Well-Tempered Keyboards (WTK)

Concert Highlights

Come hear a Piano and Marimba Duo:

Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 7:30pm

Braithwaite Recital
University of Texas at Tyler

World Premiere of "Night Voyages" by Evan Hause. Night Voyages is a single movement for piano and marimba/vibraphone combination in three sections lasting about 15 minutes. According to composer, Evan Hause: Various works of art depicting insomnia and sleep have always fascinated me, from Elliott Carter's piano solo "Night Fantasies" to James Joyce's book "Finnegans Wake". As an insomniac myself I know too well the experience of fitful sleep, the techniques to rest one's mind to get to sleep, and the things that harangue the process. The chiming unisons that open and permeate "Night Vouages" should interpreted by each listener differently, but for me they are that certain thing that keeps one awake and that must be resolved before moving on to sleep. An obsessive thought an actual sound indoors or outdoors, even a light. Throughout the "voyages" of the mind on this nocturnal journey this unison idea metamorphoses in its own right, becoming melodic, or working into the fabris of its surroundings. It never really goes away, but becomes accepted. The three sections proper are contrasting musical journeys, each a little shorter than the one before, each taking a different approach to this over-riding concept of uninvited repetition.

I composed this work for Robert Crutchfield (precussion) and Maria Guenette (piano). Robert and I were classmates in percussion at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where my composition teacher was Sherwood Shaffer, to whom this work is dedicated. Shaffer's masterful nocturnal music and special relationship with the night-as-muse was one of many reasons I thought of him in composing "Night Voyages".

Other works include

"Nostalgia" by Keizo Ideta, "Flyology" by Lin Chin Cheng, "Festival in the Outlying Regions" and "Merry Memories of Childhood for Marimba and Piano" by Jiro Censhu.

Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 7:30pm
	Chamber Music at Cleary First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

Well-Tempered Keyboards: Music of Travel and Exotic Words: An extraordinary musical combo featuring the world premiere of "Nocturnes" by Christine Donkin. Nocturnes is a series of 6 short character pieces lasting about 15 minutes, commissioned by the duo. According to composer, Christine Donkin: I wrote Nocturnes while living next to the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa. Many of the scenes depicted in these pieces are inspired by that part of the city. As the sun begins to set (Shadows stretch across coloured leaves), lights from buildings and street lamps dance in the reflection of the canal (Lights on the water). Some parts of the city come to life after dark while others become deserted (A busy street and A quieter street). Back at home, with the soothing sound of the rain outside (Rain on the window), sleep gradually takes hold (A thought gives way to a dream). Other works include: "Festival in the Outlying Regions", "Sonata for Marimba and Piano" and "Merry Memories of Childhood for Marimba and Piano" by Jiro Censhu. "Gosto de Brasil" and "Beira-mar" by Aquino and Vasconcellos. "Suite from Carmen" by Georges Bizet (arr. Michael Baker).