RACHTIME
by Gabriela Montero, 2025 Competition juror
The official score of the 2025 Cliburn Competition commissioned work.
From Gabriela Montero: “When I was invited to compose the contemporary piece for the 2025 Cliburn International Piano Competition, my first thought was to honor both Van Cliburn’s golden pianism and the American culture to which he belonged. My second thought turned to the competitors. Music is not gymnastics, so my goal was to create a musical maze to explore and fathom, rather than an obstacle course for the fingers.
To that end, Rachtime’s first complete draft was created spontaneously and in real time at the piano, born out of improvisation to guarantee pianism and musical logic.