Happy Easter!

It's a rainy day in Cincinnati but nevertheless it's Easter Sunday, a day for celebrative, joyful music. I’m eager to share with you a piece scored for two cellos and written just last year: “Joyful Fugue in F Major.”

My titles rarely mention the key of the work they headline. Most of the time the key is irrelevant. But in this case I wanted to announce the key up front because the key itself is joyful. F major is the key of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, for instance. And the first of his three Opus 59 String Quartets. And his "Spring" sonata for violin and piano. It's a solid key, a comfortable key, a happy key.

You are among the first to hear this piece but you might think you recognize it because it sounds a little like the famous “Pachelbel Canon.” (One of my friends wittily calls it the “Taco Bel Canon.”) But I included no actual quotations from that piece. It’s just that it's cast in the same meter and tempo and has the same joyful mood.

"Joyful Fugue" was premiered at a home concert we presented two months ago. About 25 friends and fans attended. It was ‘by invitation only’ because we have only so much room and only so many chairs.

This exuberant piece began the concert and I can say with assurance: everyone loved it.

You might wonder what source of joy inspired this piece. The honest answer might disappoint you: nothing specific except perhaps the joy of feeling joyful. I had just finished writing a piece that was sad. Wanting my next piece to go in a different direction, I joyfully set out to write something joyful.

The recording I am sharing with you today was made at our home concert. The two cellists were seated in the foyer. it opens onto three rooms: the living room, the dining room and the family room. We had about eight attendees seated in each room, just a few feet from the musicians. You’ll be hearing exactly what the audience heard on that cold January afternoon.

To hear cellists Michael Ronstadt and Nora Barton playing “Joyful Fugue in F Major,” click on the link above.

There's also a link to a PDF of the score.