CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Christos Tsitsaros, a professor of piano pedagogy at the University of Illinois School of Music, has been named the 2014 Distinguished Composer of the Year by the Music Teachers National Association.
Tsitsaros won the honor with his composition “Three Preludes for Piano Solo (A Mythical Triptych),” which was commissioned by the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association.
The composition represents something of a departure from Tsitsaros’ usual style of composing. Rather than the traditional composition techniques he’s used in the past, Tsitsaros used modern techniques to produce a more atonal sound with this composition. While the writing in this piece is still traditional, he said, “the sound is more modern than all my previous pieces. It’s a unique piece that I gave a lot of thought to, and it paid off.
“The aim is a piece based on traditional ideas, but with more personal language,” he said.
The music is inspired by Greek mythology. In the first prelude, “Water Nymphs,” Tsitsaros imagines creatures such as nymphs and mermaids, which he described as “very capricious and light and beautiful, but quite vicious at times.” The second prelude is “more subdued and esoteric,” and represents a mystical dance. In the third prelude, Tsitsaros envisions a passionate festival in honor of the Greek god Dionysus. He described the music as a “colorful, energetic, fierce piece with a big dramatic sweep to it.”
The composition was one of 27 entered in the blind competition. Tsitsaros will perform the piece at the Music Teachers National Association Conference in March, and the composition will be placed in the MTNA Commissioned Works Library.
The work has also been published by the Hal Leonard Corp., the largest music publisher in the U.S.
Tsitsaros plans to compose another nine preludes, inspired by his home country of Cyprus, to accompany the three that are part of his winning composition.
The Music Teachers National Association is a national organization of music teachers, with more than 20,000 members and more than 500 local affiliates.
To reach Christos Tsitsaros, call 217-333-3188; email ctsitsar@illinois.edu.
Listen to Tsitsaros perform the first prelude, “Water Nymphs,” recorded at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
