Solo and Chamber Music
Komorebi (2019) for flute and piano
“Komorebi” is an untranslatable word in Japanese that describes the effect of sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees, creating shifting patterns of light and shadow. This composition is inspired by the sunlight streaming through the leaves of the trees in my backyard at different times of day and under various weather conditions. This piece was written for the Young-Peiskee Duo. Recording: Florida Flute convention, 1/24/20, by the Young-Peiskee Duo (Sarah Jane Young, Flute; Galen Dean Peiskee, piano)
Earthshine (2018) bass clarinet and vibraphone
Earthshine occurs when light from the sun is reflected off of the earth and onto the moon creating a glow around the shadowed portion of the moon. In my piece, Earthshine, I tried to emulate that contrast of shadow and light by using extreme register and dynamic contrasts with contrasts of dissonance and consonance and tempo. Performed at the New Music on the Bayou Summer Festival 2018 on 5/31/18 by: Scot Humes, bass clarinet and Oliver Molina, vibraphone
Dissipating Mists (2014) violin
Composed as a collaborative project through the FSU violin studios and the student chapter of the Society of Composers, Dissipating Mists was inspired by a picture I took in India. It was sunset and I was standing on top of a carved-out hill in the ruins of Mahabalipuram looking towards older ruins, mostly untouched, overtaken by vegetation, and shrouded in mist.
Performed by Alexandra Matloff, Florida State University, 2/22/14
Ashes and Sparks (2013, rev. 2017) tuba and mixed percussion
Written for Mackenzie Edgley The title, Ashes and Sparks, is taken from a line in "Ode to the West Wind" by Percy Bysshe Shelley. I found the text apt to describe the sharp, rhythmic, and percussive sections of the piece (the "sparks") contrasted with the ametric, amorphous, and shimmering sections (the "ashes"). Premiered by Mackenzie Edgley, tuba and Jamie Wind Whitmarsh, percussion; at FSU, 4/24/14.
Tree Lore (2013, rev. 2015) clarinet, viola, and piano
Tree Lore was inspired by the mystical associations given to trees found in folklore from different world cultures. What I found interesting during research was that the same trees were often given the same magical associations in vastly different cultures.
Tree Lore was written for the “Iowa Celebration of Women Composers” at the University of Iowa.
Performed 10/4/15 at California State University Northridge by TEMPO ensemble members: Julia Heinen, clarinet; Nancy Roth, viola; Françoise Régnat, piano
Iridescence (2012) tenor steel pan and marimba
Iridescence was inspired by the iridescent hues created when the sun hit the clouds on my morning drive to school in a spectacular way. The colors seemed to shift and coalesce, while still maintaining the original hue somewhere. This piece uses this idea of shifting and coalescence to create a dialogue between the steel pan and marimba. The pitch material used is fairly minimal but constantly shifting within instruments and shared between them.
Premiered 4/29 2013, Florida State University, Jamie Whitmarsh, tenor pan; Tommy Dobbs, marimba.
Dreamscape (2011) String Quartet
Dreamscape is my interpretation of the colors and landscape I imagine in dreams. This first section, "whimsical," is a dense texture of flowing passages with the melody passed between each voice. I see it as full of swirling blues, violets, and greens. The transition into the next section consists of unison glissandi and end in silence. The second section, "Disquiet," starts sparse of eerie, like a surrealist, desert landscape. It grows in intensity for some time before finally reach the peaceful climax of the third and final section. This section, "Tranquility," has a feeling of ebb and flow with the use of sustained pitches. The melody returns in the first violin and the piece ends softly.
Premiered 4/29/13, Florida State University, by Vilma Lloja and Alexandra Matloff, violins; Peter Dutilly, viola; Austin Bennett, cello
5 Piano Preludes (2010)
Fantasy for Piccolo and Bassoon (2010)
Performed by Masashi Maeda (bassoon) and Satoko Seki (piccolo) 10/21/17: Aomori, Towada art center cafe space
Six Short Pieces for Woodwind Quintet (2010)
I. Allegro II. Adagio III. Fragments IV. Chorale V. Pastorale VI. Jazzy
"Six Short Pieces for Woodwind Quintet" incorporates many different styles of music and gives short glances into each instrument as a solo and blending member of the ensemble. The first movement is rhythmic and the instruments largely play as a whole, the second movement uses woodwind pairs with the solo horn, the third movement fragments a melody between the instruments with short snippets and extended techniques, the fourth movement experiments with blending sounds, the fifth movement uses modal inflections, and the sixth movement takes ideas from jazz and Dixieland music.
Performers: Christina Potts (Guerrero), flute; Stephanie Pieczynski, oboe; Ramses Bugarin, clarinet; Cameron Douthitt, horn; and Vicki Long, bassoon.
Duet for English Horn and Horn (2010)
I. Melody II. Chant III. Finale
This piece was commissioned by Brian Mayer to be played at a benefit for his church in Yellow Springs, OH, in June 2010. The three movements play with modal ideas and intervals of the 4th and 5th. The first movement is a seamless melody, whereas the second movement is three sections with multi-phonics in the horn, and the third movement is a play on a fanfare/march.
Performers: Stephanie Pieczynski, English horn and Brian Mayer, horn
Quartet for Steel Pans (2010)
Written for Kenneth Joseph. Each movement uses a different mode/scale I. Largo-Allegro Furioso II. Rhapsody III. Scherzo IV. Dance
Performed 4/24/10, Northern Illinois University, Mia Gormandy-Benjamin, tenor pan; Kenneth Joseph, double seconds; Abe Breiling, cello pan; Yuko Asada, bass pans; Stephanie Pieczynski, conductor
Rebirth (2009) Flute/Alto Flute, violin, viola, cello
Performed by Emily Rojas (Fuglestad), flute; Katelyn Kozinski, violin; Anna Bross, viola; and Dana Shin, cello.
This piece was inspired by the oncoming of spring after a harsh winter. The flute represents the idea of rebirth, while the strings provide back up with occasional soloistic lines. When the piece gets darker, and we first hear the alto flute. Winter is not ready to give up its hold yet. The spring theme gets weaker and becomes dominated by pedal C#s in the cello. The piece gradually regains its momentum and ends peacefully.
Olympian Quintet (2008) Brass Quintet
Performers: Brian Balika trumpet; Matt Golladay, trumpet; Brian Mayer, horn; Bobby Vriezen, trombone; and Dustin Westrom, tuba; Premiered at the Spring Composer's Recital at NIU. April 2009
I. To Earth, The Mother of All II. Hermes, The Impish Messenger III. Ares, The Ruthless Warrior IV. Artemis, The Dancing Huntress V. Hephaestus, The Crippled Forger VI. Dionysus, The Great Reveller VII. Apollo, The Gentle Musician
Contra-Band Quintet (2008) Bass flute, English horn, Bass clarinet, Contra-bassoon, Horn
This piece was commissioned by Brian Mayer for his senior horn recital. The first movement is an intense rhythmic piece using many different meters, the second movement is peaceful and lyrical, and the third movement is a spoof on a montage of Doo wop-type tunes.
Janna Stauffer, bass flute; Stephanie Pieczynski, English horn; Emily Landwehr, bass clarinet; Alexis Kutarna, contra-bassoon; and Brian Mayer, horn; Premiered at Brian Mayer's senior horn recital 2/22/09.
Nervous (2008) solo cello
Premiered at the Chicago Miniaturist inaugural concert 9/27/08 and recorded during Stephanie's senior recital 4/09/10 by Dana Shin.
"Nervous" was written for the Chicago Miniaturist Ensemble competition and ultimately chosen to be performed on their inaugural concert. It uses only 100 notes and rhythmic and dynamic contrasts for a sense of frantic urgency.
Remembrance (2008)
Premiered at the spring Composer's Recital at NIU, April 2008 by David Maki.
"Remembrance" is a reaction to the shooting that occurred on the Northern Illinois University Campus, 2/14/08. It begins dissonant and heightens to a loud climax. Then the school's "Alma Mater" comes through and the piece ends in a reflective mood.
