Chamber/Solo & Duo

Stargazing (2010) violin and electronics
Echolocation (2009) saxophone quartet
Event Horizon (2009) string quartet
Impromptu (2008) violin and piano
Automata (2008) piano solo
Sarcasms (2008) alto saxophone and piano
You're So Fine (2008) viola solo
Toccata (2007) violin and piano
Delights and Shadows (2007) bass voice and piano
Recurrency (2007) cello octet
Imprints (2006) 2 pianos
Pins and Needles (2006) mixed ensemble
Marimbaphobia (2006) marimba solo
Night Signals (2005) cl, vn, vc, and piano
String Quartet (2005)
Brass Quintet (2004)
Sounds & Shapes (2004) mixed ensemble
Quintet (2003) cl, bn, perc, vc, cb
Horn Sonata (2003) horn and piano
String Trio (2002) vn, vl, vc

Automata (2008)
for solo piano

Premiered by Chi-Chen Wu on Nov. 3, 2008

Program Notes:
Automata, for solo piano, is my first attempt at composing in a minimalist style, using short repeated phrases to propel the piece forward. My previous attempts at writing for solo piano has always caused me to second-guess myself to the point of paralysis, so I found it liberating to move away from my normal compositional process with this particular piece.   The opening lilting rhythmic motive with the emphasis off the beat comes from my failure as a jazz pianist to learn how to swing.  For this piece (and for this piece alone!), I have embraced my lack of talent and used it as an obsessive motive.  I have kept the repetitions in this piece relatively short and irregular, and through constant juxtaposition of a few distinctive ideas, it is my hope that this piece is somewhat of an oxymoron: an unpredictable minimalist piece.