"Trio (1971) for Violin, Trombone, and Piano examines how these three very unlike instruments can relate to each other; for example, how each in its own way handles such instrumental gestures such as repeated notes, trills/tremolos, and glissandos. The material of the piece is extremely focused: one three-note cell provides all the pitches, an 8-note rhythmic figure is progressively obsessive, and a crescendo gesture which transforms into a glissando is all that’s left at the end of the piece."
-Don Freund
"The second movement of the Worlds Beyond Suite is titled 'Blues for Schubert.' According to Schnyder, the right hand piano part is inspired by Schubert’s Six Moments Musicaux, D. 780 (Op. 94). While there is no direct quotation from any part of Six Moments Musicaux, one can certainly hear the influence on this movement. The form of the piece includes a one-measure intro, three “choruses” of the standard 12-bar blues, and a six- measure coda."
-William Ross Gillespie
"The term 'petrichor' is used to describe the smell of earth after a rain shower. You can read about the science behind it, how geosmin (a bacteria-produced chemical found in soil) interacts with plant oils and water to cause the scent, but the part I find most interesting is how humans can recognize even a highly diluted version of petrichor. It's something universally understood, but rarely described. Thus, my piece 'Petrichor' attempts to convey the storm, the rain hitting the earth, and our recognition and joy at the sweet smell of the rain."
-Mikeila McQuestion