Three Curios (for solo piano)

Digital Sheet Music

By Paul SanGregory

These pieces are like little objects that are simple and direct, yet slightly eccentric. They often seem to be based on traditional notions of harmony or phrasing, butthey don’t always get those aspects exactly "right". It’s as if what appears to becommon little figurines, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves to be more varied,colorful, complex and unpredictable than a quick glance might reveal.

I - Mutable Phrase
This piece sounds a bit obsessive because all the phrases begin the same way. Italmost sounds like somebody repeating a simple one-phrase statement, but constantlychanging it with the hope of writing a perfectly nuanced phrase.

II - Sparks in Emptiness
The use of the sostenuto pedal in this piece creates an effect of reverberating emptyspace. Within that space, little bursts of energy begin appearing. Itsounds like flashes of light in an empty dark space.

III - Silent Blue Tides
This piece is based on a slowly moving and somewhat unpredictable chordprogression. A duo of simple melodies then floats on that chord progression, risingand falling with the moods of that large blue sea.