VIDEO: Poem No. 1

[lateromantic]

This is the first of two poems I wrote for piano solo in the late 1980s.  I called them "poems" because of their concentrated intensity of expression.  I just recorded this one this weekend.  One curiosity of its theme (and of the work itself) is the ambiguity of its tonal center:  it seems to begin in E-flat major but eventually cadences in the relative minor (C minor).  I hope you find it enjoyable. 

Over time I hope to get more of these works recorded.

[lateromantic]

I've recently transcribed my manuscript for this work into Finale, using it to produce this "score version" of the video.

[rachfan]

Hi lateromantic,

I just listened to your two compositions and thoroughly enjoyed both.  Your pieces are very lyrical and sensuous, with some delicious dissonances, and including intense moments and fervent expression too.  The greater part of my own recordings here are late romantic works (and predominantly Russian). I'm delighted that your pieces, judging from the two submitted here, truly fit well with the composing styles and  lush idioms of the Late Romantic age.  It suggests that there are still new works stemming from that great era that are being added to that extraordinary repertoire in our own day.  Please keep them coming!

David          

[lateromantic]

Hi lateromantic,

I just listened to your two compositions and thoroughly enjoyed both.  Your pieces are very lyrical and sensuous, with some delicious dissonances, and including intense moments and fervent expression too.  The greater part of my own recordings here are late romantic works (and predominantly Russian). I'm delighted that your pieces, judging from the two submitted here, truly fit well with the composing styles and  lush idioms of the Late Romantic age.  It suggests that there are still new works stemming from that great era that are being added to that extraordinary repertoire in our own day.  Please keep them coming!

David          

Thanks.  Obviously, I too am a fan of late Romanticism (Rachmaninoff in particular), and I believe the possibilities of Romantic composition are far from exhausted.