For composer Jeff Beal, music is grounded in the act of performance.  From his student years learning to improvise on trumpet to discovering the endless possibilities in harmonic color and chord spacing on the piano, Beal’s music is rooted in intuition and the ritual of practice.

The New York Etúdes, ten new works for solo piano, were composed in the months after Beal relocated to New York City in 2021. Meditative, rich, and complex, each piece develops reflective melodies and harmonic gestures that reveal a master’s understanding of voice leading and harmony.  These works showcase Beal’s compositional gift like never before. 

Meticulously recorded in his home in Manhattan, Beal hopes these pieces will become a part of other pianists’ repertoire, adding, "The practice of making music is important in my daily life.  When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007, I researched ways to strengthen my brain.  Learning about music’s impact on neuroplasticity, or the rewiring of the brain around areas of damage, gave me the impetus I needed to sit at the piano.   An added benefit I discovered while composing and practicing the Etúdes was the sense of calm and focus I experienced.  I’ve become keenly aware of the importance of wellness rituals for all of us that promote good mental, spiritual, and physical health."

A celebrated composer of music for film & stage, Beal has honed a voice that is instantly recognizable but has often been filtered through the intention of other artists. These 10 pieces give a reintroduction to the multi-Emmy winner and offer a new window into the music of a journeyman composer, whose dedication to the craft shows in every creative decision.