Homage (1989)
(for Solo Piano)

Professor Peter Dennison (1942-1989) once remarked that contradictory accidentals juxtaposed in different parts should be referred to as ‘cross–relations’ and not ‘false–relations’ since the term ‘false’ might imply that there was something wrong with them. The idea behind cross–relations subsequently became important in my writing. Dennison always taught that dissonance is the life–blood of music, and this is a premise upon which my music is based.

This homage is composed around a cross–relation motive, which is loosely in the style of Bach, being the style in which Dennison tutored us. The inherently chromatic nature of the motive, however, leads it into harmonic territory more closely associated with composers like Shostakovich. My part, as composer of this homage, was perhaps secondary to my desire to pay an academic debt to the professor within a style that he understood and was capable of imparting with remarkable clarity.