Program Notes

Nightmare Rag plays with the contrast between playfulness and unease, drawing inspiration from William Bolcom’s The Serpent’s Kiss. While rags are typically lighthearted, this piece introduces dissonances, foot stamping, and piano knocking to create a sense of tension—yet never losing its whimsical spirit. I was fascinated by how Bolcom used the rag genre to craft a piece that is both substantial and playful, and I sought to capture a similar balance in Nightmare Rag: a dance between humor and the unsettling