Three Songs

Three Songs for piano is a small collection of personal musical statements. Initiallywritten shortly after my time in graduate school, they seek to look back on earliercreative inspirations. This is encapsulated by the opening selection, “Nostalgia.” Itsbeginning refrain is marked sotto voce (beneath the breath, in a quiet voice) toconvey the personal nature of the theme. The following song–“One Other”–openswith a striking, crystalline chord to bring the listener into a state of attentiveness, asif recalling a distant memory. “Summer Song” is decidedly more folksy in style, andpossesses an extroverted quality distinct from the prior songs. It is intended to be anexuberant conclusion that looks optimistically forward to the future. While these are instrumental piano pieces, their designation as ‘songs’ is intendedto portray the vocal quality of much of the melodic writing. Often the musicalphrases are simple, easily memorable, and comfortably singable. The formalconstruction of each is