Composition

Notes

ConcorDance was written in loving memory of Susan Svrček, stellar pianist and good friend.

In the 30 plus years I knew Susan I associated her most with Beethoven, Mozart, and Ives, but she played a vast range of music, often at Piano Spheres concerts. I was lucky enough to play chamber music with Susan many times over the years: Beethoven, Mozart, and some new music, including of my own music, and that of her husband (and my composition teacher), Rick Lesemann.

The first piece I ever heard her perform was Beethoven op 109, in a stunning program of late Beethoven. I heard her play Ives’ Concord Sonata several times, occasionally with my wife Cindy Fogg playing the optional 14 notes for viola. Mozart is alluded to only in the light texture of the opening of ConcorDance, but there are explicit references to Beethoven and Ives’ Concord: Sonata, which was a favorite of Susan’s.

In ConcorDance I have tried to capture some of Susan’s passion, warmth, exuberance, her giddy joy in making music, and her explosive laughter. The closing Ives quote (sometimes referred to as the "Human Faith theme") reflects our shock at losing her when she seemed to have much more to do and say.

I am grateful to Piano Spheres for commissioning ConcorDance and to Gloria Cheng for premiering it on their series.