The Puppet Waltz - solo piano

“The Puppet Waltz is a dramatic and emotional piece in two sections. The first half is slow and sombre but also lyrical and beautiful. The mood is one of deep sadness felt by two waltzing puppets. They are sad because they know they will never be free to move and dance by themselves, their movements will always be determined by external forces, preventing them from experiencing the freedom to express themselves independently. The waltzing puppets long to be free and alive and to dance their own dance.

In the second half of the composition, the tempo quickens, and the character of the music transforms from its previous sombre tones into a lively, whimsical, and playful atmosphere. In this section, the puppets have unexpectedly escaped the constraints of their strings. The music becomes a celebration of their newfound freedom as the puppets revel in the joy of dancing autonomously.