When I first heard “Fly”, I was amazed. I love the simplicity and the minimalism mixed with the electronics. I love the different moods and atmosphere the piece creates. I love how the work is piano-centric, yet the other layers work with the piano to paint the full picture.
Background
Ludovico Einaudi wrote “Fly” for his album Divenire, which he released in 2006. The work’s claim to fame, however, was the 2011 movie The Intouchables, which tells the story of an aristocrat-turned-quadrapilegic who hires a struggling young man as his help. The movie used several of Einaudi’s pieces in the soundtrack.
Analysis
“Fly” opens with a running eighth note pattern. At 0:10, one of the two minimalist patterns emerges: a syncopated rhythm in the upper voice of the piano played against the continuous eighth notes in the accompaniment. At 1:01, the second pattern emerges: a triplet figure with a syncopated melody (hearkening back to the previous musical idea).
As “Fly” progresses, so does the role of the electronic layers. Gradually, the electronics play a more integral role in the mood of the piece – notice around 2:57 to the end, for instance, that as the electronics increase so does the overall uneasiness of the piece.
*Music theory: In general, the piece is set up in C sharp minor. However, Einaudi slips in an occasional A sharp, which is not in the key of C sharp minor but rather in the key of C sharp Dorian. Einaudi alternates between A sharp and A natural, which adds color and excitement to the piece. He also uses this tool in his work “Divenire”.
Piano Cover
Please enjoy my piano cover of “Fly”:
P.S. Today’s featured image is a photo I took a few years ago of one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. I thought it fit well with this piece. 🙂
I’m glad I listened to this, I’d heard some of his pieces as background music, and would have dismissed them as Philip Glass Lite, but this is great.
I’m glad you like it! It took me a few tries to find an Einaudi piece that I really liked too.
Enjoyed the piece. Is that you playing along — if so, do you have the music or are you using your good ear talents?
Also I have to smile because I once wrote a poem called “Fly” but it wouldn’t go with Einaudi’s piece at all! Here it is: A fly has settled/ on my arm/ in spite of shining/mango slices/ on a plate nearby./ Kindred fly! I too/ choose the touch of/ sentient warmth/ over the sweetest fruit!
No, I’m not playing along in the first version. That would be pretty cool though!
I really like your poem! It makes me smile. 🙂
So I’m working now on Mozart’s Rondo in A Minor – a truly wonderful piece. Since aI have little to no technique, the trills and runs give me problems, but the piece is so worthwhile I push through. Aren’t we lucky to spend out days having music come out when we push our fingers onto white and black pieces of plastic?
So lucky. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. ♥️
That made my heart soar ! ❤️❤️👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you liked it!