"Treasures of a Captured Sun" (1982) includes four independent but related pieces suitable for performance on either the piano or harpsichord. Jazz influenced harmonies and rhythms are prevalent, but the score is precisely notated without improvisatory elements. "Sparkles Bound" opens the work with bluesy harmonies and goes on to develop a light, syncopated texture. "Beggar's Reach" alternates an easy-going rhythmic motive with hard-driving, pounding clusters. "Flight Dream" develops a melody in asymmetrical rhythm and rapid toccata-like style. In the center of this piece, there is a slow contrapuntal statement that pulls the listener into an unusual lullaby in 7/8 meter. Eventually, this gives way to the toccata material and the resolution of the "dream" with a full rich chord. Without pause, "Messenger" begins. This is a theme and variations that builds in intensity through fragmented phrases before falling off to a quiet, intensely felt ending. "Windows to Three" (1973) consists of three pieces, each reflecting a different character yet coexisting in a meaningful way. The work was inspired by daily observation of three friends whose lives were closely intertwined but whose personalities differed greatly. The work is exceedingly difficult because of the wide leaps encompassing the entire keyboard, the rhythmic complexity, and the lack of obvious repetition. In 1973, the work won First Prize of the Texas Music Educators Association New Music Competition and was premiered in Houston. "Portraits" (1995) is a set of four pieces, each one being a character study of one of the composer's small children born between 1990 & 1995. Since the work was completed in late 1995, the last of the four children was extremely young. The work was commissioned by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association. In chronological order, the pieces are "Jig for Jenny", "Minuet for Michael", "Dance for David", "Sarabande for Sarah". "Ring of Gold" (a.k.a "Fantasy-Etude") is in a single movement on the occasion of an eighth anniversary (two rings touching to form the number eight). The somewhat whimsical and tender theme stated early in the piece gradually becomes more celebratory and ornamented in successive transformations building towards an intense and virtuosic finale. Written in 1992, the work underwent extensive revision in 1996 (which version is presented here). Kenneth A. Jacobs (D.M.A. University of Texas at Austin) is a composer and artist. He has been awarded The American Prize, International New Music Composers Prize, and awards from City College of New York, Brown University, Texas Music Educators Association, and the Tennessee Music Teachers Association. The cover art is a painting by the composer titled "Edge of Infinity" ©1984