Kevin Gunia
composer and pianist

Premiere performance:

16 Nov 2024

Kevin Gunia, piano

Aasen-Hull Hall, University of Oregon

Eugene, OR

​​

​

The Six Impressions for solo piano were begun in 2021 and completed in 2023. They can be described as quasi-portraits; they're not necessarily musical portraits of their respective dedicatees, but rather an impression of what they do. "Fanfare for Six" is an impression of a trumpet fanfare, with each hand playing three notes. The end of the movement quotes the opening of Claudio Monteverdi's opera L'Orfeo. The title of "Sprig of That" refers to the name of the dedicatee's bluegrass band. The fast repeated notes in the right hand imitate a mandolin being plucked, while the tune has a folk-like quality to it. "Emerald Haze" is a rag-fantasy with a Romantic-era tinge. First following a strict ragtime form, the piece begins to stray toward the end. "The Composing Den" refers to a structure on the dedicatee's property where he completes most of his creative work. The motive that forms the piece is borrowed from a clarinet line in his second piano concerto. "Staten Island Pastorale" is a realization of sketches by fusion composer Dana Suesse (1909–1987), which were given to me by the dedicatee. Though the final product is in my own voice, it honors the voice and life of the historical composer. "Benediction" is an ethereal, abstract setting of the 5th-century Christmas hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten." The dedicatee of this movement often sings this hymn as the benediction during church services. The respective dedicatees of each movement are Noah Solomon, Ilan Blanck, Michael Chisholm, Carter Pann, Peter Mintun, and Robin Bacon Hoffman.