for Amos (2004) was commissioned by Wanda Fleck in memory of the life of her recently passed-on Doberman, Amos – who she described as “the best bad dog you would ever meet." A short scherzo, the music is meant to playfully illicit the nature of this dog as he went from tearing up everything in the house, to running along his favorite pond up-state, ears flopping behind him, to sleeping peacefully on their patio, surrounded by fireflies, after a liver-feast in his honor.
Lasting approximately six minute, the work is divided into a number of small sections, many of which were taken from the short and personal eulogy written in honor of Amos by Wanda.
They are:
“Amos engaged in long, primordial grunting and groaning, usually right after breakfast…”
“We could expect to be greeted with a cocky smile and not a trace of a troubled conscience.”
“Amos spent the first part of his life shredding things…”
…trips to Halcyon, running around the pond…
“…into the pond and played endless swim-fetch games…”
“…a good shake to dry off – and to get us soaking wet.”
“He shredded everything in sight…many things we didn’t even know we had.”
“The Great Liver Orgy: A Dog Party”
“Amos slept on is bed in the garden, his tummy full of liver…”
“…fireflies watching over him.”
for Amos was composed for the Amelia Piano Trio, who premiered the work on March 28th, 2004, at the Brooklyn Friends of Chamber Music’s 100th concert celebration. It is dedicated to Wanda, with many thanks.
