Volume 3 “Variations”
The works featured in this third published volume of solo piano works each take as their form a series of variations based upon original themes or motives. Variations (for Giora) began as a work for clarinet and cello, utilizing seven notes applied to the last name of the celebrated klezmer clarinetist, Giora Feidman. Music Can Make Your Life Complete and Presents from Santa both originally made their bow on the stage of Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the former as the theme song for the PSO’s Family concerts, while the latter was premiered in a semi-staged presentation of the original winter holiday musical, “A Christmas Wish.” Variations at the Barre and Zapped Taps were both written for youth programs presented by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, while the Umbrellaphant Variations evolve directly from a work commissioned for the San Diego Symphony based on the poems of Children’s Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky.
Note from the Composer:
The piano has always brought me comfort as a source of solace and as a tool of inspiration. Since the age of five, it has been an integral centerpiece of my home, family life, work and social life. The first two volumes of my Collected Works for Piano feature various short piano works representing the means by which I found I could musically express the emotions and ideas of a young man on his journey from student to mentor, from performer to creator and from son to father.
The works featured in this third published volume of solo piano works each take as their form a series of variations based upon original themes or motives. Variations (for Giora) began as a work for clarinet and cello, utilizing seven notes applied to the last name of the celebrated klezmer clarinetist, Giora Feidman. Music Can Make Your Life Complete and Presents from Santa both originally made their bow on the stage of Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the former as the theme song for the PSO’s Family concerts, while the latter was premiered in a semi-staged presentation of the original winter holiday musical, “A Christmas Wish.” Variations at the Barre and Zapped Taps were both written for youth programs presented by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, while the Umbrellaphant Variations evolve directly from a work commissioned for the San Diego Symphony based on the poems of Children’s Poet Laureate, Jack Prelutsky.
~ Lucas Richman
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Variations for Giora Feidman
- Variations on “Music Can Make Your Life Complete”
- Variations at the Barre
- Reindeer Variations
- Zapped Taps
- Umbrellaphant Variations
- Music Can Make Your Life Complete
- Presents from Santa
Collected Works for Piano, Volume 3, has been recorded by Vijay Venkatesh.
Recorded tracks: “Variations” CD
