Serenade

A loose sequel to my Sinfonietta, this Serenade comprises a suite of extremely ersatz dances inspired by Brahms’s gorgeous dark serenades and the many sets of dances by Mozart and Schubert. Each of the movements both resembles and does not resemble a dance form such as a gavotte or hornpipe, and each features different subdivisions of the classical orchestra, with the entire ensemble playing together only in the finale.

The music is simultaneously both light and heavy, slight and ponderous. Written as my father lay dying—he passed away halfway through its composition—working on this piece provided intermittent respite from the overwhelming emotions of that most difficult time.

In that spirit, Serenade is intended as a lively diversion: not everything in life—or music—must always be weighty, and music may serve as a balm to the soul in demanding times.