In the Gatineau Woods

In the Gatineau Woods was written for Rebecca Gray to perform at the 2023 Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition. Rebecca is an extraordinary musician and she requested that the piece be really difficult. I was happy to oblige! I don’t have a copy of the recording yet, but when I do, you will be astonished at her virtuosity and boldness. It is in three movements. The first is written in fragments à la Berio. The second is a quiet song in memory of my student and friend Maria Atallah, who, sadly passed away in January 2023. She was also a classmate and friend of Rebecca. The third song is a patter song — very fast with constantly changing meters. There is a freely improvised cadenza near the end.