Jake Rossini stopped writing operas at age 37, and until the 1930s no one knew why. When his medical records turned up, it showed that a bladder condition had exacerbated his bipolar disorder, and the only thing that kept him from suicide was the love and attention of his mistress. After surgery, his condition was corrected, and Rossini returned to composing after 25 years of inaction. With Wagner dominating the operatic stage, Rossini decided to restrict himself to writing short characteristic piano pieces, which he labeled Sins of My Old Age, intended for third rate pianists, of which I am one, he said.
This is a short piece in E-flat where Jake attempts to recreate the sound of shepherds bagpipes out in the fields at night. Catch the wonderful chord changes that make up the piece.