Written for my friend, Carl Questad, currently earning his Master’s degree in piano performance under Jean-Louis Haguenauer, this piece is written in two contrasting movements. The first movement is filled with angst, characterized by the ascending octatonic theme. In the second, you are immediately met with a change in mood and pace in the version of a passacaglia. This passacaglia movement has a theme played continuously throughout the music with variations in harmony and style as the music transforms. It is an ambitious piece, which can only be matched by such an ambitious pianist. Thank you, Carl.