Program Note: Four Pieces was written in spring and summer of 2015 for pianist Robert Fleitz. Having written a lot of serious music over the several years prior to that, it was appealing to me to write music that would be a little bit more care-free, yet still retain the emotional depth and clear narrative structure that I always strive for, both within and between movements. The first movement, “Lilt,” came out of a previous collaboration with Robert Fleitz, who asked 18 composers to write variations on a famous melody by Medieval composer Guillaume de Machaut. The title refers to the rhythmic "groove" that pervades the entire movement. Inspired by Robert's variation project, the second movement is itself titled “Variation” and features different settings of a simple melody. The title of the third movement, “Shift,” refers to its structural purpose as it serves as a transition from the second movement to the fourth, “Pep,” which begins attacca directly from the third. Pep refers to the upbeat nature of the melody and fourth movement in general.

Commisioned By: The Danbury Chamber Music Intensive

Premiere: Pianist Robert Fleitz at the Danbury Chamber Music Intensive