Solo Music

all works are published by Blue Wings Press except where indicated

Joseph Bertolozzi in the studio at the piano. Image © 2002, Rennie Pomatti

Joseph Bertolozzi in the studio at the piano. Image © 2002, Rennie Pomatti

SOLO MUSIC (other than for organ)

“…An eye illumined by another sun…”
solo gong
This work is part of an intended larger suite probing the unexpected profiles of the solo gong. Over a decade ago my solo percussion project The Bronze Collection explored expressive and unexpected nuances within gongs and cymbals utilizing the whole range of musical expression, from dynamic contrast (barely audible to roaring cadences) and coloristic shading (muting, playing on their edges, & various surfaces with unusual mallets), to extended techniques (playing a gong or cymbal with a cello bow, etc.). Writing and performing multi-movement works opened up a window not only in my mind but for my audiences. Those techniques and insights later informed my larger public works on New York’s Mid Hudson Bridge and Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

But with two lost years to Covid of necessity I turned from those gigantically public utterances back to gongs once again, and reduced things further to an even more intimate expression of music: the solo gong. At first this was for myself; of course I couldn’t play anywhere anyway! But in reassessing a strongly limited sonic palette, I found new expressions that could draw audiences into a new sphere of awareness. Not the sonorities of a new age “gong bath,” this isn’t that; but of an articulate, eloquent engine of ideas and musical exchange. The expectation of a gong being a loud one-trick pony is upended in this atmospheric, introspective opus. As we convene once again for public art, this serves as a rediscovery of what we thought we knew.

(THE) CHILDREN’S CORNER dur. c. 14:00″ (2002)
solo piano
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.
Movement titles: I. Aaron at the piano; II. Cullen’s day off; III. Cullen and Paul on the back nine; IV. Cullen plays “Manhunt;” V. Chelsea at Old Navy; VI. Chelsea feeding a colt; VII. Jackie’s favorite flowers; VIII. Jackie’s dreams;
IX. Hannah’s Theme; X. Sarah and Daddy dancing; XI. Sarah and Liony; XII. Sarah onstage.

MEDITATION ON “DIVINUM MYSTERIUM” dur. c. 4:40″ (1997)
solo piano
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.

MICHAEL’S BELLS dur. c. 1:40″ (1997) published by the Albany City Carillon Committee, Albany, NY
carillon

PETER’S LULLABY dur: 1:20″ (1991)
solo piano

POEMA sul “L E O N A R D O” dur. c. 5:00″ (2001)
solo guitar
– also –
POEMA
solo piano
Click here to listen in it’s piano version. Click here for Program Notes.

PROLOGUE dur. c. 4:00″ (1978)
Click here to listen. Click here to read the reviews. Click here for Program Notes.
clarinet & piano

(THE) SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD dur. c. 45:00″ (2003-2004)
The Bronze Collection: a percussion rig of gongs, cymbals and roto-toms.
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.

SONGS & WALTZES dur. c. 20:00″ (2002)
solo piano
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.
Movement titles: I. The Continental Waltz (from The Team); II. Poema; III. The Midnight Waltz; IV. Adagio (from The Belle of Amherst); V. Waltz (from The Belle of Amherst); VI. The Paperboy Song (from The Team).

SOUVENIR II dur. c. 1:45″ (1990)
solo guitar

SOUVENIR I (“A Glimpse of the Rugged”) dur. c. 1:20″ (1989)
solo guitar

TARANTELLA dur. c. 4:00″ (2002)
solo violin

TRANCES & VISIONS dur. c. 5:30″ (2010)
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.
French horn & accompaniment – Click here to listen.
Cello & accompaniment
Accordion Solo – Click here to listen.
Accordion Duo

VOYAGE OF THE ANCIENTS dur. c. 40:00″ (2003-2004)
The Bronze Collection: a percussion rig of gongs, cymbals and roto-toms.
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.

MUSIC FOR ORGAN SOLO

CAPRICE dur. c. 3:30″ (1975)

CHORALE PRELUDE ON “FULDA” dur. c. 5:30″ (2000)
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.

JOY dur c. 3:00″ (1972)

ORFEO SUITE dur. c. 3:00″ (1984)

PARTITA ON “O LUMEN ECCLESIAE” (2017)

PARTITA ON “PEOPLE LOOK EAST” dur. c. 3:30″ (2004) published by Wayne Leupold Editions, 2005
Click here to listen.
manuals only, with optional pedal.

SUITE FOR A WEDDING dur. c. 7:00″ (1980)
Movement titles: I. Processional; II. Prelude in G; III. Recessional.

TARANTELLA dur. c. 4:00″ (1985)
Click here to listen. Click here for Program Notes.
pedal solo

VARIATIONS ON “LAND OF REST” dur. c. 3:00″ (2005)
manuals only, with optional pedal.

VARIATIONS ON “STABAT MATER” dur. c. 4:00″ (2004) published by Wayne Leupold Editions, 2008
manuals only, with optional pedal.