Méphisto Masqué

Méphisto Masqué, originally composed for orchestra by African‑American composer Edmond Dédé, channels the sly spirit of Mephistopheles, making it an ideal highlight for any Halloween concert. A slow, expressive introduction opens into a lively D‑minor polka that whirls toward a dazzling frenzy of sixteenth notes. Technique is built with manageable but skill‑appropriate shifts (in all parts except second violin), simple double‑stops, brief artificial harmonics for first violin, and short solo moments for violins and cello, including an exciting violin cadenza. Dark, energetic, and a little devilish, this piece brings a dramatic spark to any program.