Cinematic Classical

Years ago, when I joined ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, I had a conversation with Marilyn Bergman, who was then the President, about how to properly classify my "classically-flavored" compositions. With some further listening and review, she described my music as "Cinematic Classical".

This pleased me. From my earliest recollections, I was affected by the music of Frederic Chopin and by the background music I would hear in movies. My mother was an accomplished pianist, as was my aunt Pauline, so I was introduced to classical piano music at a very early age.

The composition titled "The Journey To Ounca" best demonstrates this style of music. It is the piece playing as this page opens. I composed it on the back-side of Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY, after having stumbled upon on an ancient Native American encampment ruins, many years ago while exploring uncharted territory way back in the mountains. "Onka" or "Ounca" was described to me as a "spiritual" place by an Elder Mohawk indian. "The Journey To Ounca".