Spleen: Piano (Solo)

Dillon's writing for solo piano demonstrates sophisticated voice-leading and textural clarity that rewards careful study. This 22-page work offers intermediate-advanced pianists a contemporary piece that bridges modernist rigor with genuine lyricism, providing a fresh alternative to standard recital fare.

Introspective and finely detailed, with moments of crystalline clarity alternating with denser harmonic textures. The work unfolds with architectural precision while maintaining an underlying contemplative quality.

Intermediate-advanced pianists seeking substantial contemporary repertoire for recital or advanced study. This piece suits musicians comfortable with modernist language and prepared to engage with structural complexity.

• Map the harmonic and textural architecture early in your preparation; Dillon's voice-leading is precise and becomes clearer when you understand how individual lines connect across the full span.
• Pay close attention to dynamic and articulation markings as essential shaping devices rather than surface embellishments; they often define the piece's character more than melody.
• Work sections slowly to internalize the intervallic relationships and rhythmic gestures before attempting tempo; contemporary piano works often reward deliberate study over rapid memorization.

Program this as a significant contemporary work on a recital that balances twentieth-century or twenty-first-century repertoire with classical traditions. It also serves well as a capstone piece in an advanced piano student's semester or year of study.

• Reading contemporary notation and performance markings specific to modernist piano writing
• Interpreting complex harmonic and intervallic structures
• Sustaining focus and architectural clarity across longer solo forms
• Balancing textural transparency with controlled pedal technique