In the summer of 1997 I traveled with an American Chamber Orchestra to Bratislava, Slovakia.  I conducted a number of concerts of my music and had the inspiration and time to compose this new music.  When I returned to the states I was intent on recording it. 

On the trip I met a number of fine musicians and wonderful people.  Three of them participated in the making of this CD;  the violinist Leonard Levin, the soprano Katherine Desinger, and the violist Ardith Holmgrain. Leonid is featured on the solo piece “Nostalgia” as well as the duo with cellist Debbie Sepe who plays with Leonid on “Dialogue”.

Katherine Desinger sings vocalise on “Across The Ocean”, and sings beautifully in german in “Dem Aufgehenden Vollmonde” and “Schlafe Traumend Im Himmel”. I chose to compose these two art songs in german because on this brief five week stay in Eastern Europe, I felt closer to my own European origins and the origins of a style of music that I had studied and loved most of my life.  The music that did spring from me seems to be a mix of a Neoclassical style and my American jazz roots. 

“Nostalgia” is, however, deeply rooted in music from the Old World.  Often reminiscent of the late romantic composers like Mahler and Schoenberg especially the two german art songs and the “Elegy For The Queen” there is still a nod to the influences of Debussy and Stravinsky in such pieces as “Morgen Lied” and “Across The ocean”.  In the end, it’s all what I have absorbed, invented or borrowed to create, I feel, a very pleasing and interesting  chamber music sound.  The musicians play impeccably well with a great amount of heartfelt emotion.  Bravo to each and every one of them.