My primary instrument is piano, but it’s by far the hardest instrument for me to write music for. Maybe that’s because I find constructing piano parts in the Sibelius software to be clunky and awkward. Or maybe it’s because I’m a jazz pianist at heart, and I hate the idea of being strapped into only one way of playing a musical thought. Still, earlier this year I was honored to accept a commission from the National String Symphonia to write a rhapsody for piano, strings, and harp. It was a challenge, but I’m pleased with how it came out—and pleased that I won’t be expected to perform the work myself. NSS conductor David Fanning, who is a gifted pianist, will do the honors when Rhapsody for Piano and Strings is premiered in the fall of 2022. You can hear a synth version of this piece on my website.
New Work: Rhapsody for Piano and Strings
