This is an extremely challenging classical piano solo that requires the pianist to have complete right and left hand independence in order to perform it with the passion and freedom that it calls for. The rapid independent lines coupled with the sustain pedal being employed throughout entire sections of the piece creates an enormous sound wall that peaks in volume at the climax of the solo and dies away naturally without dampening the strings. This of course has the danger of any wrong notes being very obvious for several seconds during these sections. Taking all of these things into account, this classical piano solo is clearly written for a very accomplish pianist.
As I was writing this piece I could never quite decide which emotion I was attempting to capture. Whatever I had in mind, it was an emotion that would bring a person to tears. My goal has ended up being for me to convince the listener to empathize with another person’s suffering and unspeakable joy simultaneously. Some may view this concept as silly and far from practical, but this is the emotion that I think of when I see something incredible to come in the midst of a difficult situation. The adversity must take place in order for joy to result, but terrific end or not it still hurts in the meantime. The journey is beautiful because of its result.
Special thanks to Cornerstone University for allowing me to use their 6 foot yamaha grand player piano.
I know that at least a few people have been anxiously waiting for me to finish the piano reduction for my alto saxophone concerto, Transition. This is an officially announcement to say that I have now officially included the piano reduction in both versions of the Transition download. For more details, please visit the Transition page for more details.
Here are several “cool sounds” that I ran across through the workday and have decided to share them.Here’s my violin player friend improvising. I took 4 measures of what she did, put a bunch of effects on it, and then layered it on top of itself. https://calebhugo.com/cool_sounds/violin_duet_1.mp3
This is the backwards guitar slowly fading into a forwards guitar with the violin “duet” on top. Just a sound experiment, not really music yet. https://calebhugo.com/cool_sounds/vln_gtr1.mp3
This is pretty standard 4/4 drum pattern with a delay programed to create a hemiola against it. Very difficult to perform with a metronome. I had to cheat a little. https://calebhugo.com/cool_sounds/drum_delay.mp3
