Four Lakes for Children (2024)

In the summer of 2024, I spent three weeks in a cabin in the woods at Yaddo, an artist retreat in Saratoga, New York. Disconnected from the outside world—no phone, no social media, only the occasional letter—I immersed myself in the same grounds where Copland completed his Piano Variations. By day, I joined thirty other writers, poets, visual artists, and filmmakers in silent creation. By night, we gathered for dinner, laughter, and games, forging bonds through shared dreams, mosquito bites, and ping pong.

Yaddo’s history moved me deeply. The founders, Spencer and Katrina Trask, transformed their estate into a haven for artists to create after losing their four children, all of whom died before reaching the age of ten. Legend has it that their daughter Christina named the estate “Yaddo,” a playful twist on “shadow.” Each day, I wandered around the property’s four lakes, each named after one of the Trask children. These serene waters, with their lush color scheme and sonic mix of birds, toads, and insects became a source of inspiration for my piano pieces. I imagined the laughter and whispers of the young children they honored.

The four pieces were designed for children to play, each with a technical challenge to solve, a puzzle, a game. The first, Lake Alan, features cross-handed jumps over an ostinato left hand. Lake Spencer is a study in legato between the hands. Lake Christina incorporates extended techniques with sections for each hand. The fourth and final piece, Lake Katrina, concludes with a tranquil, hymn-like prayer. Through my work, I sought to give voice to the Trask children and honor Yaddo, a place where magic and creativity thrive.

These works were completed in early July 2024, and received their world premiere performed by myself at Music@Menlo on July 21, 2024. Prior to that, I played them for artists at Yaddo on July 6, 2024.

- Michael Stephen Brown

Lake Spencer, Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, Summer 2024. The stone tower is where Copland worked on his Piano Variations in 1930.
Photo: Michael Stephen Brown