Ronn Yedidia: 12 Preludes for Young Pianists (2000)

Description 12 Preludes for Young Pianists (2000) is the second set of preludes following 12 Preludes for Children. Each piece is composed based on various images, such as fountains, wind, the sea, echoes, and marching gypsies. Through these diverse inspirations, the collection aims to help piano students develop a broader. Preface by Ronn Yedidia I composed the 12 Preludes for Young Pianists in the year 2000 as a second set of short & light preludes to follow the previous set – entitled 12 Preludes for Children (1994-96). This new set, however, ventured into more challenging piano textures, rhythms, melodic lines & musical structures, and explored a wider range of evocative scenery & contrasting expressions. The first eleven preludes were composed within four days during April, 2000. The final Prelude No. 12 (“The Wonderer”) was conceived seventy days later on July 1st, 2000. While most of the preludes in the set are abstractly inspired by various imageries – like a fountain, a candle, echoes, winds, the sea, imaginary gates, marching gypsies etc. – Prelude No. 7 (“Orion’s Nightmare”) sparked while glancing at my then two-year-old son, Orion, during his tender sleep. The nightmare effect lasted only a few seconds but left a permanent imprint on me. Prelude No. 11 (“April Winds”) is the stormiest, most traditionally romantic, and most technically challenging of the entire set. The other preludes may be viewed as impressionistic or modernistic miniatures, albeit firmly tonal, evoked by visual associations and propelled via several cycles of perpetual motion. Ronn Yedidia’s compositions have galvanized the attention of performing artists worldwide during the last two decades. His works have been featured in major concert halls and documented on film, radio and television. He has won high critical acclaim from leading newspapers around the world, as both composer and pianist. Born in 1960 in Tel Aviv, Israel, he began his musical career as a child prodigy pianist, winning 1st Prize at the Young Concert Artists’ Competition of Israel at the age of eight. His main teacher and mentor was Israel’s first lady of the piano, Pnina Salzman, who herself was a protege of Alfred Cortot. Active as a performer for many years, Ronn decided at the age of 15 to shift his attention towards composition. In 1984 he entered the Juilliard School from which he holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in composition. During his studies there under David Diamond and Milton Babbitt he received all the major prizes in composition, including the Lincoln Center Scholarship, the Irving Berlin Scholarship, the Henry Mancini Prize, and the Richard Rodgers Scholarship. He also won the Juilliard Composition Competition twice – in 1987 & 1989 – and as a result had his works performed at the Juilliard Theater and at Alice Tully Hall.