Nikolai Karlovich Medtner ： Forgotten Melodies Book 1 Festa Dance Op.38-3

“Festa Dance,” from Medtner’s Forgotten Melodies Book 1, is a piano miniature filled with the lively energy and festive exhilaration suggested by its title. Strong rhythms and vivid movement of the notes drive the piece forward, while contrasting expressions that suggest changes of scene provide an additional point of interest. It is important to maintain a clear sense of pulse from the opening without allowing the melody to become obscured. Where a gentler character appears, reducing the volume and shaping the flow carefully helps create contrast. In the more brilliant passages, bringing out the resonance of the chords and coordinating the smaller details, rather than relying on momentum alone, reveals the work’s brilliance. Toward the close, the performer should maintain the tension and lead the music to a dignified conclusion.