Notes on "Notes"
Miriam and I moved to Asheville in the summer of 2002 with our dog and two cats. We love it here. Many of the pieces were written here; a few I wrote just before leaving Austin; and a couple date back to before Austin. Some pieces I wrote for myself for solo piano, some for my trio, and some with other groups in mind. This is not everything I’ve written in this period, but these are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.
That Constant Drip, like several others on this CD, comes from a period of exploring the music of Carla Bley. It is a study in independence of hands.
Chicken Scratch is just for fun.
Blame it on Carla was also written during that period of Carla Bley saturation. Except for perhaps the chord progression in the solo section, it probably doesn’t sound anything like her music.
Leaping Off a Ledge is my attempt to capture what Bela Bartok does in his children’s piano pieces by repeating a simple melody over a gradually changing harmony. Like many of my titles, I don’t know why the name.
After the Storm, I wrote in Austin after daydreaming about what it would be like to get caught in a storm on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Asheville.
Just Because You Say It’s So is a traditional kind of song, and the only one here that I’ve written lyrics for.
MimiDancing is for Miriam (“Mimi”) - as are all of these, really.
A Wacky Waltz is wacky because it’s obviously not a waltz.
It’s All a Lie is a moody piece. I think I was feeling pessimistic about the political situation.
Homage to Holland is one of my favorites and the oldest. It is a tribute to the contrapuntal writing style of the great bassist, Dave Holland - or more specifically as he was composing when I heard him.
A Waltz While I Wait wrote itself very quickly while I waited for a piano student to arrive. Coincidentally, while I was recording it (in the same studio I teach in) I realized I was in a hurry to finish it before another student arrived. Time crunches can be good.
Alobar’s Quest is named for one of the main, time-traveling characters in the Tom Robbins book, “Jitterbug Perfume.”
12/20/03 was mostly written on the morning of 12/20/03 - my birthday.
Man of the Moment was written around the time of Homage, and uses a similar contrapuntal style. I used overdubbing in the second solo.
Canyons was inspired by a painting by Miriam’s dad, Jack.
Mimi in the Rain is a quiet, mood piece.
I Think I’m Under. I’m not sure what it means, if anything.
A Mistake You Made was inspired by a mistake a beginning student made. Inspiration comes when and wherever it will.
All pieces composed and performed by Patrick Boland. Engineerng: Adam Johnson, Asheville, NC. Photos: Pete Smith, Austin, TX. Graphic design: Perry Steinhoff, Asheville, NC.
