The Melancholy Preludes
Thomas Stumpf-Piano, Michael McLaughlin-Composer
Premiered in Distler Concert Hall, Tufts University. 4/4/22. ©2021 Michael McLaughlin
These five pieces are part of a continuing exploration of composing environmental pieces representative of the human condition and psychic states, pieces that are not necessarily goal oriented yet have a sense of a slow moving evolution and a sense of place, that one might experience in certain states of calm, grief, or perhaps even rage.
Though I believe that anyone can project whatever state they may on this music, for me each Prelude can be seen as representing the following; Melancholy as lingering grief, Melancholy as reflection in the vastness of nature, Melancholy in questioning and doubt, Melancholy in acceptance of change, Melancholy foreshadowing inevitable loss.
In memory of Francis Domec and Hassan Sayadi