In preparation for the upcoming Binghamton Community Orchestra performance, I sent forward these notes. Of course, my dislike of writing program notes on my pieces is well-documented, but like them or not, I see their usefulness in a situation where the audience knows nothing about the piece. So here we are. Attached also are Rob Haskins’ wonderful notes that give a little bit more information on both me and the piece itself.
Leyenda Mística I
(Mystic Legend I)
Égloga: el Sauce que se enamoró de la Caricia del Viento, Op. 78, 2002
(Eclogue: the …

On Saturday, May 5, at 7 pm, the Binghamton Community Orchestra will be performing the very first of my Leyendas Místicas, Égloga: el Sauce que se enamoró de la Caricia del Viento (Eclogue: the Willow that fell in love with the Wind’s Caress). I am sure I need not say how excited I am. In all truth, the composition was actually performed years ago, but in another form, namely an arrangement for saxophone choir by the talented and generous Nigel Wood. But the version for orchestra was the original, premiered, …

Anyone who has worked with me on performances or recordings should be able to tell you how very uncomfortable I am with addressing groups—either audiences or performers—with regard to my compositions. This reluctance is connected, no doubt, to my discomfort with detailed program notes, but it also has to do with a general shyness about public speaking, and I am certainly not a very good extemporizer on the subject of compositional background or inspiration. I have more than once demurred when given the opportunity to talk to performers who were …