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for various instruments
I1: LK for vibraphone
I2: Waiting for piano
I3: After for percussion [2 bongos, 2 congas]
I4: Overlord for timpani

Notes

The I Series of pieces (currently I1 through I4) are a set of pieces written in an improvisatory style (the I). Each piece was written for a specific person or occasion in my life. Each piece is only one page and contains a set of rules to guide the improvisation of the performer. The pieces are as long or short as the performer wishes, though some guidelines were set for that as well.

I1: LK was written with a friend of mine in mind. At the time, she was a good friend and we had much in common. We’ve since drifted apart, but the piece still serves as a reminder of a friendship from times past. The work explores the whole length of the vibraphone and encourages use of the motor and non-use of the pedal at times.

I2: Waiting deals with a period in my life where I greatly anticipated something. It uses the piano in a very simplistic way, and more in keeping with the percussive nature of the piano.

I3: After naturally occurs after that point in my life and is an attempt to deal with the feelings and emotions that bombarded me at the time. Written for four drums, it is more bombastic than the first two pieces.

I4: Overlord refers to one of my friends at the time. There existed a quaint practice of referring to the drumline captains at the time as “overlords” (a practice that has since, thankfully, stopped at that school). Regardless of the title, he was a great guy and focused, at the time, on timpani. I had just written a timpani concerto (that has since been “lost”), and that served as a basis for some of the sections in this work.