Pianist Martin Spitznagel performs his composition "Theresa's Novelette" at the First Unitarian Church in Pittsburgh, PA, on March 28, 2009.

The piece, written for my grandmother, is the first in the "Sonnet Suite," a collection of pieces written for my grandparents. I was at the piano one day in the summer of 2007, and on top of it was a picture of my Grandma holding my niece, Mariah. I imagined her and my grandfather, both then suffering the indignities of age, dancing together in their living room, their burdens lifted, the summer sun drifting through the windowpanes. This tune is the result.

Grandma died in November of 2008, but she heard this before she went, and when she did she said, "Martin, I feel like I've known it my whole life."

I miss you, Grammy!

For more information on me and to purchase my CD "Tricky Fingers" which has this tune on it, please visit http://www.spitzfire.com.

Special thanks to:
Yuko Eguchi, video
Bryan Wright, audio

Recordings of Martin and others are also available at http://www.rivermontrecords.com. (less info)