piano solo by Vern Pat Nelson (1986)
Elegy For John
McMurray
piano solo by Vern Pat Nelson (1986)
part one: "The Desert"
part two: "The Rider"
This virtuosic piano piece was written in memory of my best friend
and roommate who died at the age of 22. The first section, "The Desert"
is mainly desolate, though it builds to a big emotional climax and comes
back down; since the sonorities of piano are important to it, it is represented
here by two Real Audio files. The second section, "The Rider" is an
extremely violent and difficult toccatta; but since sonority is a little
less important than the actual composition and rhythmic life, I made a midi
file of the whole thing. Please contact the composer via
E-Mail if you would like a score
of this piece, or a cassette of this and other Vern Nelson compositions.
HEAR SECTIONS OF THE PIECE:
---Real
Audio File of the first half of "The Desert"
(if you still need Real
Player...)
---Real
Audio File of the end of "The Desert" and the beginning of "The
Rider"
---MIDI
File of "The Rider" (Remember, this is not a real piano now)
Photograph of John copyright 1981 by Chris Van Dran,
used with permission.
Drawing at top by Steve Pezurro, 1985; an advertisement
for John's band Airtight Garage.