Commissioned by the Dranoff Two Piano Foundation for its 2008 International Competition

  • 2pf
  • 10 min

Programme Note

Lilliburlero is an Irish dance tune; it was first
published in Henry Purcell’s Musick’s Handmaid
(1689). Various inflammatory political lyrics were
written to the tune in the late 17th century. Several
composers have used the melody as the basis for
compositions, including the British composer,
Madeleine Dring, who published Three Fantastic
Variations on Lilliburlero for two pianos, in 1948.