Madison Terrace is a rather small, humble, tree lined street in Rochester, NY that quietly and inconspicuously ends at the shore of the great lake Ontario. For about a year and a half my best friend lived there in a warm little cottage-house with a wonderful view of the water. I have many fond memories of time spent there and years later I even lived on that street myself for a short while. When my friend moved I missed the place so much that I would often go back to the street by myself just to look out over the water and reflect. Eventually I decided to write this suite as a tribute to what was for me, a very special time and place.

    Seventy Madison Terrace was in fact the address where my friend lived. It wasn’t a very large house and the yard was even smaller, but it had a warm and welcoming feeling about it. The music reflects that warmth and the nostalgia it later created within me.
    The Great Lake ( Ontario) was inspired by the many hours we would spend looking out over that impressive and wondrous body of water. We witnessed tranquil summer tides and violent storms filled with displays of sheer power and force. The lake was a never-ending source of awe and a constant reminder of the wonder of nature. With this chant-like piece I wanted to expresses the solemn strength of, and my reverence for, The Great Lake.
     Emily, of A Dance for Emily Sue, is my friend’s daughter, and my god-daughter. She would dance with grand courtly gestures as I played the music of Fernando Sor on my guitar. This piece is based on a simple waltz by that great classical-era Spanish composer. I altered the piece chromatically to a significant extant in order to express the unique personality of Miss Emily Sue, who to this day remains a remarkable a young lady.
    The Old Witch of The Old Witch’s Fugue! is actually a composite character of two, shall we say, “interesting” neighbors. The piece uses a theme built from a synthetic scale and layers that theme in different voices using different tonal centers. The result is playfully macabre and ultimately very spooky…….
    Good Spirits is probably the most emotional of the movements and retains a mysterious element with its use of the Lydian mode. Beginning with a very open and airy feel, the texture becomes increasingly dense. Eventually the harmony grows more complex as the spirits dance and swirl. Finally warmth, clarity, and exuberance reign in tribute to the good times that were had, and to the warm presence that was felt, on Madison Terrace.