Two Poetic Pieces for solo piano

Written as a birthday gift for my friend last year, Two Poetic Pieces is my interpretation of two of her poems (shown in the back of the score). This piece was re-recorded by Usman Anees this last week and I wanted to share it with all of you. Please let me know some of your thoughts.

Score: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sjr8QTGdaE2fRjDvWZn9Wd0mSQXntz4t/view?usp=sharing

Audio: 

1st poem:  I love the consistent motor you introduce in this piece which symbolizes the parched man dragging himself through the desert.  You employ a nice palette change when you change the key signature giving the piece momentarily a darker tone which is then contrasted by returning to the dreaming motif.  The piece sounds very interesting with all the space and unusual motifs and figurations that give a sort of ambient feel to the piece.

2nd poem:  With this piece I was a bit worried at first when you introduced the Ravel quote.  I was hoping that that wouldn't end up being the most exciting and important part of the piece, which thankfully it wasn't as I thought the section from rehearsal 3 "The Secret" was quite different and original.  But I do question whether it was essential for you to include the Ravel quote - did you have a specific symbolic reason for including it?  I personally stay away from quotations unless I'm looking to bring extra-musical associations into my music, or maybe to create some kind of joke.

Overall it's a pair of enjoyable pieces!  Very nice live performance - the pianist was excellent!  Congrats!

Peter

On 1/30/2022 at 9:33 PM, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

1st poem:  I love the consistent motor you introduce in this piece which symbolizes the parched man dragging himself through the desert.  You employ a nice palette change when you change the key signature giving the piece momentarily a darker tone which is then contrasted by returning to the dreaming motif.  The piece sounds very interesting with all the space and unusual motifs and figurations that give a sort of ambient feel to the piece.

2nd poem:  With this piece I was a bit worried at first when you introduced the Ravel quote.  I was hoping that that wouldn't end up being the most exciting and important part of the piece, which thankfully it wasn't as I thought the section from rehearsal 3 "The Secret" was quite different and original.  But I do question whether it was essential for you to include the Ravel quote - did you have a specific symbolic reason for including it?  I personally stay away from quotations unless I'm looking to bring extra-musical associations into my music, or maybe to create some kind of joke.

Overall it's a pair of enjoyable pieces!  Very nice live performance - the pianist was excellent!  Congrats!

Peter

 

Thank you for your comments and kind words, as always! I usually quote something in just about every piece I write as an hommage to what I was listening to when writing something. That is maybe the most explicit quote I’ve ever used and was maybe a little lazy of me, but I think it also works within the poem’s context.

Cheers!

Evan