Phantasie Variations, Op. 12

Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee

The Phantasie Variations, Op. 12 were commissioned by Phyllis Alpert Lehrer for her Merkin Hall Debut Concert near Lincoln Center in 1980. The piece uses two 12-tone rows, opening with the first row in retrograde, as if regressing back into a subconscious dream state. The rows go through many transformations stylistically in a variety of expressive modes. At the end, the row reappears in its natural state, reverting back to conscious reality.