| Genre | Year of composition | Level | Music score |
| piano | 2016 | Advanced | Download |
Note from the composer
Based on Madagascar’s National Anthem, this piano piece is built as a theme and 5 variations, and tells the country’s story through the composer’s eyes.
The theme is written as close as possible from the original Anthem arrangement and harmonization. This theme depicts a brass band playing on the National Anthem during the national march on Independence Day and represents the country’s pride.
The first variation modulates and gets suddenly a smoother feeling. With its large legatos, it depicts memories of good times spent in the country and the composer’s love of her country and her life, yet filled with nostalgia.
The second variation, a continuation of the first one is still depicting memories and is a wish of good wealth to the country.
The third variation depicts her youth in the country and the joy she experienced with her family and friends, yet suddenly cut off by the rallentando and the modulation in minor. The fermata on the last single note of this variation is to be played dramatically even without an accent.
Before the fourth variation, a transition is used as an introduction to the mood of what comes next. The first four measures of the transition is still based on the third variation motive but said in an ironical tone, as to break the dream and happiness experienced beforehand. This mood in reinforced by the following measures with the chordal structure in the right hand and supported by the successive octaves in the left hand, which adds drama.
The fourth variation melody and general mood is then introduced by a single melody line of the original anthem, to be played slower and deep in the keyboard to depict the beginning of what will be seen as the darkest moments of the country: the mess, confusion, chaos and speed of the sad events that occurred in and towards the country.
Despite the chaos seen before, the fifth variation brings back the country’s beauty and glow but this time through the composer’s eyes and interpretation. It is its revival played through the finale of the piece.