‘Reflections’ is a recording of Sufjan Stevens’ sixth collaboration with acclaimed ballet and dance choreographer Justin Peck.

Originally composed for World Premiere and performances (May 17 – 26, 2019) by Houston Ballet, the piano duet was recorded at Oktaven Studios by Ryan Streber and performed by pianists Timo Andres and Conor Hanick.

‘Reflections’ is imbued with Stevens’ memorable and emotionally resonant melodies and arrangements and continues to establish Stevens as a contemporary composer.

Single ‘Ekstasis’ is a lively and percussive movement that showcases the clever cross rhythms, counterpoint, and moving tonal centres that embody the whole of ‘Reflections’.

This is Stevens’ second recorded release of his compositions for piano – following ‘The Decalogue’ in 2019 – and his first written for two pianos. There is a long tradition of composing for duo pianos – from John Adams’ ‘Hallelujah Junction’ to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major – and Stevens was happy to further explore the form. “Although I’ve never taken a lesson,” he says, “the piano was my first true love. Having two of them at my disposal was an exciting opportunity and gave me a real catharsis about the expansiveness of the instrument.”

Self-taught as both a pianist and a composer, Stevens’ first instrument was the oboe, which he started playing in 5th grade. He played in orchestras from high school through college and listened voraciously to recordings of classical music alongside pop radio. But Stevens would often take breaks from the oboe by improvising on the piano, working out music he had heard in passing – pieces by Chopin, Rachmaninov and Bach. “I learned by ear, in a very rudimentary way, inspired by a wide range of music,” he says. “A lot of the work that I compose is anachronistic as it doesn’t follow a genealogy of aesthetic. It can be a cornucopia of styles.”

That’s the case with ‘Reflections’, where listeners may detect a hint of Debussy, Stravinsky, Philip Glass and even Bruce Hornsby.