The Whereas songbook is a concept album of thirteen neoclassical pieces for solo piano written in 2011. The songs’ emotive content ranges from nuanced to dramatic, romantic to tragic, introspective to celebratory. All of the songs have clear form and structure; several use compound or unusual meters, and one has a strict left hand ostinato […]
A set of 12 waltzes for the intermediate pianist, inspired by the waltzes of Schubert and Chopin, but with an American twist—featuring original melodies alongside an array of American hymns, Shaker songs, and a creative version of Stephen Foster’s immortal “Gentle Annie.” This collection includes upbeat, energetic pieces as well as soft, tender ones—evoking the […]
The October Wind songbook is a retrospective collection of thirteen pieces for solo piano written between 1981 and 2005. With strong, flowing melodies, tonal/triadic harmonies, and clear form, each song offers a unique journey to a gorgeous landscape of color and emotion. One of the pieces is for right hand alone. The book includes several […]
Sonata no. 1 is rather like a dramatic tone poem suggesting a hero’s journey (challenges, striving, uncertainty, searching, inner and outer struggles) — one which ends darkly, but with a glimmer of hope. The structure of this single movement work recalls classical sonata allegro form. Inspired by late 19th and early 20th century tonality, the […]
“Crime of Passion” is the main theme of the score Kurt Kuenne composed for his friend Jon Bokenkamp’s feature directorial debut Preston Tylk in the late summer of 1999; it received the Dale Melbourne Herklotz Award for Best Score at the 2000 Marco Island Film Festival. In 2016, this solo piano arrangement was featured on […]
The fifth in the series Leyendas Místicas (Mystic Legends), this moody little tango-milonga fantasy was commissioned by the talented Brighton pianist, Johan de Cock, to be premiered at the 2016 Brighton Fringe Festival. The title refers to one of the most picturesque and moving places in Buenos Aires, the ‘City of the Dead,’ Cementario de […]
Claro de Luna is an Argentine tango-style adaptation of the well-known first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano sonata no. 14 in C# minor, “Quasi una fantasia”, Op. 27, no. 2, popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata. Dark, bold, and passionate, this adaptation remains true to the original’s harmony, melody, and form. Its edge and […]
This quiet contemporary composition is music portraying the quietness that comes as winter begins to lose its icy grip on the land. It is based on a simple, repetitive harmonic progression and clear melody that move through a few key changes and gradually build to a soft section that is like the melting snow. It […]
My Piano Sonata was written in 2010 and thoroughly revised in 2015. The piece is in four movements: Fantasia, Caprice, Blues, and Toccata Perpetua. The second movement, Caprice, may be played separately as an encore or recital piece.
Jazz Ground is a brief fairly simple piano solo, Gershwin-like in feeling. A third or fourth year student could manage it. It would serve as a break or change of pace in a heavier, classical recital. It is appealing and likable.
Variations & Fugue on a Bach-Busoni Chorale Prelude is based on Ferruccio Busoni’s transcription of Bach’s “Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ” BWV 639 From Das Orgelbuchlein, Part III (1713-17), and is to be played without pause after that piece. The several Busoni transcriptions of the the works of J.S. Bach constitute a musical […]
Writing this piece helped me cope with anxiety, living in NYC during the COVID19 crisis. Sirens, day & night. Wishing everyone safe passage through this storm. 4/20/20.
A fast motor piece, somewhat more “classical” in form and more difficult than Toccata 1. Despite its classical leanings, a couple of boogie-woogie sections found their way into the left hand part.
This impressionistic impromptu is a depiction of a slow, rain-filled day. It is a series of mostly still moments defined by the steady rhythmic fall of the rain on the trees and rooftops. The rich, accessible harmonies, simple melodic ideas and pace of the music combine within an unfolding form to depict this observational beauty. […]
This solo piano setting of the beloved Christmas carol applies fresh and distinctive harmonies to the traditional melody. A haunting, and slightly dissonant, introduction sets a contemplative mood that heralds a unique approach to the carol. Set in ABA form, the A sections contain lush harmonies and delicate lyrical phrases which contrast with the syncopated […]
A compelling set of tonal/modal piano miniatures meant to be played as a freely ordered group of pieces and encouraging the free interpretation of the pianist.
A gallery of both real and imagined aural postcards in a largely neo-impressionist style, including pieces for contemplation, comic episodes, and bravura performances. I. Chrysanthèmes II. Chevraux III. Au Pic de Bugarach IV. Hirondelles au Crépuscule V. Kermesse Villageoise VI. Entr’acte These pieces may be performed as a set or individually, and the series will […]
This collection features 25 pieces for piano of varying difficulties, moods, textures, colors and compositional techniques. Some pieces are inspired by various composers including Johann Sebastian Bach, Belá Bartók, Friedrich Burgmüller, Muzio Clementi, Carl Czerny, Claude Debussy, Edvard Grieg, Stephen Heller, Sergei Prokofiev, Arnold Schoenberg and Robert Schumann. This collection also serves as a versatile […]
1. Utilizing Sergey Prokofiev’s Visions Fugitive Op. 22 as a model, Mysterious Awakening focuses on diatonic and chromatic planing. 2. Pleasant Misunderstanding utilizes an axis of symmetry, shifting from a G-axis to D-axis and back in a short rondo form. The work expresses various moods through tension and release. 3. Inspired by Meredith Monks Ellis Island, The Escape focuses on a constant ostinato that […]
Nocturne: “inspired by, or evocative of, the night”. Just as different nights have different shapes, sights, sounds, and moods, my Nocturnes are similarly varied. Gabriel Fauré’s Nocturnes served as the initial inspiration for mine. Some of the ones in this book (and its companion Book I) relate to a specific Fauré Nocturne, echoing the texture, mood or rhythmic elements of […]
Nocturne: “inspired by, or evocative of, the night”. Just as different nights have different shapes, sights, sounds, and moods, my Nocturnes are similarly varied. Gabriel Fauré’s Nocturnes served as the initial inspiration for mine. Some of the ones in this book (and its companion Book II) relate to a specific Fauré Nocturne, echoing the texture, mood […]
The Preludes for two pianos (2004) are a cycle of three pieces of a free character: – Andantino– Allegro– Andante Catalogue ACO-025Duration: ca. 7 min.First public performance: Limena (Italy) 2004
The Fantasies (2003) are a cycle of 6 structurally free pieces each based on a tone of a hexatonal scale: – Andante (in C)– Andantino (in D)– Allegretto vivace (in E)– Allegro moderato (in F sharp)– Allegro vivace (in G sharp)– Allegretto (in B flat) Catalogue: ACO-024Duration: ca. 8 min.
Allegretto with Variations for piano (2002) is a cycle of 8 variations above an original theme: – Tema: Allegretto– Var. I– Var. II– Var. III– Var. IV: Recitativo– Var. V: Tempo primo– Var. VI: Recitativo– Var. VII: Tempo primo– Var. VIII: Recitativo Catalogue ACO-023Duration: ca. 7 min.
The Waltzes for piano four hands (2002) are a cycle of 8 characteristic pieces: – Animato– Tranquillo– Spiritoso– Sostenuto– Brillante– Ostinato– Lento– Maestoso Catalogue: ACO-022Duration: ca. 11 min.First public performance: Padova (Italy) 2004
The Movements (2001) for piano have a relationship with the sonata form and they explore and develop the same material in different ways. – Andante (exposition)– Allegretto vivace (development)– Adagio (recapitulation divided into three parts) Catalogue: ACO-021Duration: ca. 10 min.
This is a traditional Rag with a bit of a twist. 2 Pianists of moderate skills can play this with practice. It is just good fun. Would provide a nice break to a heavy program of a classical nature.
“Giocattoli” (Toys) (1999) is a piano suite constituted of eight little pieces characterized by the same base material but with different meters and tempos. The two pieces without meter suggest a Recitativo style. Allegro vivace – Allegretto – Andante sostenuto – Allegro Moderato – Allegro – Allegretto – Tempodi Valzer – Allegro molto The cycle […]
“Pensieri” (Thoughts) (2000) is a piano piece divided into seven sections which explore and develop the same material by different means: Preludio – Quasi valzer – Ostinato – Moto perpetuo – Sviluppo – Ripresa – Coda The piece starts with a short prelude followed by the main theme like a Valzer. A secondary idea follows […]
A short fantasy inspired by the story of Beren and Lúthien Tinúviel from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. Beren, lost and wandering in the Forest of Neldoreth, secretly observes Lúthien, ‘the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar,’ dancing in the glades of the forest, and is bound to her for life.
These small doodles, or ‘paper improvisations,’ if you will, began as just that—scribbles that went down in one sitting, without the usual planning devoted to so much of my preceding music for solo piano. As such, they probably sound much different from the Aquarelles or even the more ‘open’ Piano Set, and the player may […]
The Piano Fantasia (1999) hasn’t the character of an improvisation, although the notation without meter gives the idea of a long Recitative. The two main elements of the Exposition are given one to the left hand and the other one to the right hand. The development part is predominant: here the previous material is processed […]
The Sonatina for piano 4 hands is a single movement work which displays a certain affinity with a Sonata’s first movement. The work is clearly divided into two parts by means of a general pause. The first part suggests two main ideas, whereas the second one combines them in a Development followed by a varied […]
The Caprice (1998) has the character of an improvisation and it should be played with freedom and fantasy. It is divided into continuous sections: it starts with percussive elements, then, the same elements become more and more calm till the last section where a sense of stillness gives to the music a vague and suspended […]
This is a cycle of six variations without theme. A short Prelude consisting of a trill with an internal rhythm leads directly to the 1st variation. All the variations are in some way thematically related and they share a common starting point. From 1st to 4th variation there is an ever greater complexity, 5th variation […]
This music is an arrangement of the hymn section within Jean Sibelius’ famous tone poem Finlandia. Cast in flowing sixteenth notes, the melody soars above the harmonization that offers up some beautiful surprises. This would make an excellent special piece for a church service, in a recital or as an encore. The subtitle refers to […]
Fun, light, and energetic, this music evokes a lively folk dance, like a jig or gigue. While it is definitely a contemporary piece, it does keep some of the characteristics one would expect from this kind of Baroque Suite movement. The middle section contains some counterpoint of the new melody, and toward the conclusion I […]
“Kate & David” is the main theme of Kurt Kuenne’s score for his documentary “Dear Zachary: a letter to a son about his father”, which chronicled the life and death of his late best friend, Dr. Andrew David Bagby; this theme is meant to encapsulate the enduring love and strength of Andrew’s devoted parents, Kate […]
Piano Piece #4 is the fourth movement of my piano cycle Set of Five, which takes its title from the wonderful Henry Cowell piece of the same name and serves as a gesture of homage for the New Albion CD recording that looped through my brain on a near-constant basis in my young twenties. An […]
Prelude is the first movement from of my piano cycle Set of Five, which takes its title from the wonderful Henry Cowell piece of the same name and serves as a gesture of homage for the New Albion CD recording that looped through my brain on a near-constant basis in my young twenties. Prelude was […]
The Three Intermezzi (1996) didn’t originate as a set. The single pieces were assembled later since they shared the same musical style. The overall atmosphere is meditative, hypnotic and each piece focuses on specific details which are expanded and developed. The single pieces have the following main characteristics: – Andante: it is constituted of a […]
The cycle Two Pieces of Ice (1995) continue my interest on the dualism between two contrasting movements. This unusual title refers to an impression aroused after a trip on a mountainous region full of icy landscapes. The idea to relate the geometry of ice with that of music was interesting for me. The two pieces […]
With the Two Bagatelles (1994) a new creative phase starts. After a period orientated towards the improvisation and characterized by a rhapsodic style, here a geometric strictness prevails. The material is simpler and more objective with a greater stress on rhythm, dynamics and articulation. The two pieces (Allegro vivace – Allegretto) have contrasting characters and […]
The Nocturne for Piano (1993) has the character of an improvisation. It aims to suggest a typical night music with an initial sense of stillness and mystery which turns gradually into a storm. The end is vague and suspended. In order to better indicate the character of this composition, a particular notation is used where […]
