The titles give a clue to the character of each of these pieces. Celestial Waltz and Spinning have a sense of fun and forward motion, with a quirkiness in the composer's use of cross-rhythms and changing time signatures.
Celestial Waltz was written for my former student, Celeste Goulding. It explores a hemiola rhythmic idea (6/8 against 3/4) in a simple melodic style. Its character is bright and lively. The Bell Chorale has a stepwise melody in the manner of a chorale, harmonised with bell-like cluster chords. Every care should be made to bring out the melody, and a steady and deliberate tempo should be maintained throughout. Spinning is a joyful fast-tempo piece which seems to make your head spin with the rapidity of the arpeggiated passages. It requires a precise clarity of playing and a sparing use of pedal.
