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Program Notes

Solo Instruments and Piano

Violin

Sonata for Violin and Piano In three movements. I. Allegro; II. Lento; III. Allegro. [1961] 15 minutes

Pastorale for Violin and Piano In one movement. Lento tranquillo. [1952] 5 minutes

Intermezzo for Violin and Piano In one movement. Adagio tranquillo. [1953] 4 minutes

L'amour eternel for Flute and Piano In three movements. I. Andante fluente; II. Allegretto e poco agitato; III. Moderato e molto expressivo. The first movement is quite flowing with great ease. The second is lightly syncopated, somewhat humorous and a bit "jazzy." The third is quite romatic and amorous, combining qualities of both "flesh and spirit" and ending on a quiet note.

 

Viola, Cello,  Double Bass

Ecstasy of Love (a.k.a. L'extase d'Amour) In one movement. Larghetto dolce. [2009] 8 1/2 minutes


Sonata for Cello and Piano In three movements. I. I.argo; II. Lento molto; III. Allegro. [1964; 1975]. 23 minutes
 

Aria for Cello and Piano [2005; see Solo Bass], Solo Bass


Aria for Solo Bass and Piano In one movement. Largo espressivo. [2005] 6 minutes
 

Trumpet, English Horn

Romance in D Flat for English Horn and Piano In one movement. Adagio amoroso. [2010] 7 minutes

Grand March for Trumpet and Piano  7 min.
 

Oboe

Loving Touches for Oboe and Piano. In two movements, I Andante; II. Freely; Allegretto Moderato. (2013) 18 minutes
 

Bassoon

Poem of Love for Bassoon and Piano In one movement. Adagio. [2010] 8 minutes
 

French Horn

Sonata for Horn and Piano (a.k.a. Empire Sonata) In four movements. I. Adagio maestoso; Andante; Adagio come prima. II. Allegretto grazioso. III. Largo sostenuto e cantabile. IV. Allegro e molto agitato. [1961] 45 minutes
 

Piano Solo

Twenty-six Etudes for Solo Piano [l997-2007] 2 1/2 hours. Begun in 1997 and completed in 2007, Adams' major work consists of a number of studies (etudes) which are varied in both style and mood.
 

The etudes each are in different tonalities, the objective being to utilize the essence of the respective tonalities. This goes beyond the more superficial to penetrate and achieve the core of the various key centers' character.
          

The first twelve have been recorded by Maria Corley (on the Albany label, presented by Videmus). In the spring of 2004 Corley and the Composer gave a series of presentations to the Piano Literature classes at the Juilliard School in Lincoln Center, New York. This coincided with the grand opening of the recording.
 

Corley performed one of the longest etudes, in E Flat Minor, at the NANM National Convention, at the Renaissance Marriott in Detroit, August, 2004, and at concerts at the Greg L. Reese Performing Arts Center in E. Cleveland, OH, January and November, 2007.
          

The Composer draws from his entire personal compositional experience in crafting these etudes. Some are light and charming, others more dark and pensive. Each mood represents the Composer at his most personal and characteristic.
          

Each is like an extended theme, as the Composer brings to the piano the characteristic quality he renders in his art songs. The duration of the first twelve (as recorded) is 72 minutes. The final fourteen are about the same duration.
          

In concert, the complete Twenty Six Etudes for Solo Piano are normally presented in two parts on two consecutive evenings, for the convenience of both the performing artist and audience.

 

The Etudes, Parts I & II was given its premiere performance on two consecutive evenings: 11/01/2014 by Maria Corley, and 11/02/2014 by Thomas Otten at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.  The composer was present for this event.

Three Preludes for Solo Piano In three movements. I. Allegretto deciso; H. Andante e poco rubato (blues) III. Allegro ma non troppo. 15 minutes.

Contrasts Ten short pieces [1961]. l2 minutes. Sentence; Lament; Ragtime; Procession; Etude; Prelude; Frolic; Romance; Dialogue; Episode

 

Organ

Offering of Love (a.k.a. Offertory) One movement. [1992] Andante. 5 minutes

Prelude and Fugue One movement. [1979] Larghetto. 6 minutes

Infinitas One movement. [1999] Maestoso. 6 minutes

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