David Carpenter - Composer

The string quartet is done. I think it might be a decent piece--it's my homage to Stephen Sondheim, whose music I grow more in awe of with each listening.

My "Reverie," for piano. For this piece, I set myself the challenge of writing something simple (so even I can play it), lasting under three minutes, and it had to be done in four days. See what you think of it. youtube.com/watch?v=pTHYXFfG…

The premiere of my "Reverie" performed by Ken Watanabe this past Saturday at Steinway Hall in New York--recording to come soon on YouTube!

Happy to announce that my latest piece, "Reverie," for piano, will be performed as part of a recital at Steinway Hall in the B-flat music studio, in New York this Saturday, April 25th, at 1pm (1133 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10036--free admission).

Latest piece is done--a short choral work for the Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd in East Falls, Philadelphia. A setting of a poem by Robert Crashaw (1612-1649).

Well, it may not look like much, but this is the end of my piano trio, began in May of 2025. It has its faults and virtues. I did what I could. Onto the next piece.

Latest progress on the piano trio--it's getting there. Check out that tenor clef in the upper right-hand corner! (I know, I need to get out more...)

A new year, and a new work: I've been commissioned by the Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd in Philadelphia to write a new choral work for their service on Sunday, April 26, 2026, 10:30am. All are welcome! More details on the piece to come.

Happy birthday to my nephew, Paul! For those of you who don't know, for his first birthday, in 1997, I wrote him a theme. His birthday present each year is a variation on that theme--this is variation no. 28. Bon anniversaire, Paul!

Spent 2 1/2 hours on these five measures. Sometimes composing is just really, really hard work. (But at least you get a martini afterwards.)

New piece begun: a trio for violin, cello, and piano. I wrote one of these back in the early 2000's--it was ok, but I like to think I've learned a lot since then. We'll see what comes of this piece...

Well, it took over a year of work, but the sonata for horn and piano is finally finished (the original manuscript is on the left, and the engraved score is on the right). It has its good parts, I think. Just need a performance now...

Working on notating the second movement of the horn sonata now, while listening to Britten's "Spring Symphony". Couldn't ask for a nicer view.

Finally started to notate the horn sonata, which took over a year to compose. It was time to let it go and get the thing engraved...I think it has some nice tunes...hope to get a performance later this year.

Happy 2025! Just sharing a piece of mine that was premiered last year in Prague by the wonderful pianist Adéla Ludvíčková. Hope you enjoy it. youtube.com/watch?v=jDF-B1XW…

With the dedicatee of the "Paul" variations in Lyon, France!

Airport martini (in Philadelphia) with the finished copy of this year's Paul Variation. Off to France soon to spend the holidays in Lyon and give this piece to him.

This year's "Paul" variation (no. 27) is done! Now onto the notation...

This year's "Paul" variation is begun. I wrote a theme for my nephew, Paul, for his first birthday, in 1997, and every year since for a birthday present, I have written a variation on that theme. This is variation no. 27--Paul will be 28 years old this year. How time flies...

It may not look like much, but this is the last measure of a piece I've been working on since February--a sonata in three movements for French horn and piano. I think it has its good points; just hope it all hangs together somehow. In any case, it's done.