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Bloom

Kris Peysen

This piece is interesting in that it is the most episodic work I have written. Someone once remarked to me that there is enough musical material in this piece to fill five or six pieces as opposed to just one. While this is probably true, there are definite elements connecting all the disparate sections, but they are subtle, and listeners may not be able to discern some of them during one listen. My piece is hyper-romantic in the sense that the overall sense of unity and progression will likely be felt on a deeper, more subconscious level as opposed to something that is audible on the surface. At least that was my intent while composing it. Taking this approach also allowed me to explore the full sonic and textural possibilities of the piano, which is a truly wonderful and versatile instrument.

Structurally, the piece goes through three “cycles.” In the first cycle, four distinct sections are presented one after another. In the second cycle, the four sections are repeated, but this time each section is altered by musical material from the other sections, making them less distinct from one another. In the third cycle the lines are blurred even further as various motives, melodies, and figurations truly take on a character of their own, which propels the piece towards a very climactic coda. The overall effect is one of blossoming, new petals sprouting forth from a flower, which is why I decided to title it Bloom. 

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