Dark dark night or alternately Halloween meets Guy Fawkes is a humorous piece which uses essentially a single motif and all sorts of clichés. Composed for fun and enjoyment without any deeper meaning.

Collrcted Works

Dark Dark Night (Please read description)

Piano Quartet #1 Op. 34 (1990): This is a celebration of a life in music. It was written just before my opera singer aunt died. She was my first music / piano teacher, life - long booster and probably the most discerning critique. I am grateful that she heard this when it was premiered in her home shortly before her demise. Keen ears would probably pick up the fragmentary themes from Wagner (Tristan), Mahler (Des Knaben Wunderhorn) , Faure (Les roses d'Isphahan), Verdi (Il travatore, Don Carlo – she was a great Eboli), and Puccini ( Madama Butterfly). Single movement, 24 section, piano quartet (Violin, Viola, Cello and piano) lasts about 15 minutes.

Piano Quartet #1 (1990)

Conditional Peace Op. 15(1983) : The subtitle of this English horn / Harp lullaby is '' A wordless song for children who have nobody to comfort them'' . It was composed as a gentle gift to these unfortunate children who most likely will never hear a gentle song.  Furthermore, 20 years later, we have a bigger need for taking a moment to think of the children caught in wars, too numerous to list.  This is my moment I would like to share.

Conditional Peace

Yunus Emre – A Bektashi Breath Op.85 : (Esmen-Hannaford collaboration)(2015)Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi Sect based on the tenets taught by Hadji Bektash Veli (1209 1271). It is essentially  Anatolian in origin and character with traces of shamanism, principles of tolerance and openly individualistic, non-discriminatory doctrine. It has spread westward through Greece, Macedonia, Bosnia and Albania. With all these influences notwithstanding, its music and poetry often use the idiom of the Anatolian people rather than the more formal Ottoman poetry and music. The Bektashi songs are often called Bektashi nefesi (breath) and contain lilting melodies. This piece (my first attempt in writing an ala Turca music) is a tribute to great Bektashi poet and humanist Yunus Emre (1240 – 1320). The Oboe, tambur; temple blocks and toms piece started life as Whirling Dervishes, as it developed it was apparent that the title implied wrong music.. This work realised and mixed by KEN HANNAFORD –who did a marvellous job, Thank you Ken. The score is available IMSLP #450697

Yunus Emre

A simple, tranquil rhapsody - useful for meditation, quiet moments. I hope you'll enjoy it. Score is available IMSLP #456523

Joys of Tranquility Op 95

Silhouettes and Shadows Opus 97 (2017): Alternately "Etude for B flat Clarinet and Piano" is short approachable composition that could be an exciting encore to a successful recital. It is a short (5 min) but compact composition which showcases the expressive character of the Clarinet from the colourful low register to clear and penetrating upper register. The piano is not a mere accompaniment but a full partner in creating a conversation. The score is available IMSLP #457523.

Silhouettes And  Shadows

Concerto for Piano and Chamber strings Op. 17 (1984): The Piano concerto # 1 was originally written for 11 players (Piano. 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos and 2 double basses). Later, its dynamics were changed to improve its balance and to give it more depth which necessitated increasing the strings to a small chamber string orchestra (6, 6, 4, 4, 2). The jaunty and energetic 1st, sentimental 2nd and more reflective 3rd movements were mainly written for entertainment and takes on many rhapsodic characteristics. It is not a tone painting, as such its abstract nature leaves the association of the music with concrete images to the listener.  Score is available IMSLP #460 275

Piano Concerto #1  Mvt 3

Piano Concerto #1  Mvt 2

Piano Concerto #1 Mvt 1

Piano Sonata No. 6 Op. 36 (1992-1995): The sixth piano sonata is a fast paced work with an unusual scherzo marked slow but funny. The first movement is fast and romp like and it constitutes almost 1/2 of the work. The sonata has some technical implications, but written to be enjoyed as music not as a technical exercise.
Technical note: The first movement starts as bitonal Eb(minor & major) then it modulates to one of its whole tone neighbours. The modulation schemes are three whole tones, (Eb, Db, Cb) , (Eb, F, G) or (Gb, Ab, Bb), (Gb, E, D)  This is used throughout the piece. Besides rich transient harmonies the major/ minor bitonality and whole tone  modulation produce blues like expressions. (1987 rev 1991/ rev 1995)). The score is available IMSLP #461 858

Sonata 6 Mvt 1 Allegro con brio

Piano Sonata No. 6 Op. 36 (1992-1995): The sixth piano sonata is a fast paced work with the second movement is slower and more lyrical than the first movement.  The sonata has some technical implications, but it was written to be enjoyed as music not as a technical exercise.

Sonata 6 Mvt 2 - Allegro Moderato

Piano Sonata No. 6 Op. 36 (1992-1995): The sixth piano sonata is a fast paced work with an unusual scherzo marked slow but funny.  The sonata has some technical implications, but it was written to be enjoyed as music not as a technical exercise.

Sonata 6 Mvt 3 - Scherzo: Lento ma giocoso

Piano Sonata No. 6 Op. 36 (1992-1995): The sixth piano sonata is a fast paced work with an unusual scherzo marked slow but funny. The sonata has some technical implications, but it was written to be enjoyed as music not as a technical exercise.

Piano Sonata #6 FINALE Allegro assai

A Love Story  Op.100: This is a symmetric 9 tone based composition. In many ways it is a tone poem to celebrate life. Due to poor health I have been away for awhile; I hope to return to more productive existence soon. Score is available IMSLP  #505803

A Love Story

Water, wind and waves Op. 39:  A tone poem for French horn and Piano. Written many years ago (current Opus no. is 106), it was modified and re-edited recently.  Although it is supposed to be contemplations while looking at a sea or a large lake, it can be enjoyed without an image. The score is available at IMSLP #599 572.

naesmen

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