"This piece showed a pleasing balance between conventional techniques and creative new devices. It is evident that the composer not only has learned his lessons well from the former masters, but that he also has the means to speak with his own stylistic voice.
Quayle replaces novelty with creativity. He makes the music uniquely his through a variety of ways... In the end, the audience's reaction was justifiably intense. Certainly this youthful (but mature) creation is an auspicious beginning for an aspiring composer."
---Mark Polesky, The Oberlin Review
(full review here)
Premiered November 1998 by the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Tim Weiss, conductor, Matthew Quayle, piano. 23’.
At the encouragement of my Oberlin piano teacher, Monique Duphil, I composed a piano concerto to use in my audition for Oberlin's student concerto competition. The piece was written at a feverish pace in the spring of 1998, while I was studying in Vienna. Intoxicated by the wealth of concerts and operas at my fingertips, I seemingly incorporated everything I heard in that great city. This eclectic concerto is bursting with stylistic shifts and moments of homage to a number of different composers.
That fall, I competed for the chance to play the concerto with the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra. I had arranged the orchestra part for piano so that it could be used in the audition; this accompaniment was skillfully rendered by an outstanding pianist, Spencer Myer. To my surprise, I was chosen as a winner! I was given an opportunity to work with a phenomenal conductor of contemporary music, Tim Weiss -- but there was a catch: the concert was coming up very soon, and the orchestral parts needed to be completed in two weeks. This was before I used a notation program, so all of this work needed to be done by hand. I am indebted to all the friends that came over and camped out in my living room with pencils and rulers to assist me with this operation. In the end, the performance was a great success, and it remains one of my most treasured musical experiences.
Movement I, excerpt
Movement II, excerpt
Movement III, excerpt