This tribute Conlon Nancarrow was inspired by a grad school professor who declared shamefully that I would/could never compose atonal music. The modern version (or at least, it was was when this was composed) of a player piano was an acoustic grand piano equipped with a floppy disc drive that contained MIDI files. No humans were harmed (or used) in the performance you are about to hear.

Wave for player piano

Bassoon and tuba try to stay calm and work out their differences, but neither has the ability listen to the other, resulting in interruptions, each insisting theirs is the "correct" point of view, each insisting on getting in the last word. Perhaps a better title would be, The Argument.

The Conversation

This score was composed for Bryan Konefsky's short film, Do You Want To Go This Way, Or Go Back The Way We Came? Watch the film here:

https://vimeo.com/789342217

Do you want to go this way, or go back the way we came?

This waltz once belonged in a proper ballroom, but after one too many shots of tequila, has been temporarily banished to the outer corridors.

Little Waltz

You know those unexpected snow storms in late spring that happen while you sleep? And when you wake up, there is a magical wonderland of ice and crystal and astounding blue skies, and mythical animals that only appear on such magical mornings. Today, it was Jackalope.

Floating Down a Snowy River

As a jewish child growing up in a city deeply embedded in it's catholic traditions, I was all too happy to skip the catechism, the midnight Christmas masses and to reject all the associated dogma that was widely accepted among my classmates. But things were different on Easter Morning. No colorful eggs or chocolate, no pretty dresses with patent leather shoes, and certainly no bunnies or chicks. This song represents what it might have felt like to be one of my catholic school friends on Easter morning. 

Easter Morning

Nina Shoenfeld performs the fourth movement from Randall Snyder's "Prism" suite for solo native flute, Elusive. This track will draw you toward the river, in search of something... elusive.

Elusive

A Big Branch and a Small Vine

Simple Gifts

As schools abruptly closed in mid-March due to Covid-19, students were just beginning to write their libretto and compose melodies for their opera, which had been scheduled for a mid-May performance. I used what little material I had from students to finish their story and create a soundscape, hoping they would have they the opportunity to hear their ideas become something concrete.

Tracks by Nina Shoenfeld