Richard Wernick Pieces of Eight for Piano. Commissioned by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Richard Wernick's Pieces of Eight was premiered by Charles Abramovic in 2013. The work is a 16-minute suite of character pieces, each dedicated to and inspired by the composer's friends. Among the eight movements are Variation No 34 and a Preludetto celebrating Gilbert Kalish's 75th birthday. The work as a whole is a fascinating and diverse view of the composer's unique blend of craft, depth, wit