"My Husband is not a Hat" by Regina A. Harris Baiocchi
"My Husband is not a Hat" by Regina Baiocchi (listed in the composer's website as "Liszten, My Husband is Not a Hat," probably a revision made in 2009, and probably a wordplay with word "Liszt") is a unique three-movement piano piece. In addition to being atonal, the composition features a variety of rhythms, wide sonic range, wide dynamic range, occasional three-voice texture and cross-hands playing, and different time signatures. Though the composer gave no specific tempo, she expected the performers to make the duration of the composition around seven minutes.
The composition is at the early advanced level. Its main challenges include tempo accuracy in different time signature and rhythms, playing polyrhythms, and making accurate leaps. We could infer that the composition is not fast-paced from its duration and length.
Though the composition may seem overwhelming to amateur musicians, students should be able to have great fun reflecting on the meaning of the title from within the composition and improve their rhythmic skills playing the composition.
"Regina is a poet, author, and composer whose music has been performed by Detroit and Chicago Symphony orchestras, US Army Band, and internationally-acclaimed artists. Performances include concerts in Paris, Rome, and Bari, Italy, as part of Festival Incontri Musicali di Musica Sacra, and in Turkey and Unna, Germany at the Women Composers’ Library. Regina has written music for symphony orchestra; a libretto and one-act opera; hand drum concerto; marimba concerto; ballet; chamber music; liturgical and secular music; and vocal and instrumental, including for pipe organ." (3arts.org)