Tom Flaherty

Two Pianos

Composer's note:

I wrote Time to Travel for Karl and Margaret Kohn, and could not help but think of them during the process, as pianists, as musicians, and as friends. They have an extraordinary command of their instruments, an astonishing ensemble, and a profound musical instinct. Their warmth and enthusiasm for music and life have enriched the lives of all who have come in contact with them. Perhaps their intense discourse with the music of the second Viennese school and its descendants influenced the piece’s basic chordal vocabulary (mostly tritone/fourth-, and major/minor third-chords). Their decades-long association with the Bartok Sonata for Two pianos and Percussion was never far from my mind, as is clear from many rhythmic and melodic gestures in the piece.

Although Karl is still very present on the musical scene, now that he has retired, the Kohns may have at least a little more time to travel.