decorated with runs and trills. The friska begins pp, then gradually gains speed and brilliance; shortly before the end, the score leaves room for a cadenza ad libitum, at the performer's choice, before a hammered Prestissimo.
Over eight minutes long, with a range stretching almost from one end of the keyboard to the other, from a low C-sharp to a high A: stamina and geography are the first challenges. The lassan piles up ornaments, with 109 trills and 191 grace notes across the piece, which should sound improvised without losing the pulse. In the friska, the 716 octaves and the staccato notes call for a light arm; in places the hands cross, one above the other (the score marks sopra and sotto), so you need to plan their paths. Practise the friska in short loops before following the written acceleration.