Although composing since age 6, my career focused mainly on performing and teaching until 2020 when I started delving into composition and loving it. The covid pandemic actually altered my perspective and priorities, giving me the space and time to reflect and search within myself.  I was always exposed to excellent pedagogical pieces as a student in Toronto of Margaret Parsons and Clifford Poole, and studied at UofT with Canadian composer Walter Buczynski.

My inspiration comes from many sources including poetry, nature, East Indian music (many include tabla percussion), and even dreams.  “Lure of the Loon” was based on a dream of me having a piano lesson with Beethoven!  Waking up I remembered what I had improvised for Beethoven which formed the basis of my composition.

“Beethoven would be very pleased with your expressivity. It was effective, mesmerizing with idiomatic scoring for the instruments.”    
– Hope Lee, Canadian composer

Many of my chamber works have been premiered by the contemporary quartet “Ensemble Resonance”. Some include “Songs of Susanna” set to 4 poems by acclaimed author Margaret Atwood based on the Journals of Canadian pioneer and writer Susanna Moodie.

Walking Backwards, an Advanced Piano solo was written in memory of my late brother who suffered from mental illness. He not only liked to literally walk backwards but opened my eyes to perceive the world from a different perspective. This piece has been performed in ARMTA Provincial Piano Competition in Edmonton, Lethbridge and Calgary. I have also composed plenty of enjoyable piano pieces for students that have been performed with enthusiasm in Contemporary Showcase Festivals.

Since 2023, I have been an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre. Upcoming projects include scoring a piece for the Calgary Youth Orchestra’s 2025/26 season honouring First Nations children and a work for Kensington Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra with tabla.

“You have a voice.  ‘Lure of the Loon’ was beautiful and poetic.”
– Chan Ka Nin, Canadian composer

“I was drawn in with the strong pacing and your mature sense of how to shape the music.”
– Allan Gordon Bell, Canadian composer

Piano Works

Click the title to see a description of each piece. A digital version is available for purchase. (Some also have hard-copy versions available.)

Elementary Piano

• The Sleepy Snake, Published in “Seedlings” anthology by Red Leaf Pianoworks 2024 (Primer level) www.redleafpianoworks.com
• Sprouting, Published in “Seedlings” anthology by Red Leaf Pianoworks 2024 (Primer level) www.redleafpianoworks.com
• The Thirsty Frog, Published by RCM 2022 Prep B Piano Series

• The Mysterious Cave, Level 1-2

Intermediate Piano

• Gemma’s Song, Level 7-8

  

Advanced Piano

• Spring Piano Concerto for 2 Pianos:
  • 1^st mvt. Awakening, Level 9-10
  • 2^nd mvt. Wondering, Level 9
  • 3^rd mvt. Dancing in the Grass, Level 10

• Piano Duet: Discombobulated, Level 9

• Spring Blizzard, Level 9
• Thrill Ride, Level 10

• Flamenco Thumbs, Level 10, (Thumbs only)

• Walking Backwards, ARCT

• Texting Toccata, ARCT, (Thumbs only)
• Spanish Raga, ARCT- Licentiate. This piece evolved out of my deep interest and absorption of Indian and Spanish music. Indian music with its spirituality and Spanish music with its colour and passion, have shared a common root for over a 1000 years when it is thought that nomadic tribes from Rajastan India travelled westward settling in Spain, becoming known as Roma or gypsies. You may listen to the transcription of this original piano solo (video recording below under Instrumental Music) played by Violin, Bass Clarinet, and Piano.

15 well-known Bhupen Hazarika Songs in Simplified Version as e-book, for elementary and intermediate Piano players. Click here to download digital e-book.

More Advanced Version also available as printed book, published in India, 2023, for same price + shipping. Contact Me at parcol@hotmail.com

Cadenza for Beethoven Piano Concerto in C, 1^st mvt. Click here to download.

Cadenza for Haydn Piano Concerto in D. Click here to download.

Vocal & Choral Works

Vocal

“My Bird is Singing”, a collection of 11 Songs for voice with piano based on poetry by Alberta poet/painter/ internationally acclaimed actor Robert Greenwood. Transcriptions in other lower keys available. Please contact the composer.

• Part 1: I love the Wind’s Song, Lost & Found @4′, How the leaves Play @5’15”, Raindrops-Teardrops @7’30”
• Part 2: Sometimes in the Dark, Pug-Wuddy Wuddle (For Thimble) @2’20”, There was a Time @5’10”

• Pug-Wuddy Wuddle (Level 2) Range is C to E
• Sometimes in the Dark (Level 3) Range is C up to F.
• I Love the Wind’s Song (Level 4) Range for A major version D to G, Range for G+ version C to F, Range for F+ version Bb to Eb
• Lost and Found (Level 4-5) Narrow range from D up to E
• How the Leaves Play (Level 4-5) Soprano Range in Bb major is D/Eb up to A, Range in F# major is A#/B up to F (E#)
• Raindrop-Teardrops (Level 6) Range of A minor version is D up to F, Range of G minor version is C to Eb
• Let us Leave behind this Day  (Level 7-8) Range B-G#
• There was a Time (Level 7-8) Range is B up to F# (optional E).
• My Bird is Singing (Level 9) Range C to G
• Mister Tree (Level 8-9) Range C to G
• Ghosts Fog the Mountains (Level 10) Range Bb to F# This is the most advanced & contemporary of the 11 songs.

Choral

• A-cappella SATB
  • Walking Both Sides: (8’30”) based on poem by Inuk poet Alootook Ipellie
    Available from Canadian Music Centre

• Children’s Choir SSA/Piano
  • The Day the Earth Cried based on poem by Chief Stacey Laforme. Available from Canadian Music Centre (cmccanada.org)

Chamber Music

Instrumental

• Baby’s Breath (1’44”) Violin & Piano
  This song was inspired by the birth of my first grand-daughter Gemma. It evokes the innocence, purity & wonder of new life.

• Alochona (12’) Cello/Piano
  Commissioned by Land’s End Chamber Ensemble. Available from Canadian Music Centre (cmccanada.org)

• Transcending the Darkness: Violin/Cello/Piano/Tabla 
  • 1. Searching (6’15”) 
  • 2. Buried (3’)
  • 3. Pulsing (4’30”) Available from Canadian Music Centre (cmccanada.org)
• A Sunflower’s Dream: Violin/Piano/Tabla 

This piece was written during covid time when everyone was trying to lift our drooping heads towards the sun like a sunflower. It is in quasi raga style that begins with a slow rather improvised violin part supported by a drone in the piano. The tabla or dumbek enters with 5/4 rhythm, which in turn leads to a faster section in 4/4 that showcases lots of rhythmic interplay with back and forth imitation, almost like a tug of war, leading to a very exciting climax.

This piece can be performed as a Violin/Piano duo without percussion. But I prefer the version with percussion which adds more rhythmic vitality.

• Are you Going: Cello/Piano 
• Ascending Ashes: Flute/Piano
  Premiered July 2022 at the celebration of life for Canadian artist Harry Kiyooka at KOAC, Calgary’s sculpture park and educational centre. Available from Canadian Music Centre (cmccanada.org)
• Pink City Bazaar (4’45”) Bass Clarinet/Piano
  Alea Publishing (2023) https://bassclarinet.ecwid.com/search?keyword=athparia, also for Oboe & Piano/Bassoon & Piano available from Canadian Music Centre (cmccanada.org)

• Lament for the Lost Children (14’) String Quartet/Pno/Trumpet/Percussion 
  • Tormentation
  • Floating Souls
  • Requiem 

• Spanish Raga (11’30”) Violin/Bass Clarinet/Piano
  Alea Publishing (2024) https://bassclarinet.ecwid.com/search?keyword=athparia

• Rubik’s Cube Marimba/Xylophone or Woodblocks/Violin/Cello/Clarinet/Piano Available from Canadian Music Centre (cmccanada.org)

Instrumental with Voice

Songs of Susanna: From the Journals of Susanna Moodie/Margaret Atwood poems
Soprano/Piano/Violin/Bass Clarinet as well as Soprano/Piano version.
Available from Canadian Music Centre (cmccanada.org)

• 1. Disembarking in Quebec (4’15”)

• 2. Looking in a Mirror (4’15”)

• 3. The Planters (4’15”)

• 4. The Immigrants (5’30”)

• Lure of the Loon:
  • Part 1 Tom Thomson (Video below)
  • Part 2 His Spirit is Awake