Study in Yellow - (2021)   

for the Groggels and Shepherds

 

The recent reconnection with and then sudden passing of a friend was occasioned by new friendship with families I'd not known. Among the third generation is a young man, John Groggel, who is a gifted musician. We spoke a while of many things, which amusingly included his fixation with the color yellow as well as piano repertoire, chord forms and such, including the frequency of a shade of yellow which David, John's brother, found for additional reference. 

 

So what came to mind was a little work -- a study --including the visual spelling of the word, yellow,' in the passing of notes, as in the first two measures. The first measure contains the four letters and the second, more florid gesture the last two. That then became the shape of one of the themes of this little study, along with repetitions of G, as Linda Groggel's nickname for the grandkids was Gigi. So for John and, of course, the generations of the Groggels and Shepherds....

 

3 pages, circa 3' 45" - an MP3 demo is here: 

 

The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano score.

 

Study in Yellow