“Piano étude N° 1”

The “Piano Etude No. 1” by David Kenstad is the first in a series of piano études exploring harmonies and rhythms normally associated with African-American musical genres while presented in forms normally associated with European classical music, both genres dating back more than 300 years. These may also present piano students with significant challenges though always within reach.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Piano étude N° 2”

The tempo and mood of “Piano Etude No. 2” by David Kenstad is marked “Agitato” and a quarter note equals 190 beats per minute and that provides a rather lively atmosphere and some drama for this short study for the piano keyboard.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Piano étude N° 3”

Making use of so-called “Jazz” harmonic progressions this piano étude will challenge the pianist’s left hand technique as well as left hand-right hand coordination, rhythmically playing 2 against 3 for example. Though not pure Stride piano, that style from the early 20th century made famous by James P. Johnson, Willie “the Lion” Smith and Thomas “Fast” Waller is referenced in this piece as well, also challenging the pianist.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Piano étude N° 4”

“Romantic”

Subtitled “Romantic” this piano étude presents the piano student with an opportunity for self-expression in the neo-romantic style of the early 20th century, along with “2 against 3” rhythmic challenges and rich harmonies. The key change from D Major to g# minor is another nod to the tritone interval so predominant in the work of this composer, David Kenstad.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Piano étude N° 5”

Piano Etude No. 5 by David Kenstad is an upbeat return to the composer’s familiar style heavily influenced by Jazz improvisation. Pianists may find this one to be fun to play while also offering a challenge.
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“Piano étude N° 6”

This is a short étude, a little over 3 minutes, allowing the pianist to demonstrate legato style with dexterity and flexibility in the right hand while the left does a little stride piano and walking bass with chords. The idea for the piece began with a very simple melody matched with a more complex chord progression. This first appears at measure 17. The chord progression is repeated with an elaborate melody emulating an improvisation style. A contrasting bridge section begins at measure 41 which consists of only 2 chords, 2 measures each, repeating a few times until returning to the original chord progression.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Piano Etude No 7”

“A Lively Chaconne”

This piano étude allows the pianist to rely on a repeated pattern in the left hand, a lively syncopated basso ostinato, while the right hand explores variations of melodic ideas in an improvisatory style.

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“2 Part Invention”

After more than a year’s self-imposed sabbatical, composer David Kenstad has returned, albeit with a tiny offering compared to past postings, including a 5-movement symphony, this time with a nod to J. S. Bach with this 2-Part Invention. It is a light spirited miniature, having fun. Although this seems like a minimal effort it is certainly not minimalism. Instead, this piece obviously retains the traditional concepts of thematic development to hold the listener’s attention for the very short time required to give it a hearing.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Sonata for Piano, 1st Movement” by David Kenstad

Written for piano in classic sonata-allegro form, the tonal and rhythmic style of this piece is reminiscent of 1970s Soul and R & B. In fact, its fading pencil draft was discovered in a stack of old music probably written during the latter part of that decade or possibly around 1980. A separate unfinished draft containing the same motifs has crude hand writing on its back side written in Persian which the composer did not start studying until 1980. Along with it was found a large portion of a 2nd movement, a slow blues, which may be revived and finished sometime this year as well.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Dance suite for piano”

I. Dance and Trio

II. Rondo

III. Waltz

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“Dance Suite for piano, I. Dance and Trio”

Though certainly not a minuet, this piece does harken back to classical ternary form, even putting the trio into a key a perfect fifth higher than the exposition, the opening section, marked “Presto”. The contrasting Trio section is marked “Meno Mosso”, less motion, but the eighth notes, or quavers, are the same tempo as in the first section, only set as triplets. So it isn’t really less motion, the dancing is just a bit slower. The Trio also harkens back to the Romantic period in its harmonies and style. This piece demands a versatile left hand but its difficulty is tempered by the ease of the keys, meaning that the motifs are written to lie well for easy reach. Press the Play button.

© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Dance suite for piaNo. ii. Rondo”

Following the classic Rondo form, ABACABA, this dance for piano adds a slightly different twist (not the dance from the late 1950s) by adding miniature development sections for each theme before the final recap.  Reading the measure numbers at the top of the screen you will hear a tribute to the masters of the Baroque era for about 8 measures beginning at measure 82, about 4 minutes in. The debt owed to the African American music masters is obvious.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

“Dance Suite for piano, III. Waltz”

Here is  a waltz for piano written in the Theme and Variations form, but following the innovation of Charlie “Bird” Parker, the variations are not based on the theme as much as they are based on the chord pattern or “figured bass” as it would have been in the Baroque period.
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Fantasia for Piano, “Enigma”

This piano piece conveys poignant, expressive, and reflective treatment of themes going through development including inversion and augmentation. Although sounding very challenging to perform, it lies very well and comfortably, making use of cross-over hands where appropriate.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved

Impromptu No. 1 for piano

Impromptu – As if improvised.. The tempo is marked Vivace and the composition includes walking bass as well as upbeats lending a feeling of forward motion and improvisation. The interval of a major ninth prevails throughout along with fourths, and a minor key until the coda, in which the main theme is transformed with the feel of down-home gospel.
© David Kenstad Compositions 2025 All Rights Reserved