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Solo Instrumental Compositions

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Appalachian Triptych (2023) for solo clarinet or bass clarinet duration: 10' Bennu's Fire (2011) for solo clarinet and wind ensemble or orchestra piano reduction by the composer duration: ca. 22' Bunun Fantasy (2016) for Bb clarinet OR alto flute OR soprano saxophone and prerecorded electronics duration: 9' conspiracy theory (2023) for bassoon and piano duration: 9' Dark and Stormy Night (2006) for piano, ping pong balls, and obligato page turner duration: 8' Ecstatic Prelude and Fugue (2012) for solo organ duration: 9'  The word "Ecstatic" in the title refers towards a sense of mystical euphoria in the prelude, rather than excitement. It begins with rising gestures and polychords that lead to short outbursts of activity. This is contrasted with a highly dissonant falling chorale. An ethereal middle section moves at an irregular pace, gradually increasing in density until the original music returns. The descending chorale brings the piece home to a euphoric final cadence. The fugue takes the excited definition of ecstatic, playfully bounding along at a quicker pace. The music builds through the fugal exposition until the pedals come in with the subject at augmentation. A fragmented middle section explodes into a metrically complex passage that leads into a final sequence of subject statements. After the music peaks once again, a pedal cadenza brings the music into a quotation of the prelude before leading it to a final outburst of energy. Listen to a performance by Richard Newman at the Bethleham United Church in Ann Arbor, MI. The fugue begins at 3:05: Elements of Contemporary Clarinet Technique (2021) for solo clarinet duration: 50' total Janus (2010) for solo percussion and prerecorded electronics duration: 6'42" The Last Question (2020) for soprano saxophone or clarinet and piano duration: 16' Nocturne étincelant (2012) for Bb clarinet or basset clarinet and piano duration: ca. 6' Ocean of Undiscovered Truth (2019) for oboe and piano duration: ca. 22' Okjokull Requiem (2021) for violin and piano duration: ca. 7'30" Prelude and Fugue (2009) for viola and piano duration: 8'    This work was written for Bill Johnston, a violist who I knew from high school. The two movements of this piece are motivically unified and feature two starkly contrasting sound worlds - dark, murky dissonance and unabashed lyrical diatonicism. Both of these ideas are stated separately in the prelude and gradually mingle with each other in the fugue. If you would like to obtain a copy of the score and part, please contact me. Scintillation (2004) for violin and piano duration: ca. 6'    This was written for my fiancee (now wife), Alexandra. Like the other compositions I wrote during the summer of 2005, I make a lot of use with ostinato, with a triplet pattern running through the entire composition, never faltering until the very end. Alex and I performed it on my recital in the summer of 2005.    Scintillation was performed again and recorded by Colin Sorgi, violin, and Hui-Chuan Chen, piano on October 5, 2008 at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore: Sonata (2015) for alto saxophone and piano duration: ca. 20' Seas of the Moon (2023) for solo bassoon duration: 12' SPACE BASS (2022) for solo bass clarinet duration: 60' total Summer Triangle (2014) for unaccompanied flute duration: ca. 15' Triptych (2008) for unaccompanied bassoon duration: 12' Trumpet Etudes (2020) 1. Gettysburg Address 2. Uncertain Times 3. Together for unaccompanied trumpet duration: 10' Violin Sonata - "Beautiful Savior" (2008) for violin and piano duration: 18' White on White (2010) for clarinet and piano duration: 6'

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