Twelve Blocks
Music by Michael Stephen Brown
First Hand Records, Released February 13, 2026
First Hand Records, Released February 13, 2026
"a series of engaging, moving encounters, memories and emotional states"
— Gramophone
— Gramophone
"like a book of short stories in musical form"
— A Closer Listen
— A Closer Listen
"Brown's a serious composer with serious gifts"
— Textura
— Textura
"so uniquely anchored in the present... profound and meaningful"
— 15 Questions
— 15 Questions
"a vivid tapestry of tributes and character portraits that highlights a distinct compositional voice"
— Eric Alper
— Eric Alper
"It’s hard to overstate the charm of an album that can not only engage my attention but inspire delight"
— An Earful
— An Earful
"further establishes Brown as a composer with skills on par with his pianism"
— Blogcritics
— Blogcritics
My first album of original music, all in one place. These are pieces for the people who’ve shaped my life—in ways tender, complicated, and occasionally absurd. From lost loves to lifelong mentors, from children who never grew up to couples who walk twelve blocks just to see each other, this album is full of true stories, emotional detours, and at least one breakup etude I probably should’ve kept to myself.
Featuring performers Michael Stephen Brown, Jerome Lowenthal, Ursula Oppens, Anne-Marie McDermott, Paul Neubauer, Susanna Phillips, Erin Keefe, & Osmo Vänskä.
Tracklist
Four Lakes for Children (2024)
1. I. Lake Alan
2. II. Lake Spencer
3. III. Lake Christina
4. IV. Lake Katrina
1. I. Lake Alan
2. II. Lake Spencer
3. III. Lake Christina
4. IV. Lake Katrina
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
Pas de trois (2025)
5. I. Piano
6. II. The Violist
7. III. Soprano
5. I. Piano
6. II. The Violist
7. III. Soprano
Susanna Phillips, soprano,
Paul Neubauer viola,
Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
Paul Neubauer viola,
Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
Relationship (2018)
8. I. The Meeting
9. II. Connection
10. III. The Argument(s)
11. IV. Ballad
12. V. Finale: Hora
8. I. The Meeting
9. II. Connection
10. III. The Argument(s)
11. IV. Ballad
12. V. Finale: Hora
Osmo Vänskä, clarinet
Erin Keefe, violin
Erin Keefe, violin
13. Twelve Blocks for Piano (Four Hands) and Poetry (2021)
Jerome Lowenthal & Ursula Oppens, piano and narration
Love’s Lives Lost (2023)
14. I. Introduction
15. II. Meeting
16. III. Parody of Chamisso
17. IV. In-lookers
18. V. Onlookers
19. VI. Chanson Triste
20. VII. Kalamazoo!
21. VIII. Finale: Split Mirror
14. I. Introduction
15. II. Meeting
16. III. Parody of Chamisso
17. IV. In-lookers
18. V. Onlookers
19. VI. Chanson Triste
20. VII. Kalamazoo!
21. VIII. Finale: Split Mirror
Susanna Phillips, soprano & Michael Stephen Brown, piano
22. Breakup Etude for the Right Hand Alone (2020)
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
23. Pour Angeline (2024)
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
Press
Michael Stephen Brown gives the viola the spotlight in a new work
— The Strad
— The Strad
Michael Stephen Brown: Twelve Blocks
— Textura
— Textura
Sounds of America: MS Brown
— Gramophone
— Gramophone
New Releases: Twelve Blocks
— WFMT
— WFMT
Composer Michael Stephen Brown Celebrates Musical Portraits With His New Album ‘Twelve Blocks’
— That Eric Alper
— That Eric Alper
Michael Stephen Brown: Twelve Blocks
— An Earful
— An Earful
Twelve Blocks: A new album by composer-pianist Michael Stephen Brown — Culture Vulture
Twelve Blocks by Michael Stephen Brown
— Blogcritics
— Blogcritics