Today I present Miniature X! I was given the opportunity to record this on the Bond organ at Holy Spirit Episcopal, a German neo-Baroque instrument that is absolutely spectactular. I have recorded on this instrument before here and a few things I wasn’t as satisfied with, but those were just a couple of wild improvisations. Just about every summer, I end up back in Montana and I end up in Holy Spirit. This year I took advantage of the great space to record two of the newest Miniatures.
Miniature X is actually a reject from another work that will be out sometime in the next year. I liked it on its own merits, but not in the context of the other work. In fact, this C major work has gone through quite a few edits to get were it is today. When I compose for the organ or piano, there is much more back and forth between conception and performance than any other composing I do. That is entirely due to the fact that I love performing keyboard works as much as I enjoy composing for those instruments.
This Miniature X is clearly a post-minimalist inspired work – lost of repeats to make efficient use of the score limitations. When I wrote the Moto Minuetto Minimalismo, I didn’t expect to come back to that style. But I think that’s why this particular piece works as a movement in the Miniatures: it is does not specifically fit into things I generally write for organ, but is worthy of being out in the world as a piece of music. A couple of things that changed when I practiced/performed it: the final section went faster, very little dynamic change, and the nature of most of the repeats. Enjoy and download the piece for FREE ON IMSLP.