Viola Sonata Performances

     When I was 45 years old I made a conscious goal that my music would be played at least 50 miles from home by someone not related to me. And lo and behold, that goal has become reality! Sally Wituszynski performs my viola sonata at Marc O'Connor's string camp which you can read about here.  To get ready for that performance, Sally and I played it at a wonderful festival to celebrate the shaker tune Simple Gifts held at the Alfred Shaker Museum in Alfred, Maine. That wasn't quite 50 miles from home, but almost. I'm so glad to reach my goal--Thank you Sally!

If you're so inclined, you can listen to my viola sonata on You-tube!

     Finally! There is a composition of mine on You-Tube. Search on Viola Sonata Allegretto and you will find the first movement of the sonata I wrote last year. Chris Nourse helped me refine it and then premiered it with me in November of 2013. Chad Cummings recorded it. And now, finally, I've posted it.

     I hope that other violists and pianists will find it satisfying to play. You can download the sheet music here. As I like to do, I'm holding a creative commons license, but I welcome non-commercial use with credit.

     Here's the picture I decided to attach to the video. I think the textures could correlate to the varied textures of the piece. But maybe that's a bit abstract. I hope you enjoy the music.

Wee Hours Composition Carnival

Part of Mountain Top Music Center's 24-hours of Music, 2014

a FUNdraiser

You're invited to participate in Mountain Top Music Center's 24 Hours of music as a composer, musician, audience member or all three!

How it works:
At a meeting after the contra dance on the evening of April 5^th, composers will be assigned to players. Composers may also choose to accept the whimsical parameters for compositions set by organizers. Composition will take place over night, with parts due at 9:00 AM. Rehearsals will begin at 9:00 AM and pieces will be performed at 11:30 Ellen Schwindt will be on hand at the White Mountain Hotel with a midi keyboard or two and a computer or two to help with producing parts.


Composers and Players participate by obtaining a pledge sheet from Mountain Top Music Center, collecting pledges, and playing, composing, or listening with verve.  Get more information and a pledge here.

I'd love to see you there and hear what you're writing and playing!

I am pleased to announce that people interested in some new pieces for piano may try some of mine. I have placed a set I'm calling Three Little Pieces at the link below. I'd be happy to hear that some pianists out there are trying them out. I've enjoyed writing them.

The first in the series is called The End is the Beginning. The title refers to the formal aspect of the piece. It's quite short, fun to play if you like open chords, and a little plaintive, but not without some prettiness.

The second piece is a Two-Part Invention which I've subtitled Three Part Inversion—a reference to the manipulations I performed to get three iterations of a theme. It requires some interesting pedaling, offering a chance to practice that skill.

The third piece is called Triptych—It has three panels, if you will, and uses the entire range of the piano with lots of crossing over. I was thinking a lot about compatible and incompatible bi-tonality when I composed it. So, as with many of my pieces, it contains a lot of minor nines. All the same, it is tuneful.

When I perform these, I plan to play the first piece twice, once at the beginning and once at the end.

I hope you enjoy them.

Recordings and Sheet Music for Three Little Pieces