Calling Cards
for violin and piano

During the 19th century and 20th centuries, before the advent of the telephone, calling cards were central to facilitating social interaction between new acquaintances, family and friends. While the card was used to initiate visits, it is the various responses and established etiquette that piqued my curiosity. While the French inscribed initials to denote the reason for the visit, there was also a tradition of turning down the card's corners - a visit in person (upper right corner), a congratulatory visit (upper left corner), etc. This single movement composition for violin and piano is, in essence, an imaginary narrative--the gentleman caller wooing the lady of the house and the unexpected series of responses, expressed as dialogue between the violin and piano and resulting in contrapuntal textures that weave tangled webs.

Performances