Old Clock

Old Clock was commissioned by and dedicated to Susan Nigro. The thematic material of the piece is derived from the initial piano clusters, distorted sounds of an old grandfather clock. Several gestures of the piece are associated with the running of a mechanical clock: the turn of the spring, the squeaking of old wheels skipping their turn, and a distorted "cuckoo". The erratic behavior of the old clock is likewise depicted: sudden runs, unexpected slowdowns, and motionless moments in the flow of the outer sections of the piece. The middle section calls into being long-forgotten dreams and laments about the inevitable passage of time. Duration: 9.5 minutes