From City Rhythms to Resonant Keys: Alex Solely’s Award-Winning Piano Composition “Fuss”
- WOMCO
- Aug 27, 2025
- 3 min read
Alex Solely, a composer and pianist from Serbia, received the Diamond Prize for his composition “Fuss” in the Original Composition Category and was also awarded the Excellent Technique Special Award at the 2025 Season 3 World Master Open Music Competition.
Could you share the inspiration behind you piano composition "Fuss" and the message you hope to convey through it?
The composition "Fuss" was inspired by the city of Istanbul. This does not mean that you will hear any Turkish motifs, modes, or folk instruments. However, I was interested in capturing the rhythm of this vast metropolis and the blend of different cultures, people, and events that exist within it. It is more of an attempt to hear and capture the inner pulse of the city rather than focusing on its external beauty. Therefore, do not expect descriptive or Turkish-influenced music in this composition. As in most of my works, in this case, the city of Istanbul is just a spark, a catalyst for expressing my thoughts on this topic.
What was your creative process like while composing "Fuss"? How did you approach the structure and dynamics of the piece?
I wrote this composition quite quickly. The idea captured me, and I "heard" in my head a polyrhythmic combination of fidgety sextoles in the right hand, which are superimposed on more measured and solid quartoles in the left one. This motif then develops in a five-quarter time, while maintaining the same combination, creating a slightly "dizzying" effect. After a more static and minimalist middle section, the main theme returns an octave higher, intensifying the tension. The tune suddenly ends, but due to the use of the "delay" effect, we hear multiple echoes of the last note that only fade into silence after a few seconds.
How was your experience premiering your own piano composition "Fuss" at the Cafesjian Art Center in Yerevan in February 2025? Could you share any memorable moments from preparing for and performing this piece?
Cafesjian Art Center in Yerevan is an absolutely unique concert venue. Located at the top of the "Cascade" (an architectural and monumental complex in the city center), it offers viewers a panoramic view of the entire city from a bird's-eye perspective, thanks to the extensive panoramic glassing of the stage itself.
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and thank anyone ?
It is a great honor for me that the jury has awarded my composition with such a significant award. It is always a pleasure to have your work highly appreciated by professionals and "colleagues in the field."
Biography
Alex Solely is an award-winning musician, composer and pianist. He represents modern classical music.
His debut album "Piano Solely", a collection of six solo piano tunes, was released in May 2024 with the support of the American distributor ONErpm. This album has received rave reviews and over 200,000 views on YouTube in just three months. It was also awarded a silver medal in the neoclassical category at the Global Music Awards 2024.
Alex has considerable experience performing on prestigious stages around the world. He has toured in France, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Austria, Montenegro, Israel, Canada and the USA. It should also be mentioned that his skills and creativity have been awarded at international competitions.
His compositional style combines romanticism and minimalism, improvisational moments and European classical traditions of composition, acoustic instruments and electronics. He is in constant search of unusual sound, harmony and beautiful melodies.
Alex Solely is not just a musician, but a true creator of emotions and impressions, ready to share his musical ideas with the world. This is what makes his music a unique offering on the modern music scene.
