for solo piano
Bastinado is a form of torture wherein the human feet are beaten with an object such as a cane or rod, a club, a piece of wood, or a whip. It is a form of punishment often favored because, although extremely painful, it leaves few physical marks – generally it is used as a form of corporal punishment.
This fast intense piece, written for Ilonka Rus, includes powerful and heavy gestures, violent chord clusters, along with moments of lyrical melody that attempts to capture the expression of such punishment.