I Wouldn't Normally Say: Piano (Solo)

The title itself signals a composer unafraid of irony and personality in her writing. At twelve pages, this piece asks for sustained focus and offers enough musical substance to reward repeated study without becoming a burden to prepare.

A conversation with a precise and sometimes witty mind. The music unfolds with clarity and purposefulness, inviting the player into the composer's thinking rather than overwhelming with virtuosity.

Pianists working at the intermediate to early advanced level who seek contemporary solo material with real personality. Teachers looking for post-grade-8 repertoire that engages students intellectually while remaining within reach.

• Map out the harmonic and structural turning points before diving into technical work. Knowing where the piece pivots emotionally will shape how you voice chords and shape phrases.
• Pay attention to the space between ideas. Wallen's titles often signal wit or restraint, and silence or held sonorities may be as important as what sounds.
• Record yourself regularly. Solo piano repertoire by living composers often benefits from hearing how your choices interact with the acoustic space.

Pair this with other contemporary solo works in a recital to demonstrate range in modern writing. It also fits naturally in a program exploring British composers or works that blend accessibility with sophistication.

• Reading contemporary notational practices and harmonic language
• Voicing and balancing textures across both hands
• Sustaining focus and line across extended single-movement forms
• Interpreting articulation and dynamic shading as expressive tools rather than ornament