Commissioned and premiered by the Palisades Virtuosi.
Jilted Tango – wind and piano
A duet for wind and piano.
Program note: The give and take, push and pull in a dance of love. – RW
Audio is a midi realization of the version for Clarinet & Piano.
Both Clarinet & Piano, and Alto Flute & Piano versions are available for purchase.
Winter’s Solitude
Clear, cold light and quiet introspection infuse two moods of existential contemplation on a winter’s day. – RW
In Passages – a duet
This is a duet version for violin and piano of “In Passages” – originally scored for violin soloist and string orchestra and recorded by the Croatian Chamber Orchestra with conductor Miran Vaupotic.
Balancing on the Edge of Shadows
Recorded by violinist Audrey Wright and pianist Yundu Wang.
This work for violin and piano was commissioned by Audrey Wright in early 2020, and was beautifully recorded by Audrey and Yundu for the Navona Records release of Audrey’s album THINGS IN PAIRS.
The premiere music video features the exquisite performances of Audrey and Yundu, with sound-responsive lighting created for this project by Geoff Robertson.
An “encore” release of the recording is included on my new album PASSAGES THROUGH TIME.
Amazon Music * YouTube Music * Apple Music * Spotify
Program note: The times in which I live always seep into the music, so I write from those emotions, rather than conceptually. As I began writing this piece and followed through the journey into the music, it took on a life of its own within the emotional logic of the music. It evolved to be quite beautiful, mysterious, with delicate subtlety. There is also an element of suspense, as if balancing on an edge between dark and light – aware of an ominous potential of darkness. – RW
Imagined Tango
A miniature duet scored for flute and harp. (Video is a concert performance by Erëmira Çitaku, flute & Cagatay Akyol, harp at the June 19, 2019 Flute Sound concert at the National Library of Kosovo in Prishtinë, Kosovë)
Just Beyond Reach
Program Note: Composed near the end of my mother’s long descent into dementia, in bearing witness to the widening gap extending beyond reach, I sought an emotional release through music – in wordless reflection and acceptance. – RW
Relays
(Audio features violinists, Anna Cromwell and Lisa Nelson from the Albany Records release “Dancing on Glass“)
Why Is It?
Program note: A moment’s questioning of an emotional circumstance.
(Audio is a concert performance at Turtle Bay Music School, NYC)
Only to Ask – for winds
Audio is a concert performance by Vent Nouveau, with Katrina Owens, flute; Kristen Mather, clarinet; Briana Lehman, bassoon.
On Curious Reflection
(SoundCloud audio features concert performance by Nathan Shew, marimba, and Topher Ruggerio, piano, at the 2014 SCI National Conference.)
Program note: A curious reflection on the emotional immediacy of a moment, and the more distanced self-observation in the moment. – RW
Purchase options include versions for marimba & piano, and vibe and piano.
(Video features the vibe/piano version premiere by percussionist Chris Graham and pianist Andrea Lodge at Greenwich House Music School, NYC)
Moving Through Shadows & Light
A passage through an emotional landscape, moving through memories – at moments dark and remote, other times lucid. – RW
Jilted Tango – string and piano
Jilted Tango is included on Moonkyung Lee’s Navona Records album, PARTS TO PLAY.
Program Note: The give and take, push and pull in a dance of love. -RW
Amazon *AppleMusic * Spotify
Video features a performance of a double bass/piano version of “Jilted Tango” performed by bassist Joel Braun with pianist Alexandre Maynegre-Torra, October 25, 2021 at the Butler School of Music, University of Texas/Austin.
In Conversation
Duets for a Duo – for winds
Program note: Duets for a Duo is one of my earliest compositions notated for mixed instruments. The music is an interplay of winds through two movements that are meant to convey two emotional reflections, I. Reconsidering; II. Amidst Confusion. I was especially intrigued by the sounds of close intervals, primarily minor or major seconds – between instruments.
Versions for varied wind combinations are available through the score purchase link.
The video is a lovely performance by Aimee Toner and Megan Tracy at the The Muse’s Voice concert, October 31, 2018, Barnard College, NYC.
Check out this concert recording by 2Flutes: Laura Falzon and Pamela Sklar at St. Paul’s Concert series, Columbia University, NYC. And, also their New York Tapestries album.
Confidentially
A brief intimacy of a shared moment in confidence. – RW
Audio is a midi realization for bassoon and cello.
A Turn in Return
A quietly tender piece that has stayed close to my heart. – RW
(audio is a midi realization)
