FORTY EXERCISES AND A CODA
MA Thesis Concert at Wesleyan UniversityApril 4, 2025 Crowell Concert HallTHE ENSEMBLE
Abeku Ansaeku, piano; Ameen Muqdad Albadrani, violin + drum; Sam Boston, lap steel guitar + sweep gen; Marie Carroll, bass koto; Chuntay Hatten, piano; Noa Koffman-Adsit, cello; Phoenix Libsch, piano; Emma Mistele, piano; Calla Paleczny, piano; Elijah Philip, trumpet; Michael Pestel, flute; James Praznik, piano; Ethan Schwartz, banjo; Negar Soleymanifar, piano; Carl Testa, upright bass; Orlando Osgood, acoustic guitar
Common Pulse Duet
For two rhythmically-inclined performers. These recordings are duets with myself.
Four Piano Duets each incorporate very high notes, very low notes, and one or two notes in the middle of the keyboard. Fermata, Pedals, Hocket, and Decay indicate the parameter of the sound that is open to the performer’s interpretation. These recordings are duets with myself.
4 Piano Duets
For any number players. These etudes relate the gestures of plucking a string instrument inversely to the qualities of sound they produce.
8 Plucked String Etudes
Forty Exercises and a coda:
1. Tunnel Duet 1
2. Tunnel Duet 2
3. Tunnel Duet 3
4. Common Pulse 1
5. Common Pulse 2
6. Common Pulse 3
7. Piano Duet 1
8. Piano Duet 2
9. Piano Duet 3
10. Piano Duet 4
11. Walking Solo
12. Walking Duet
13. Walking Trio
14. Walking Quartet
15. Walking Quintet
16. Walking Sextet
17. Walking Septet
18. Walking Octet
19. Silent Playing Solo
20. Silent Playing Duet
21. Silent Playing Trio
22. Silent Playing Quartet
23. Silent Playing Quintet
24. Silent Playing Sextet
25. Silent Playing Septet
26. Silent Playing Octet
27. Watching Solo
28. Watching Duet
29. Watching Trio
30. Watching Quartet
31. Watching Quintet
32. Watching Sextet
33. Watching Septet
34. Watching Octet
35. Plucked String Etude 1
36. Plucked String Etude 2
37. Plucked String Etude 3
38. Plucked String Etude 4
39. Plucked String Etude 5
40. Plucked String Etude 6
And an extended Coda