RECORDINGS

Sojourn features new works for solo piano (and two with percussion) all written in the 21st century, six of which are newly commissioned. I’ve always been a passionate advocate for the performance of new music and have premiered over 50 solo and chamber works over the course of my career. I love focusing on the performance of works by women and other underrepresented groups, who continue to be systemically marginalized in classical music. 

All works were recorded on a DS Standard 5.5® (“7/8”) size piano keyboard (https://dsstandardfoundation.org). As a pianist with a small hand-span, I have spent my entire professional career seeking creative strategies for performing on conventional-sized keyboards. Since the life-changing moment I started practicing and performing on an alternatively-sized piano keyboard, I experienced a whole new level of artistic and technical freedom. This seems like the perfect pairing: performing on a smaller keyboard that fits my hands (studies show that the conventional keyboard is too large for 87% of female pianists!), while championing works by women composers who are typically underrepresented. 

It is a tremendous responsibility to premiere a new work. I am deeply indebted to Serra Hwang, Elena Ruehr, Laura Schwendinger, and Brianna Ware for believing in me and providing this life-changing opportunity. It is a privilege and honor to work with each of you. My heart is full of gratitude. 

Anthony DiSanza, Percussion/Co-Producer

Jessica Johnson, Piano/Co-Producer
Equilibrium Recordings

Sole Nero, based in Madison, Wisconsin, is committed to exploring and programming new and existing works for piano and percussion duo. In an effort to contribute to the repertoire of this diverse medium, they are engaged in an extensive commissioning project resulting in many new works composed expressly for this ensemble.

WORKS

Evan Hause: Coil  

Joseph Koykkar: Musica per Due

I. Movimento Uno  

II. Interludio   2:58

III. Movimento Due   

Joel Naumann: Crunch

I. Cranial Crunch!   

II. Crystalline Crunch!   

III. Cryptic Crunch!  

IV. Critical Crunch!   

Dave Hollinden: Lead   

Dave Hollinden: Platinum  

The physical world is a place of fluidity and stasis, growth and decay, assembly and dispersal, and though matter never completely comes to a rest, elemental states can be sustained for fractions of a second, or even frozen for millions of years. Dynamic Elements is a musical depiction of this perpetual cosmological unfolding- an introspective journey and an artistic exploration, from the microscopic to the astronomic. In playing this music, acclaimed trombonist Mark Hetzler wanted to express the feeling of wonder one can get from watching the physical world’s multiplicity of moving parts engaged in innumerable processes. The program includes a diversity of musical aesthetics and compositional styles with music by Matthew Burtner, Robert Rowe, James Fulkerson, Chester Udell and Hetzler himself. Featuring a variety of electro-acoustic techniques for the alteration of sound, these pieces offer a broad range of moods, colors and dynamics, and were chosen for their seemingly natural alignment with Hetzler’s theme of matter in flux.

WORKS

Rebellion (Stephen Rush)

Inner Rebellion (Stephen Rush)

Climb (David Vayo)

New England Scenes (James Stephenson)

Walking Dreams (Dennis Llinas)

Three Views of Infinity (Mark Hetzler)

http://www.markhetzler.com/three-views