“wood, metal, and vibrating air” is a two movement work for piano duo. Its title comes from Los Angeles writer, Kenneth Miller, who wrote, “The piano is an intricate machine composed of many simple machines, able to communicate the subtlest of universal truths by means of wood, metal, and vibrating air.” This work serves as a celebration of the piano itself, with each movement reflecting on a different aspect of the instrument’s unique history and sound.
The first movement is inspired by the vast array of piano manufacturers. The pitch material of each main gesture was determined by serializing the brand names of keyboard manufacturers. In this way, the movement serves as an homage to the instrument itself and the craftsmen who build it. The second movement is an exploration of the iconic sonority that opens the Beatles’ tune “A Hard Day’s Night”. A comprehensive 2004 study by computer scientist and mathematician Dr. Jason Brown determined that the secret to that elusive chord was, in fact, the addition of a few crucial pitches on the piano, played by Beatles manager George Martin. This inspired me to compose a movement devoted to living inside that beautiful sonority and exploring its endless facets.