These little pieces were composed for cellist Christopher Hutton and pianist Thomas Lausmann at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York, in 1996. Christopher and Thomas performed this cycle frequently in the United States and also on tour in New Zealand.

The three movements are written in contrasting but complementary styles. The first is enigmatic and reflective and written according to ‘serial’ principles. It employs the same material in both instruments, though at varying speeds and with different articulation.

The second movement is very tonal and ‘balletic’ in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek manner, and the third (for which I do not have a satisfactory recording) is songlike and impressionistic.