These pieces were written during a difficult period, when the stresses of life were taking almost all of my energy away from composing. The only pieces I could manage during this time were these short, quiet meditations. I did not have the chutzpah needed to write virtuostic compositions, and so composing music that was somehow opposed to these ideas was a necessity.

However, in taking this idea to heart, I found myself becoming deeply influenced by working on a simple, poetic level of self-expression. This change in attitude and values has become a spark that has helped me think about music differently. Sometimes just the smallest shift in thought can open doors and break down assumptions, and these pieces have helped me to hear and conceive of music in new and exciting ways. The works focus on subtle manipulations in timbre and touch to evoke an airy, reflective atmosphere, as if the sound of the piano was resonating and breathing with life.

Introspection #3 was written for Jane Shim, a high school student studying piano at the Cleveland Music School Settlement. Introspection #4 is a gentle waltz; sometimes the triple meter is obvious, and sometimes it disappears into the background.