Interval Studies

for piano solo
(2023)

Each of these three short pieces uses a single interval (and sometimes its inversion) to generate musical ideas that are developed and contrasted throughout its length. The playful first piece begins with lightly leaping dyads made of thirds. Contrasting musical personalities then interact with this idea to create a scherzando effect, but all the contrasting ideas also involve major thirds. The slower second movement uses fourths to contrast freely accelerating and decelerating note patterns with a high sparkling idea and sombre or mysterious sounding chords. Finally, seconds are used throughout the third movement. It begins with a quiet blurry texture that is contrasted with playfully articulate, rhythmically energized and even heavy and forceful musical personalities.

(Total performance time ca. 9:00)