Neuroses op. 16

Description: I. Obsession is an ostinato driven 12 tone piece.  II. Crack Allamande is an over-paced, over-ornamented baroque allamande.   III. The J.D. Stumble is a popular American college dance.   IV. Brain Itchies is a morbid baroque minuet suitable for any funeral.   V. Grunties is an abrasive assault on both audience and piano alike with a rubber chicken ending. Character is extremely important with these pieces. There is little in this set that can be described as "subtle" and the performer should play on that. I encourage you to keep the following in mind - pretentious, mocking, silly, bi-polar, sarcastic, pompous, manic. Assign them where you will. Above all, have fun!

Neuroses was first performed by Joseph Johnson (to whom the score is dedicated) on April 30, 2001 in Boston University's Marsh Chapel.