Advanced Piano Music

beyond darkness, there lies light (2009)
This piece was composed in memory of Peter's brother Thom.
His death came as a complete and utter shock to all those who knew him. It is a powerful, dark, dramatic piece.
 The MIDI clip is of the climax. Listen  
RCM ARCT
6'45", 8 pages
$15

Baetica Variations (2008)
Eleven variations on the Intermezzo from Manuel de Falla's "Fantasia Baetica".  
My wife Susan (who plays it marvellously well), asked me to compose a piece for small hands with interesting rhythms.  
The character indications for each variation are: Theme:
Andantino; Dolce; Fiero, piu mosso; Allegretto grazioso; Piu mosso; Con brio;
Enfatico; Molto energico; Ruvido e strepitoso; Fughetta: Allegro risoluto; Lontano senza espressione; Mesto.
This MIDI recording includes the end of Allegretto grazioso, the entire Piu mosso and the beginning of Con brio:
The Baetica Variations are dedicated to Susan.  Listen!
RCM ARCT
9'12", 13 pages
$15

To Quiet Lands(2007)
I was sitting in my studio, staring out the window and feeling sorry for myself.
I was reflecting on the amount of pain in the world. Our parents are old and ill, we have friends who have serious illnesses,
and I noticed that things so very rarely work out the way they should (ie. the way we want them to). 
I got obsessed with a tiny theme - F, D flat, C, E flat, and played it over and over.
I then remembered the German term "Weltschmerz", meaning world pain. I did a Google search and stumbled
on the wonderful website of Professor Walter Aue from Dalhousie University. He has translated an astonishing amount of
German poetry. There, I found a poem by Nikolas Lenau, "Waldlied", that expressed the way I felt, and translated that into music.
You can see the poem, and Prof. Aue's website, by clicking here. It is also included with the score.
 The title, "To Quiet Lands" is a phrase from the poem. To Quiet Lands is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Elise,
who died on February 13, 2008, four days after the premiere.  Listen!
RCM ARCT
3'27", 6 pages
$10

Three Haiku (2007)
A haiku is a Japanese poem with three lines. The first and third line contain five syllables, and the middle has seven for
a total of seventeen syllables. The topics tend to be about everyday things, and seek to plant an image in the reader's mind.
I met poet Inge Israel in the summer of 2007, and was inspired to use her poetry (Three Haiku from "Raking Zen Furrows",
Cacanadadada Press, 1991) as a starting point for my pieces.  I have not offcially named each haiku, as she didn't,
but if I did, the names would be: Plum Blossoms, The Heron and Spider's Web.
The poetry is included with the music. Dedicated to Helmut and Kuniko Brauss.
 Listen!  (The Heron).
RCM 10
1: 1'57", 2: 2'10", 3: 3'34", 20 pages
$15

Fantasia Canadiana for piano four hands, (2006)
My friend and colleague, Michael Redshaw in Victoria commissioned me to compose this duet for performance
with Susan de Burgh at Canada Music Week.  He wanted a fantasy based on Canadian folk tunes. I ended up
writing my own melody on which to base the piece, but included hints of She's Like a Swallow, I'se the B'ye that Builds the Boat and
Land of the Silver Birch. Maybe more. It opens with a beautiful, musterious call and response between the players, Andante con moto,
followed by an Allegro risoluto treatment of the main melody. The climax comes somewhere in the middle,
with a delightfully challenging and rollicking rhythmic section.  We end as mysteriously as we began.
RCM 10-ARCT
9'12", 28 pages
$15

Variations(2006)
I was giving a recital in Calgary, and had advertised that I would present a new piece.
I still was struggling three weeks before the recital date when ideas began to come.
The piece is written on an original theme, marked Allegro (in one), which I am told sounds Canadian.
 There are four variations, marked Cantabile espressivo, Scherzando, Maestoso, Brillante, and then a slightly varied return to the theme. 
RCM 10-ARCT
6'37", 15 pages
$15

Evening Rain; fantasy on a poem by Carlo Toselli (2005)
My wife Susan used to teach a family named the Tosellis. Their grandfather was an eye surgeon and a poet.
Each Christmas, we would receive a book of his poetry, published by Le Grazie in Vancouver, and we both loved it.
I wrote this piece inspired by his lovely poem, Evening Rain. The poem is printed on the back page of the score.
It is in a somewhat jazzy/impressionist style, rhapsodic and meditative at the beginning and end, and has a virtuosic middle section.  
Listen!
RCM 10-ARCT
4'30", 9 pages
$10

Starry Night; fantasy on a painting by Vincent van Gogh (2004)
A virtuosic showpiece inspired by van Gogh's wonderful painting, the Starry Night.
I was trying to write a piece for myself without much success, when my wife Susan suggested that I look at the painting.
RCM ARCT
22 pages
$15

Oh Canada Rag (2004)
This piece was written for Grant Paterson and Jim Dobbin for their play about Robert Service, "Rhyme Rustler".
Grant, an accomplished pianist, actually plays this piece and others during the performance.
When Grant asked me to arrange "Oh Canada" in  a ragtime style, my first reaction was "Huh?"
closely followed by "You gotta be kidding...". However, after some thought, it worked very well.
Listen!
RCM 9-10
2 pages
$5

Suite from "Oh Evergreens" (2001)
This is a suite of pieces from the CD, "Oh Evergreens".
It includes twelve pieces: Oh Evergreens, Abate and Detach, The Word Composer, Last Prime Edge,  A Breath,
Cosmos, Echoes, Simplicity, Simple Gifts,  Time Before Ages,  A Tiny Cell,  The Workers.
Pieces may also be purchased separately. Please contact me.
RCM 5-ARCT
41 pages
$20

Festival in Sevilla (1999)
A short show piece suitable for a senior student.  Makes a great encore.
RCM 8
4 pages
$5