Introit for Handbells

I've played in handbell choirs ever since high school. This was a piece I wrote at the request of my handbell director at Whitworth College, Stan McDaniel. The beginning and the end are notes of the harmonic series-which sounds really magnificent on handbells due to the complex overtones at work. Also of note: the second melody in the song is actually "Mary Had a Little Lamb" backwards!

I'm Marty Pfeiffer Tonight

A very egotistical piece If I were really serious about it! I wrote this song on the way from Warren Hall to Arend Hall (about a 3-minute walk) and performed it for the first time after climbing the stairs to the third floor of Arend Hall for Jenny Gregory and her boyfriend Matt Hershfelder. The addition of Wade Baker in the song was almost done at the last minute. In fact, my professor, Mike Young, didn't know about the switchero until the rehearsal the day before the concert!

PGDM 1

PGDM stands for Pretty Good Dance Music. I was attempting to culminate what I had started in high school compositionally. Lots of synthy textures and pretty straightforward rock-n-roll.

PGDM 2

PGDM 2 was subtitled "Dances for Deena." Deena was one of my best friends throughout high school.

PGDM 4

This was subtitled "Give Me Everything Now" and was written to try to trick one of my friends into thinking I found this cool band. Didn't work-she guessed right away that I had written it. I guess it has my signature!

PGDM 6

Subtitled "Six-Eight," this is the only non 4/4 meter piece in the PGDM set. I had originally experimented with Latin sounds and instruments in "Carmelita Dances" (a piece from my Junior Recital), and used them again a bit more subtly in this piece.

Wallflowers

One of the only pieces I've written for piano and solo instrument. This piece plays off an idea I had to use the piano in a monophonic way. I use this idea later on in the recital on a number of pieces.

Confusion

I came up with the basic melody for this piece on the way back from one of my favorite diners in Montrose, CA: Rocky Cola, a 50s-style diner. I believe I had a bacon cheeseburger. This is the only piece in the recital that was from my high school days. I almost cringe when I hear how unsophisticated it is, but I believe that the piece shows the seed that was to spout into my musical genius (this is all very tongue in cheek, of course!).

A Day in the Park with Clouds

This was written my friend, Brooke Lippy, on the occasion of her birthday. Little did she know that I was going to make her play it in my recital! This is the first time she performed a solo piece. It's very pretty and quite short-exactly like Brooke!

Denial

Stephanie Boyajian wrote the poetry for Denial back before she knew me. Little did she know that I'd turn it into a pop song! Oh, the humanity! It's also available as an MP3 file.

Fugue in F

My first fugue. Beautifully performed by Judith Schoepflin.

My Only Passion

I wrote this song for my then-girlfriend, Chris Bishop. Wade Baker is singing baritone in this piece, even though he's really a tenor. Oh well, he's got a great lower register. I probably should have had included a few high notes to showcase his talent.

Descriptions automatiques (Erik Satie)

1. Sur un Vaisseau
2. Sur un Lanterne
3. Sur un Casque
Arranged by Marty Pfeiffer.

Gregor Preludes

Another set of three pieces! Mike Young commented that the second piece is a very good example of "allegro brutale." I think he had fun playing them-I was surprised that he could hit all those runs at that speed!

Darkness

The wonderful Jessica Bowers!

The Lonely Moon

This is the audio portion of my only "multimedia" piece. My friend, Janine Oshiro, wrote this story with pictures for her father. It's a beautiful story about a woman who "becomes part of the night." My goal for this piece was to "illuminate" the text, rather that simply writing a musical background. The score is fairly thin, with long periods of rest while Rachel Horner gives her oration. A very effective piece, when it's all put together.

PGDM ?

I don't really remember which number this was. It's actually a remix of one of the other PGDMs. With some of the "sleaziest" piano licks I've ever committed to tape! This is the only song on the CD that uses compression. I used an old compressor from the radio station to record this song originally. There is a bit of tape-based distortion (levels a bit too hot!), but I think it adds to the excitement of the piece that a "clean" recording can't offer.

Merry Spooky Christmas

The name says it all. Recorded 12/1999.

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