"Ballad for Long-Time Lovers" is the fourth and last movement of Suite for the Best of Hands, commissioned as a surprise 60th birthday present for Dr. Larry Lefkowitz by his wife, Sandy. Larry is an orthopedic surgeon and an amateur pianist living in Westport, CT. The intent was to give him a piece that he might be able to play. At his surprise party I played the piece and gave him a copy of the score and eventually the CD.
Suite for the Best of Hands is one of a series of works commissioned as birthday presents, mostly for amateur musicians.