Five Piano Nocturnes Finished - More on Their Way

Sanibel Island

I've now completed 5 piano nocturnes which will be released in a set called Oceana. Each one is titled based on inspirations I've found on the island.

My first one, The Song of the Waves on the Shells, is a very static pasacaglia of sorts, kind of a Le Gibet meets Radiohead but with a little Feldman.
Nocturne #1 - The Song of the Waves on the Shells - Recording
Nocturne #1 - The Song of the Waves on the Shells - Draft Score

The second one is based around a quiet repeated note motive and is static and dark.
Nocturne #2 - Stars Reflected in the Pitch Black Sea - Recording
Nocturne #2 - Stars Reflected in the Pitch Black Sea - Draft Score

The third one is very pianistic and ecstatic.
Nocturne #3 - Night Rain Sparkles on the Ocean's Skin - Recording
Nocturne #3 - Night Rain Sparkles on the Ocean's Skin - Draft Score

The fourth one is foreboding, gloomy and constantly switching between major and minor modes.
Nocturne #4 - The Moonlit Clouds of a Storm Appear - Recording
Nocturne #4 - Night Rain Sparkles on the Ocean's Skin - Draft Score

The fifth one is one of my most ecstatic pieces yet. It starts off slow and brooding and develops a Middle Eastern riff which slowly takes over until it becomes Lisztian mystical mayhem.
Nocturne #5 - Untitled - Recording
Nocturne #5 - Untitled - Draft Score

Duo Ahlert und Schwab have informed me that Naxos will be release a new recording of theirs next year which will have a recording of the new piece I wrote for them, Bidon Cinque! This is very important for me, because that piece represented a true breakthrough in my attempt to create a new more melodically romantic style within the framework of my propulsive textures.

New Nocturne for Piano

Sanibel Island

I've written my first in a set of nocturnes for piano. It consists of layers of quiet sounds building up like waves crashing on rocks until it becomes symphonic in scope. It's simultaneously one of the most static and one of the most active pieces I've ever written. Elsie described it as something like Le Gibet plus Radiohead. The score will be available sometime next week.

Nocturne #1 for Piano - Synthesized Realization

Three New Pieces for Cello, Piano, Guitar and Flute

Sanibel Island

This summer was very productive for me; the results being a big piece for cello and piano, a solo guitar piece written for the fabulous Philippe Bertaud, and a piece for flute and guitar.

Undertow, is my new piece for cello and piano. It's got a monstrous bluesy beginning which pushes the piece into alternating hyper-rhythmic sections with impressionistic/romantic sections. The score and parts are finished and available for download.

Undertow for Cello and Piano - Synthesized Realization

Undertow for Cello and Piano - Score
Undertow for Cello and Piano - Cello Part

My new solo guitar piece is probably one of the most harmonically beautiful pieces I've written, using an approach which tries to combine modern chromatic Radiohead-ish harmonies with Baroque and my usual modal harmonies. The score is still being tweaked a bit for playability.

The Minotaur's Dream - Synthesized Realization

My new piece for flute and guitar continues the musical impressionism and harmonic lushness of the previous two pieces. It's called Sombras y Luces de La Selva for Flute and Guitar. The score and parts are finished and available for download.

Sombras y Luces de La Selva for Flute and Guitar

Sombras y Luces de La Selva - Flute Part
Sombras y Luces de La Selva - Guitar Part
Sombras y Luces de La Selva - Score

Currently I'm working on a set of nocturnes for piano. They're going to combine the approaches I've been working with harmonically and impressionistically, while maintaining, at times, my high energy output.

Recording of Paris Premiere of String Quartet #5 Available

Bowman's Beach

Here's the live recording of the Paris premiere of my String Quartet #5 by Quatuor de l'Orchestre 2021. I finally got permission to put it up (thanks to Nigel Keay for the great playing and organizing!). It's a very passionate live performance of high intensity.

String Quartet #5 - Live Premiere Performance in Paris by Quatuor de l'Orchestre 2021
String Quartet #5 - Score
Here's the score if you want to follow along!

String Quartet 5 Score

I'm currently working on a duo for cello and piano. Stay tuned!

New Piece - Fée des Cimes for Solo Flute and Mike Marshall Premieres Indigo Trails Sunday!

Expanding Cloud Over Sanibel

I just finished a solo flute piece, Fée des Cimes and it is 6 minutes of wild flight. Here's a draft score:

Fée des Cimes for Solo Flute - Draft Score

Fée des Cimes - Synthesized Recording

Sunday night, the great poly-stylistic mandolinist Mike Marshall and Gavin Riley (Terry Riley's son) will premiere my new piece Indigo Trails for Mandolin and Guitar. It's a fund raiser for New Music Works and today there's a story in the Silicon Valley newspaper Mercury News about the concert - Something new for New Music Works' garden party.