My Process V: Program notes

Almost to the finish line! I’ve composed a piece of music, its typed in and edited. Now I have to explain my thinking and how this piece came to existence. I have a hard time making program notes. I enjoy all things people hear in a piece of music. However listeners often think about visuals without having context. New sounds and tonalities are heard with old Ideas rather than the ones that inspired the work. This is an opportunity to connect with the listener. Music choices theory, ideals can be discussed. Useful for extra musically inspired works.

Below are Program notes for BLOOD a piano concerto I completed in February. For me this piece is a mountain of feeling.


Each movement in BLOOD has its own themes inspired by the corresponding letter. Bloodline, Legends, Omaggio, Obsession, and Drama.

I. Boisterous Binary: Black to white is a bombastic and elegant bitonal bouree, string section dances with the piano in the shape of a helix. Black to white is referring to the keys on the piano. The movement starts with strings with the piano entering behind in Dd penentionic .  By the end of the movement the piano is playing over a pedal the strings.

II. Levitating Lwa is telling the story of wandering spirits. Lwa is an ancestral spirit, there's an anchor throughout while there is ascent to and the spirits wander. The piano becomes the anchor at moments. Lwa wants to move but also is protecting the lineage.

III. Obstinate ostinatos is a omaggio to Alfred Schnittke A F E D Eb C E his piano concerto inspired this piece. Schnittke a chosen musical family. The Schnittke signature is what leads the passicalia witch is a type ostinato. The movement has rhythm, melodic and harmonic ostinati   Dean Kervin Boursiquot D E A E B Eb is also used in the movement.

IV. Off da hook! Is about self harm and trying to call for help, The piano is playing the sound when the phone is off the hook.The climax is when piano calls the suicide hotline I-800-273-8255. The message here is your not alone talk to someone, you matter.

V. Dismantling dogma acts like a final. This movement is about a delicate and disturbing presence. Dismantling the Ideas of Identity. BLOOD is a ride of emotion but the rage and sadness are equal to the joy and beauty. How should I end this piece I’m writing?

Questions by movement
I.Who am I?
II. Where do I come from? 

III. What does my blood tell me about myself?
IV. What doesn't my blood tell me about myself?
V. Where am I going?