studio V
private musical studio instruction
Compositions You may contact me regarding these works for performance. This list is abbridged. A complete composition list is available upon request. Simply use the contact page, and I'll get back to you shortly. Piano Quartet in F Minor (2004) for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano A traditionalist piece, exploring a descending scale from a dream. The work reflects the recurring words from a dream, ''Vous et si gentile,'' or ''You are so kind,'' said in irony by a beautiful, 20's era woman. The whole of the dream was vivid, like a work of Film Noir, with a foggy city scape behind a pier. The woman was villianous in the dream, perhaps a spy, dying in the arms of a lover, perhaps both a lover and an opponent, and the paradox of the relationship seemed to seep from her parting words. Much of the work comes from my dreams, with the third movement being composed while sleeping. I awoke to rush to the piano in an effort to scribble the work down before loosing the memory. Sonatina, ''For Dan Petrus'' (2005) For Piano Originally intended as a study piece for a friend and hobby-pianist approaching the instrument in his 40s, the work turned to deep contemplation in the second & third movements as he was the victim of a freak cycling accident that nearly took his life after completion of the first movement. Approachable, contrapuntal, and strongly influenced by the minimalist movement. Opera, ''Efstathios'' (2006) For ''High Voices:'' Soubrette Soprano, Leggiero Tenor, Lyric Tenor, and Piano. The work opens with male lovers being found by the mother of one of them, resulting in a cataclismic outing in which all characters engage in a brusing fight. The two lovers storm out to the patio, the mother cries in the kitchen. The lovers try to piece together the road ahead, the mother feels pangs of guilt for her words. The lovers realize their unlimited freedom in their love, the mother realizes the love of her child is unconditional. They struggle to accept themselves in the face of an uncertain, difficult immediate future. Violin Concerto (2007) For Violin Solo and Chamber Strings The work deals with Sophistry, with the soloist alternatively portraying sophist, the composer, and the resulting social politics of the arrangement. The work is polytonal, employing phasing, tonal ambiguity, and virtuosity. An aggressive work with strenuous requirements, certainly a show stopper. Sonata, ''For Chuck Wells'' (2008) For Piano A large scale work, strongly incorporating jazz harmonic influences and free motives. The work's first movement is, indeed, in sonata-allegro process, with an attacca second movement and extended third movement that develops the first two movements to completion. It is warmly in C. Songs for Unitarian Fellowship (2008 - Present) For Unaccompanied Choir, for Mixed Ensemble A collection of sacred songs for the Unitarian tradition. As much of the UU faith borrows, it was my hope to write a collection of sacred pieces specifically envisioning the UU Faith Tradition, with its practices and perspectives considered from the outset. The collection includes works for unaccompanied SATB Choir, Voice and Piano, and more to come. String Quartets (2007 - Present) ''Biloxi'' ''Yearning'' ''Urban Sketches'' ''The Williams Covenant'' For Two Violins, Viola, and Cello The works are extended conversations in a stable harmonic language, a language that has come to define my mature works. The pieces are minimalist in motive and development, highly influeced by jazz in harmony and tone, and profoundly sentimental in approach and effect. ''Yearning'' was the first in the series, written in a spur of creative energy on a Fall Sunday Afternoon during a bout with depression. ''Biloxi'' was written over holiday in the city of my birth and upbringing, exceedingly nostalgic, a sort of Rondo. ''The Williams Covenant'' is a work set both for choir and for string quartet, as I find both ensembles particularly capable of interpreting the four-voice writing. The String Quartet version has a second movement that takes the initial statements and very slowly feels them out to their final sentiments, a coda. ''Urban Sketches'' is a collection of movements for string quartet that document my time and life in the District of Columbia, with movements reflecting on ''Chinatown in November,'' written on the evening of the first snow of the season, to ''Massachussetts Avenue, NW, At Night, walking Southwest from Dupont Circle.'' The works are a musical journaling process, all contained in the stable harmonic language that struck me in ''Yearning'' that Fall Sunday afternoon. Suite (2009 In Progress) For Viola & Piano A series of works for Viola and Piano, inspired by my friendship with violist Alex Baldock, and literally representing the two of us together. An endearing and loving friendship I find that has come to define my judgement and understanding of what it means to find a person in the world who you love unconditionally, and with whom you walk through the roads of the world facing joys and sorrows, but always having the other's support. Truly the friend who inspired me to adult love, who's friendship forged the possibility for mature connection and commitment within my heart. I owe my current romantic stability and my emotional maturity to him and his friendship, ever faithful. |
