1 . Prelude in C+ Let me explain the title of this piece. Although calling a song something generic like 'prelude' might seem a little boring, there's actually a good reason many composers do it. It allows you, the listener, more freedom to decide for yourself what a piece is about. You’ll see both descriptive and generically titled pieces on this album because I think there’s a place for both. Just don’t let the generic titles bore you or the descriptive titles restrict your own ideas about the music. 2 . Ascension 3 . Prelude in Color: Boats at Harbor When I wrote this piece I tried to paint with music an image I saw in my mind -- the sky is heavy and gray, some old boats, tied up at a remote harbor, rock and creak discontentedly on the waves, and the viewer of the scene feels the same yearning and discontent in his own heart -- and all this painted in Impressionist colors. 4 . An Evening Walk 5 . Rising -- 'prelude in F+' -- To the rising generation This piece is dedicated to my friends of the rising generation. They inspire me, and their constant faith in me and my music has meant a lot. This piece is a tribute and gift to them, as well as to anyone who is striving to 'rise' in their own life. 6. Arietta in Ab+ -- To myself on my 18th birthday In classical music, the term 'aria' originally described an expressive melody performed by a singer – often in opera – and an 'arietta' is simply a small aria. My use of the word doesn’t come from opera, but from a single piano piece of that name written by the composer Edvard Grieg in 1867. That little song is one of my favorite piano pieces, and inspired by it, I’ve written many little 'ariettas' of my own, this being one of them. 7. The Carousel -- To Kate Johnson This piece has a few interesting things to listen for. Dedicated to my dear friend Kate Johnson, it actually uses the letters of her name which are also notes on the piano to create the main melody (Katherine - A, E, E). You can also hear the perpetual motion of the carousel turning and rising and falling throughout. For me, the lasting idea in the piece is this: the carousel as an analogy to life itself. 8. Tin Pan Alley I love jazz, and I love the music of composer George Gershwin. When Gershwin was only 15, he left school and went to work for a music publisher in New York City's Tin Pan Alley, a very happening music district at the time. This piece pays tribute to the music of those times, and to the music of George Gershwin. 9. Sketch of a Girl Sleeping In my opinion, the test of a great composer is how accurately he can put what he feels into the music he writes. It's an additional challenge to fit as much feeling as possible into as little musical space as possible -- to be able to 'say' what you have to say so well that it only takes a moment. That was what I aimed for when writing this little ‘sketch,’ which I consider one of the profoundest pieces I’ve written, despite its size. 10. Afterall: Adagio for Morley -- To Morley Paterson This piece was written following a very heartbreaking event. The day after, unable to think about anything else, I found a piano, tore a blank page from a music book, and in one hour wrote this piece. 11 . Fantasie for Piano and Violin This duet reflects my adoration of turn of the 20th century French music. Many of my favorite composers are from this era, including Maurice Ravel, Gabriel Faure, Francis Poulenc, and Claude Debussy (the composer who wrote Clair de Lune, my favorite piece of music of all time). This piece especially reflects my love of the gorgeous harmonies always infused into the music they wrote. 12 . Waltz for Judy -- To Judy Jensen. This little waltz is dedicated to the wonderful piano teacher who taught me during my first 8 or 9 years of piano studies. Judy always praised the little compositions I brought to her, and she made me feel like I had it in me to be the greatest composer who ever lived. I'm so grateful for her kindness and for every minute she spent teaching me. I wrote this piece a number of years ago, and I'm glad I can finally present it to her. Thank you, Judy.