NOTES 1 Sonata in F minor Nr. 118 (L.118, K.466, P.501) - Domenico Scarlatti 3:44 Originally recorded in my home studio on 5/1/16. In listening to various other performer’s interpretations of this piece, on instruments including the harpsichord, piano, and duo-guitars; it was a challenge to perform it on the accordion, given the instrument's relative lack of resonance and lack of intrinsic sustain.' 2 Waltz Nr. 7 from Eight Performance Pieces - Wolfgang Jacobi 2:22 Originally recorded in my home studio on 7/2/15. The ‘Waltz’ (Nr.7) is an original work for accordion from composer, Wolfgang Jacobi’s, ‘Eight Performance Pieces for Free Bass Accordion’. 3 Tango Etude Nr.4 from Six Tango Etudes - Astor Piazzolla 4:25 Originally recorded in my home studio on 7/11/14. The Tango Etude Nr.4, is another of Astor Piazzolla’s beautiful legato melodies. One of six tango etudes he composed in 1987, it belongs to a group of works from his later career. The piece, originally written for solo flute, has also been performed and recorded on various other solo instruments; including violin, saxophone, guitar, oboe; and now, accordion. 4 The Song of the Lark from the Album for the Young Op. 39 Nr. 22 - Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky 1:19 Originally recorded in my home studio on 9/10/14. Demonstrating close-miking technique, capturing the higher registers of the accordion, ‘Song of the Lark’, Op. 39 No. 22, is one of a set of pieces first published in 1876 for piano, in the journal, ‘Nuvellist’; entitled, ‘Album for the Young’, by the Russian composer, Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky. 5 Pastoral Dance from Five Little Dances (Op. 24, Nr. 4) - Paul Creston 2:02 Originally recorded in my home studio on 12/15/14. Paul Creston’s ‘Pastoral Dance’ (Opus 24, No.4). played 'as written', comes from his ‘Five Little Dances’; originally written for the piano. 6 Fanfare & Fughetta - Louis Bloom 4:10 Originally recorded in my home studio on 3/26/15. Composer, Louis Bloom, wrote this nice little solo piece for me entitled, ‘Fanfare and Fughetta’. Lou exploits many of the capabilities of the free bass accordion; for example, dynamic contrast, register shifts for color, use of cross-hand pitch shifting, playing in unisons between the hands, harmonic moving chords, and fugal counterpoint. 7 Andantino Espressivo Nr. 1 from Arabesques - Leif Kayser 2:02 Originally recorded in my home studio on 5/20/15. The first Arabesque, ‘Andantino Espressivo’, was composed for the accordion by the late Danish composer, Leif Kayser. In total, there are 10 ‘Arabesques for Free Bass Accordion’ in 1974-1975; a commission of the Danish Accordion Teachers Association. 8 Larghetto Grazioso Nr. 4 from Arabesques - Leif Kayser 1:51 Originally recorded in my home studio on 5/27/15. 9 Larghetto Nr. 6 from Arabesques - Leif Kayser 2:58 Originally recorded in my home studio on 7/1/16. 10 Echo from Overture in the French Style (BWV 831) - Johann Sebastian Bach 2:08 Originally recorded in my home studio on 6/20/16. J. S. Bach’s piece entitled, ‘Echo’, from the ‘Overture in the French Style’, BWV 831, first published in 1735. 11 Footsteps in the Snow Preludes Bk. 1 Nr. 6 - Claude Debussy 5:20 Originally recorded in my home studio on 10/19/16. Claude Debussy’s Prelude Number 6, 'Footsteps in the Snow’; from Book Nr1 of his Preludes (1910). The piece was intended to be played on the piano; and though it sounds different than on the piano, it works here musically on the chromatic free bass accordion too. 12 Serenade Nr. 2 from Six Variations - Jaime Padros 1:16 Originally recorded in my home studio on 5/29/15. ‘Variation Nr.2 - Serenade’ by the late Catalan composer and pianist, Jaime Padrós, is one of his ’Six Variations (1960)’, were originally written for piano; this arrangement for free bass accordion by German accordionist, Hugo Noth. Padrós wrote more than 90 works in his lifetime; including orchestral works, secular and sacred choral music, chamber music, piano solo works, and others. 13 Revaluation from Directives Six Studies for Free-Bass Accordion op.65 - John Fodi 1:36 Originally recorded in my home studio on 2/5/15. Written by the late Canadian composer, John Fodi, ‘Revaluation’ is reminiscent of a modern-day Bach two-part invention; one of a set of studies he wrote called, ‘Directives: 6 Studies for Free-Bass Accordion, op.65’, published in 1982. At an early age, John felt the accordion was unsatisfactory in supporting his studies exploring classical music. He was a relentless advocate for 20th century contemporary music; a founding member, in 1971, of Toronto’s ARRAY new music group. Any early misgivings John had about the accordion were overcome by the time he received a commission, from Joseph Macerollo in 1978, to write his, ‘Concerto In Four Parts for Free-Bass Accordion’. John Fodi passed away, suddenly, in 2009, at the age of 65. 14 A Lullaby for the Accordion - Walter Buczynski 2:25 Originally recorded in my home studio on 12/2/14. 'A Lullaby for the Accordion’; was written in 1978 by one of my undergraduate composition professors at the University of Toronto - Walter Buczynski; it is dedicated to Toronto accordionist, Joe Macerollo's son - Paul. 15 Eine Kleine Gigue in G Major (K574) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1:53 Originally recorded in my home studio on 7/21/15. Played, ’as written’, on the free bass accordion, this piece consists of only 38 bars in 6/8 time. One can erroneously jump to a conclusion that this must be a piece written by J.S. Bach. But, within moments, as the piece proceeds, there's a realization something else is occurring in the unfolding of the work; a smattering of what could be identified as stylistically ‘Classical’ period in the music; leading to a false conclusion that, perhaps, this is a work composed by one of J. S. Bach’s children. Alas, it is a deceivingly complex composition of the great, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.