Williams: The Dream of Olwen

This haunting piano piece, from the 1947 movie, “While I Live,” is the “Urtext Edition” by composer, Charles Williams, and is similar to other piano solos of this era which display a grand, “concerto” style. The main theme features a rolling arpeggiated left hand accompaniment under the lyrical melodic line of the right hand, ranging from whisper soft to dramatic, crashing fortissimos. There are contrasting sections such as the “cantando” portion where left hand takes over melodic duties under delicately rolling right hand sixteenth note patterns. This is a dramatic, emotional concert piece that will be an enjoyable musical adventure for both pianist and audience.