Huw Dixon

Across the Decades

As a child long before I had piano lessons, I used to mess about on the dining room piano, no doubt as many other children did. I discovered that if you play just the black notes, it sounds very oriental. If you hold the sustain pedal it sounds magical. The opening section seeks to capture that simple sound.

Later, I liked more complicated music with strong rhythms. The second section captures that.  

In middle age, life gets complicated and there are conflicting and dissonant elements in the music, as well moments of reflection.

Lastly, in old age there are memories of earlier life, but also an awareness of death lurking in the shadows.

The piece ends with a return to the young boy messing around on the piano without a care in the world.