Commonplace
Year Composed
2017
Duration
7:00
Instrumentation
solo piano
Program Notes
Commonplace is a series of piano miniatures that I wrote (and am continuing to write!) for pianist Holly Roadfeldt, sparked by a shared residency we spent at Avaloch Farms. Each miniatures is intended as a brief, autobiographical image, something innocuous (Still Life with Blind Cat describes most days in my house) or sometimes slightly splashier (December 31st, 2011 was inspired by a particularly abysmal New Year’s Eve.) The collection as a whole began as part of a series of pieces about youth—pieces which I started writing while still in youth, in order to present the thing with a present clarity, not the rose-colored glasses of retrospect—but as this project continues, I want to use this ever-growing collection as a way to keep collecting and reflecting on day-to-day experiences, almost like a litmus test for a life constantly shifting on its axis.
Additional Information
Commissioner: Holly Roadfeldt, a project for Avaloch Farm
Movements:
I. peaches
II. december 31st, 2011
III. still life with blind cat