Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. It has been there through moments of happiness and sadness, uncertainty and hope, and has given me a way of expressing things that words sometimes cannot.

The Half Light is a particularly personal collection for me. Each piece was born from something—a memory, a person, an observation, a moment of stillness, or simply an experience that stayed with me long enough to find its way to the piano.

For this book, I wanted to share more than just the notes.

Before each piece, you will find a little of the story behind it. My hope is that knowing where the music came from might allow you to discover something different within it when you sit down to play.

But these stories are only where the pieces began. Once you place your hands on the piano, they become yours. Play them with your own memories, your own emotions and your own interpretation. Don't be afraid to take your time, to breathe between the notes, and to let the music speak in your own voice.

Above all, enjoy playing them.

Music has given me a lifetime of joy, comfort, adventure and friendship. If even a small part of that finds its way to you through these pages, then this collection has achieved everything I could have hoped for.

Thank you for sharing the music with me.

Peter Cavallo