Solo
You're Not Alone
For Solo Piano
Program Notes
In 2017, while I was a senior at the University of Delaware, the music department lost a freshman horn player named Steven Martineau. The day after his passing, the atmosphere in the department was that of loss, but also that of compassion. Compassion for the people who closely knew Steven, but also compassion for our sense of community that had been shaken by the loss of someone we intimately created music beside.
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You’re Not Alone was written to commemorate Steven’s untimely death and for all of the victims of suicide and mental illness. It is comprised of two primary melodies at letters A & E, both of which were written while experiencing a surge of emotions and inspiration in an hour-long piano practice session the day after Steven’s passing. The unfinished piece sat on my computer for three more years until I finally decided to finish it in the summer of 2020, mixing together my newer style of writing in a way that I believe still fit the pieces’ character.
If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts or mental illness, always remember that help is available.
You Are Not Alone, You Are Never Alone.
Golden Hour Haze
For Solo Bass Flute, Violoncello, & Piano
Program Notes
In photography, the “golden hour” can be defined as the period of daytime shortly after sunrise or before sunset, in which the sun is lower in the sky, reducing the intensity of direct sunlight and illuminating the earth in a golden shroud. Golden Hour Haze directly resembles this phenomenon, providing the listener with feelings of hopefulness, while simultaneously offering conflicting feelings of not knowing whether it is actually day or night. This troubling problem culminates in the beginning and end sections of the piece, in which an improvisatory flute solo and extended piano techniques are utilized to convey the sense of mystery and apprehension. Additionally, the use of non-traditional chord progressions and chord extensions, the frequent section and orchestration changes, and rapid modal and intervallic shifts in both the melody and harmony, are all employed throughout the piece to give the listener the true sense that they are in this haze, not knowing what to do.
Reflections Upon Summer's Twilight
For Solo Piano
Program Notes
Written during the summer of 2016, reflections is inspired from a variety of piano genres including Chopin's piano nocturnes, and Joe Hisaishi's compositions for anime movies. The composition itself is meant to instill the feeling of hope to its listeners. This hope however is not the usual joyful hope, it is a desperate, fighting hope; it's a longing for resolution and for a grief that tries be quelled, but never completely is.
Deceptio
For Solo Piano
Program Notes
From the Latin word for deception, Deceptio is a Bach influenced piano composition composed by Daniel Armistead. The piece inquires an invention format however, also encompasses "fugue like" traits. This arrangement of musical styles accompanied with ambiguous conclusive sounding phrases, deceives its listeners as if in a dream.