Musical Smorgasboard

While drafting my practice schedule for the next few weeks I thought I would share what is currently on my musical platter. It's a rather eclectic collection, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

In the collaborative piano realm, the biggies are Brahms' Liebeslieder, Op. 52, and the Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65. Both works are for SATB and piano 4-hands. I'm also preparing for 6 collaborative concerts, one with each of the following: soprano, counter-tenor, baritone, saxophone, trombone, and euphonium. It's going to be a busy few months! I'm also very excited to play Marimba Concerto No. 2 with Casey in Florida and Mexico in the coming weeks. You can listen to the second movement of his concerto here.

Balletik Duo is reuniting in a few short weeks! We have a new program, featuring a premiere of a newly commissioned piece by Andrew Paul Jackson: Aphorism 10. The program is rounded out with pieces by Dalit Warshaw and Marti Epstein, two composers' work whom we love and admire. (Marti wrote me a marimba solo, Nestled, for Balletik Duo's debut concert in 2012.) Natalie and I have planned masterclasses, recording sessions, and private lessons during her residency here in WV, and I can't wait for her to get here!

My solo work, in the marimba world at least, is aimed at preparing for recording. I've got some "oldies but goodies" and some newer pieces that I'm putting back into my hands to finally get around to making some videos. On the table is Merlin, Cinnabar Heart, and Nestled, among a few others. There are some other pieces floating around as I'm deciding whether or not to present a solo recital in late April or May. More to come about that.

I'll be playing Jacob TV's Body of Your Dreams in Florida and Mexico while on tour with Casey, and I can't tell you how much I love this piece. Something about it is very personal to me. As a person with first-hand experience of an unhealthy relationship with food, performing this piece is very cathartic. It's nice to find pieces that speak to me that way. Perhaps a video to come of this piece, as well.

Now that I've talked about how much I have to do, it's time to get out of my houseshoes and into the practice room.

Lovelovelove

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