Walter H. Rubsamen Music Library

The charming initial melody of the theme comes from a children’s educational app. I added a response melody, and a return of the initial melody, to create the theme. The variations carry this small musical idea afar, until the piece closes with a dramatic coda.

7/31/20 version

Arrangement for string orchestra of the solo piano work. 9/24/20 version.

The charming initial melody of the theme comes from a children’s educational app. I added a response melody, and a return of the initial melody, to create the theme. The variations carry this small musical idea afar.

Hear performance on Calisia 1: New String Music, Kalisz Philharmonic Orchestra, Paweł Kotla; Willowhayne Records

The work opens with two emphatic four-note statements. Longer replies follow, all in a mournful mood.  A cheerful interlude has the spirit of a folk tune. But soon the mournful theme returns for a modulating journey that includes tense, rapid counterpoint. The work then draws to a desolate close.

Solo flute, 7/25/2020 version

Hear performance on Lament For Theodore Antoniou Vol. 1, Iwona Glinka, Willowhayne Records Ltd.

For piano solo, 9/20/19 version

This piece was inspired by a video of a Ukrainian violinist playing this Ukrainian folk melody in a bomb shelter.

Nich yaka misyachna (The night is so moonlit) speaks of love and a beautiful starlit night. However, the melody is set here with dissonance, using a tone row to create tension between the beauty and comfort of the folk melody against the war, turmoil and fear of those sheltering underground.

The tone row is used in prime and retrograde transpositions, and for harmonic clusters.     

Prime Row 0: Eb-A-F-F#-C-E-D-Bb-C#-G-B-Ab