LETTER TO THE IMMORTAL BELOVED

Correspondence for mandolin and piano

Duration5'

InstrumentationMandoline et piano

Opus numberOpus 2

« "Forever yours, forever mine, forever ours." »

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Author’s Note

Whether penned in the Middle Ages or sent by text message today, love letters all seem contemporary: between their lines, the same fragile yet incandescent human essence surfaces, where fear and anticipation mingle with anxiety, joy, hope, and frustration. By translating this intricate web of emotions into sound, my Letter to the Immortal Beloved gives form to these timeless feelings and retraces this silent epic that everyone experiences upon falling in love, this truth of the heart that is magnificently condensed in the final words of the letters found at Beethoven's home after his death, addressed to an unknown recipient: "Forever yours, forever mine, forever ours."

« And sometimes, when words are truly no longer enough, we write music. »

Publisher’s Note

This score is intended for mandolinists and pianists wishing to explore a repertoire of expressive chamber music that delves into the fragility of emotions. Conceived in the spirit of a sonata, the work places the two instruments on equal footing: they converse, respond to, and support each other, each occupying an essential place in the musical discourse. The mandolin, in particular, explores expressive tremolo, arpeggios, and the full range of the fingerboard, while the piano unfolds a rich and enveloping style. At the heart of their dialogue lies a captivating melody that lingers in the memory long after the last note has faded.

Premiere

Julien Martineau x Vanessa Benelli Mosell May 17, 2021 Théâtre de l'Alliance Française, Paris

Performance