James Matheson's Pound for piano was written at the request of Xak Bjerken, pianist, Cornell faculty member and close friend of the composer. Given Bjerken's incredible technique and musicianship, Matheson was faced with the task of writing a piece that would actually challenge him. Matheson wrote Pound in hopes that it would be nearly impossible to play, and yet, Bjerken took to it with ease. Written in three movements, Pound creates the illusion of two pianos, and is meant to be played without...

I. Mysteriously - II. Fluid - III. Stuttering - with exaggerated shifts in mood