Wizard of Oz Fantasy

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Details

Wizard of Oz Fantasy, based on music from Harold Arlen’s The Wizard of Oz, composed by Greg Anderson / for 5 pianos / full score + 5 parts / Difficulty: Advanced / Duration: 9 mins / Pages: 101 / Copyright: 2009 / Work number: 041 / Apple Music / Spotify

Note: Includes individual piano parts

Program Notes

Part Lisztian opera paraphrase, part Godowskian reimagining, WIZARD OF OZ FANTASY transforms the beloved songs and themes of the classic film into a large-scale concert work for five pianos. More than a medley of familiar tunes, Anderson condenses Dorothy’s journey into a single sweeping musical arc, moving from wonder and nostalgia to whimsy, danger, and ultimately homecoming.

The work opens in the midst of a musical tornado, with fragments of familiar melodies swirling past in fleeting glimpses before giving way to the emotional heart of the score, “Over the Rainbow.” First heard with simplicity and innocence, the song blossoms through elaborate transformations, from wistful harmonic twists and birdsong-like flourishes to shimmering rainbows of arpeggios spread across all five instruments. Playful detours through Munchkinland and the delightfully off-kilter antics of “If I Only Had a Brain” capture the eccentric charm of Oz, while the ominous “March of the Winkies” leads the fantasy into darker territory.

As themes resurface and recombine, the music builds toward a broad, impassioned climax before “Over the Rainbow” returns one final time, now colored by everything that came before. The result is a dazzling showcase for five pianists that distills the magic of Oz into eight exhilarating minutes.

— Greg Anderson