Story Behind The Song

I wrote and sequenced this in September 2008 when I was taking jazz lessons from John Rosasco (over the phone). The assignment he gave me that week was: "Work up a lovely melody. Move the tonal center around. Make it about two and a half minutes long." John was a wonderful teacher (and fabulous jazz pianist).

Song Description

"Gondola Ride" is an orchestral instrumental without brass instruments. It begins with clarinets playing back-and-forth eighth notes over a string bed (C major) mimicking rocking water. A solo cello enters with the melody. The middle section introduces an unexpected melody in A minor with solo flute, which is handed off to solo English horn. The song then repeats half the first section, this time with strings and a countermelody, ending with a surprising series of chords that suggest people's feet are not on solid ground--until they are.