Colin Matthews

Eleven Studies in Velocity

Although, as the title of these bold studies from 1987 implies, they are all fast, they are not in the first place studies in pianistic virtuosity, so much as studies in various ways of composing fast music. All are short and concentrated, with few lasting more than a minute. The pianist is free to select both the order of performance and the number of studies to play. The total duration of all eleven pieces is around 13 minutes. ‘Fast music of individuality and wit; the fact that they may be performed in (almost) any order adds an extra dimension to their whimsical but frequently inspired play with familiar materials and textures. They should be widely taken up.’ Musical Times (Keith Potter), October 1987