Alex Shapiro, composer: Three Insanities

Three Insanities
(Viola and Harpsichord).
Also available for piano, with probably a number of other duet pairings, too!
Total duration ca. 7 minutes (2013)
Published by Activist Music (ASCAP).
Three movement work: "Fleas," "Transplanted," and "Brat." 35 pages, 8.5" x 11".

TRANSPLANTED was premiered in September 2013 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by McFish: Kathleen McIntosh, harpsichord, and Marlow Fisher, viola.

BRAT was premiered in November 2013 in Boise, Idaho,
by Duality: Vanessa Sielert, alto saxophone and Kristin Elgersma, piano.

View pages of the score

For Fleas: Listen to Flea Circus (cl.vln & pno)
For Transplanted: Listen to Transplant (organ)
For Brat: Listen to Scherzo (piano)
Watch!

Email Alex for the access code to download a perusal score!

Purchase this score Score available from Activist Music: $30.00 print; $21.00 digital.

Three Insanities offers a look into the goofier side of concert music, because the harpsichord repertoire deserves more silliness! Composed wih the joyous spirit of Mara Bershad in mind, and written for the huge grin of Kathleen MacIntosh performing with McFish violist Marlow Fisher, these three little pieces could very possibly cause someone to... break out into a smile. Imagine that.

Fleas might conjure a talented (if jumpy) flea circus, a household pet problem, or any number of life’s slightly nervous and ridiculous moments. Transplant can probably best be described by the suggestion, “imagine the Three Stooges performing open heart surgery.” And Brat is a ham-it-up encore showpiece that owes its physical comedy to the ghost of Victor Borge. Enjoy!

Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano (the source of Fleas) is featured on the Price Duo's Cambria Master Recordings CD, Clariphonia: Music of the 20th Century on Clarinet (CD-1125).

Sonata for Piano (the source of Brat) is featured on Teresa McCollough's Innova Recordings CD, New American Piano Music (innova 552). Click CD for more info.

Enjoy this video of the version of BRAT for alto sax and piano,
with Vanessa Sielert, sax, and Kristin Elgersma, piano:

Here's a video of the version of BRAT for oboe and piano,
with Alyssa Morris, oboe, and Amanda Arrington, piano:

Fleas, page 1

Transplanted, page 1

Brat, page 1

Related:

Each movement may be performed on its own. Click for info:

Fleas

Transplanted

Brat

FLEAS was adapted from VIVACE,
the third movement of Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano,
as well as a shorter recorded version titled
FLEA CIRCUS

TRANSPLANTED was adapted from
TRANSPLANT, for organ

BRAT was adapted from SCHERZO, the third movement of
Sonata for Piano

Audio clip of Scherzo performed by Beatrix Klein.