Wach ya HAYDN for Solo Piano (2020)

Commissioned by Bowling Green State University for Abigail Maser

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Wach ya HAYDN was commissioned as a new work for piano to be composed based on and paired with a piano work in the standard repertoire. Haydn's Sonata in D major Hob. XVI: 37 was the work chosen for this pairing. Using elements from this sonata, the result would be a piece that is pedagogically crafted as an introduction to new music for the early collegiate piano student.

 

The title of this work is written in Jamaican patois and is a double entendre:

 

1. Watch here (literal translation) or Look here HAYDN! In this context, see what I can do?! This is my personal musical exhibit parody in the likes of Mozart toward Antonio Salieri.

 

2. What are you hiding? A nod to the musical structure itself; the game of hide and seek. The piece is an experiential account of the journey. The main theme from the Haydn Sonata is the 'subject being hidden' and after initial searching, checking the obvious places, checking areas once or twice and no progress, the frustration kicks in. Then you are forced to start thinking creatively and the search in unconventional hiding spots begin; you start to get closer to finding the subject and then finally, you found them!... then it's over.