Tombeau – which takes its title from the central elegy of the work – was composed 1966-69. Its form is a series of fairly specific technical studies interspersed with variations. The introduction provides a sort of ‘trailer’, in which each phrase of the theme is punctuated by a brief quote from the ensuing studies (heard in reverse order). This scheme is balanced by that of the finale, which is also punctuated by short ‘flashbacks’. Tombeau was written as a tribute to certain composers for the p...