Sometimes I like to 'write big' using many instrumental resources. Sometimes I like to 'write small' and use just a couple of instruments. I think it's harder to write small, since there's nowhere to hide.

A ballad is a song that tells a story, often with a slow tempo and an emotional, sentimental, or romantic outlook.

Writing melodies that are memorable is a daunting task; all the good ones have already been used.

I do like bassoon; it's got a large range and the timbre is well suited to a lot of the music I write. I write pronounced and high bassoon parts in a lot of my orchestral music. It probably represents 'me' more than any other instrument.

The piano is an equal partner here, and its part is technical and challenging. I tend to write Rachmaninov like piano parts, usually frustrating many a piano player.

All that for a four-minute piece. LOL