≈ 2 hours and 10 minutes · With intermission
Last updated: July 5, 2019
It is an irrefutable law that art must be rigorously specific in order to have any chance at all of being universal. When Ted Dykstra and I wrote this piece over 20 years ago, we were fearful that it would appeal to only a relatively small group of classical music nerds – or worse, classical piano nerds. At our first workshop presentation, which went far better than we could have dreamed, a friend of ours said to us, “You know, the show‘s not about the piano at all. It’s about tennis!”
One of the most gratifying aspects of performing this show is that when audience members talk to us after the performance, they mostly talk about themselves, and not about us. Whether their dreams were about sports, music, another art form, or being Prime Minister, they all seem to project themselves into this story.
Hundreds of productions on every continent, thousands of performances in several languages, and millions of spectators around the world later, we are humbly reminded just how true the Law of Specificity is. The quest for excellence in any endeavour is a dream that often begins in one’s youth, and is challenged by standards that seem to be unattainable to all but a miniscule portion of the population.
And yet, that doesn’t mean that only those select few should practice any given art form. In the same way that we all should take part in physical activities and political processes, so too should all who are so inclined be engaged with art. The music of the world is way bigger than any of its players.
Indeed, being “two of the best players in the neighbourhood” is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Music featured in 2 Pianos 4 Hands
ACT I
Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052, 1st Movement (J. S. Bach)
Heart and Soul (Hoagy Carmichael)
The Birch Canoe (Leila Fletcher)
By the Stream (Richard Greenblatt)
Our Band Goes to Town (arranged by J. B. Duvernoy)
Sonatina No. 6 in F major (L. van Beethoven)
Sonata No. 16 in C major, “Facile,” 1st Movement (W. A. Mozart)
Sonata for One Piano, Four Hands in D major, 1st Movement (W. A. Mozart)
In Der Halle des Bergkönigs, “In the Hall of the Mountain King”, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Edvard Grieg)
Concerto in D minor, 1st Movement (J. S. Bach)
ACT II
Prelude No. 15 in D flat major, “Raindrop” (Frédéric Chopin)
Asturias “Leyenda” (Isaac Albéniz)
Rondo for Two Pianos, Four Hands in C major (Frédéric Chopin)
Fantasiestücke No. 2 (Robert Schumann)
Sonata No. 8 in C minor, “Pathétique,” 1st and 2nd Movements (L. van Beethoven)
Ballade No. 2 in F major (Frédéric Chopin)
Mephisto Waltz No. 1 (Franz Liszt)
A Medley of Pop Tunes
Impromptu in A flat (Franz Schubert)
My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart)
Piano Man (Billy Joel)
Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052, 1st Movement (J. S. Bach)
Music Credits
“HEART AND SOUL”
Music by Hoagy Carmichael and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Inc.
© 1938 by Famous Music Corp.
Copyright Renewed 1965 by Famous Music Corp. (ASCAP).
“THE BIRCH CANOE”
Music by Leila Fletcher
Mayfair Montgomery Publishing
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“BENNIE AND THE JETS”
Words and Music by Elton John & Bernie Taupin
All rights owned and administered by Universal/Dick James Music Limited, administered by Universal-Songs of Polygram International, Inc./BMI
“IMAGINE”
Written by John Lennon
Courtesy of Lennon Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, L.I.C.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“LINUS AND LUCY”
Written by Vince Guraldi
Courtesy of Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“THE MUSIC BOX DANCER”
Music by Frank Mills
Courtesy of Peter Piper Music Ltd.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“MR. DRESS UP THEME”
Music by Donald Himes
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“THE ENTERTAINER”
Written by Scott Joplin
“NADIA’S THEME”
Written by Barry Devorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr.
Courtesy of Screen Gems, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, L.I.C.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“CHARIOTS OF FIRE”
Written by Vangelis
Courtesy of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, L.I.C.
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“GREAT BALLS OF FIRE”
Words and Music by Otis Blackwell & Jack Hammer
© 1957 (Renewed ©1975) Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI), Mijac Music (BMI), Chappell & Co. (ASCAP) & Mystical Light Music (ASCAP).
Unichappell Music Inc. (BMI) administers all Rights on behalf of itself and Mijac Music (BMI).
Chappell & Co. (ASCAP) administers all Rights on behalf of itself and Mystical Light Music (ASCAP).
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“MY FUNNY VALENTINE”
Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
© 1937 Chappell & Co. (ASCAP) & Williamson Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
All rights owned and administered by Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. (ASCAP) and The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“PIANO MAN”
Written by Billy Joel
© 1973 JoelSongs
All rights owned and administered by Rondor Music Publishing
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
“MEPHISTO WALTZ No.1”
Written by Franz Liszt
Performed by Vladimir Horowitz
Used by arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
2 Pianos 4 Hands was originally produced in April 1996 by the Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, in association with Talking Fingers Inc. and produced across North America and in London, UK by Mirvish Productions (off-Broadway and U.S. tour co-producers with Ben Sprecher and William P. Miller).
Artists
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Production Piano Sponsors
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International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees