Tango Toccata on a Theme of Melchior Vulpius (organ solo) (2001)

The Tango Toccata resulted from a commission from the San Diego Chapter of the American Guild of Organists for the Region IX Convention in 2001. Charles Rus, Professor of Organ at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, gave the premiere performance during the San Diego Convention. The piece is based on a chorale tune composed by Melchior Vulpius in 1609; the tune appears in the German Gesangbuch (333). The work opens with a toccata in which wide-ranging passagework is juxtaposed with large, punctuating chords at the top of the texture; the tune is in the pedal. A lyrical section follows, giving the theme a chance to be turned to two different modal centers while the tune continues with the same pitches. The next section presents the tango, which becomes more embellished as it develops. A different type of toccata closes the work, with the theme once more in the pedal part.

Portales for Harpsichord Duo (2000)

In 1998 I received a commission from Les deux Clavecins, the harpsichord duo formed by Allen Shaffer and Thomas Marshall. Allen Shaffer is Organist/Choirmaster at Christ and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Norfolk, VA as well as Co-Director of the Norfolk Chamber Consort. Thomas Marshall is Professor of Organ and Harpsichord at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Portales is a set of dances based on three interacting themes; in order of appearance, the dances include: first tango, second tango, return and embellishment of the first tango, charrada (courtship dance in 10/16 meter), tresillo, fandango, zarabanda, and guajiras. The title refers to the concept of “gates,” but is intended to represent the idea of passing through the “gateways” or transformations in thinking or feeling that all human beings experience. Portales was premiered by the duo at the final concert of the 1999-2000 series of the Norfolk Chamber Consort at Old Dominion University.

 

Program Notes