Elizabeth Vercoe

two pianos

American Fancy (2000) is a haunting, one-movement piece for two pianos based on
patriotic tunes, among which is the U.S. national anthem. Sometimes the tunes are
hidden, sometimes they are combined imitatively or polytonally, and sometimes they
appear with a new harmonization. The piece reveals ongoing concerns about the
course we are charting in the U.S. at this time, but also betrays typical American
optimism for the future. The title word “fancy” is used in the sense of English 16th and
17th century keyboard and instrumental fantasias, described by Morley as follows:
“The most principal and chiefest kind of music is the Fancy, that is when a musician
taketh a point at his pleasure and wresteth and turneth it as he lists...”
The piece was premiered at the Sixth Festival of Women Composers at Indiana
University in Pennsylvania and at Regis College performed by pianist Wanda Paik and
the composer.