The toy piano may seem like an unlikely candidate for the classical concert hall, yet all around the world, thousands of musicians gather every year for festivals, conferences and concerts featuring this unique instrument. Tricia Dawn Williams presents a series of toy piano projects throughout 2024 and 2025.

The first concert in the series, entitled Tiny Keys – Big Sounds, taking place on Friday 3 May at the Spazju Kreattiv theatre, presents a programme for toy piano, electronic music and small percussion instruments. Williams has commissioned ten new works to local and foreign composers.

This unique concert inspires audiences and raises the awareness that toy pianos ain’t playing around! They can indeed be considered a concert instrument.

Tiny Keys – Big Sounds is part of Toy Piano+ supported by Arts Council Malta.

PROGRAMME

Il-Brimba for 37-key Schoenhut & rhodes

Kris Spiteri

Petit Four for 30-key Schoenhut & 20-key Michelsonne

Christopher Muscat

Halloween Sugar Rush for 30-key Jaymar & electronics

Albert Garzia

The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit for 18-key toy piano, jingles and wood blocks

Olivia Kieffer

Folia-Ulorz for 32-key Kawai

Luc Houtkamp

4-8 Spots for 30-key Jaymar & 30-key Michelsonne & electronics

Mariella Cassar-Cordina

An Otterly Serious Piece for 18-key, 25-key, 30-key & 37-key Schoenhuts

Alexander Vella Gregory

W.A.R.: When Angels Rest for 32-key Kawai & Music Box

Veronique Vella

Echolocate for 30-key Michelsonne & harmonising delay

Atau Tanaka

Echoes from Tomorrow for 37-key Schoenhut, Bass Synth & Cajón

Daniel Cauchi