Composer Q&A: Martha Mier on Character Pieces

There is something almost magical about Romantic-style music. Character pieces, in particular, were written to capture our imaginations. These pieces were relatively short and written to evoke one specific emotion or non-musical idea.

Students are often inspired by such pieces. They find them easy to connect with, and the pieces allow students to express themselves through their music.

Martha Mier’s recently released collections of character pieces allow students, beginning at the late elementary level, to experience this inspiring art form for themselves, and we’ve asked her to share a little more about her inspiration and process for composing these pieces.

What was your inspiration for writing this series?

I wanted students to become familiar with character pieces—an important art form from the Romantic period. Character pieces are short piano works that communicate a single emotion or idea. The pieces in this series are carefully graded for students, and will help develop musical, imaginative playing.

What did you find most challenging about writing this collection?

I found that keeping the pieces short enough was a challenge. I wanted each piece to be just long enough to convey the mood, but not too long with too many musical ideas presented.

If you had to choose just one, which piece would you say is your favorite from this collection?

Although I have many favorite pieces from this collection, "My Heart's Secret" would be my first choice. The melody is haunting, and as the title suggests, secretive. The melody is found in both the left hand and the right hand, and beginning in measure 11, the accompaniment pattern changes to add nice variety.

Why do you think Romantic-style repertoire resonates so much with students?

It has been my experience that all students have a romantic heart. Romantic sounding music speaks to their heart. Students love the melodies and the beautiful harmonies found in this style.

If you could have dinner with any Romantic composer, who would it be, and what would you talk about?

I would like to have dinner with Frederic Chopin, whose romantic music speaks to my heart. I would be honored to just be in the presence of a composer who has created such beauty for the musical world. I would like to ask him how he found the strength to keep on writing in the face of such debilitating illness. Also I would love the opportunity to thank him for his music—music that has delighted and will continue to delight all who play or listen to his compositions.

To hear the music and view sample pages from Martha Mier's Character pieces, visit alfred.com/characterpieces.