Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 01/01/2006, uploaded on 05/01/2010

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Ekta           Brent Heisinger

Alap and Improvisation
Interlude -- Tabla and Drum Set
Love Song
Fugue and Cadenza

EKTA ("Oneness") was composed for composer/pianist David Ward-Steinman, along with a jazz bassist and drum set player, a tabla drummer, string chamber orchestra and two percussionists. Essentially the work is a piano concerto. It was inspired by qualities of classical Indian music and jazz and is set in four conjoined movements: Alap and Improvisation, Interlude, Love Song, and Fugue and Cadenza. The music materials are derived from the Indian 5-note raga, Brindivani Sarang, and two rhythmic tals: Dadra, a 6-beat cycle, and Tintal, a 16 beat cycle. This setting morphs into a pandiatonic jazz style which is followed by an energetic fugue (derived from Piano Concerto No. 2) and dramatic return of opening ideas. During the work, the pianist is called on to improvise first on the Indian raga, then with a jazz trio, and finally as soloist in the cadenza. The composition can be heard on the CD EKTA produced by the San José Chamber Orchestra.      Brent Heisinger

List of performers:
David Ward-Steinman, Piano
Ashwin Batish, tabla
Joe Hodge, drum set
John Shifflett, Jazz bass
Mark Vergge, percussion
Galen Lemon, percussion
San Jose Chamber Orchestra
Barbara Day Turner