What the critics say:

"The emotions conveyed through the series of movements range from frustration through despair to hope and the tonal expression of a feeling that is calm, euphoric and fragile. There is a kind of mystery in Headcase, which propels the drama, beginning with the fourth movement, "Please Try to Count." The patient responds "One over one, one over two, one over three," etc. It eventually becomes clear that he is thinking with the musical portion, or portions, of his brain and that the fractions represent "meter" or time signatures. Did Dietz's unexplained recovery have anything to do with his musical training? It is tempting to think of music itself as the hero of the drama. Headcase is effective, cathartic, and in the last analysis, hopeful. It can also be listened to as a glorious collection of sounds." - Christopher Hyde, Portland Press Herald. 

"Bolstered by a keen sense of large-scale pacing (Headcase), rhythmic interplay and adept use of multimedia, Dietz's discloser - - like the best pop, folk, country, hip-hop, etc. - - transformed his personal story into a universal one.  New music devotees, as well as those whose lives have been touched by the menace of a stroke, should hear Dietz's transporting work."  - Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

"Headcase does more than tell Dietz's story.  The work combines live musicians with taped music and electronic effects, plus graphic images of Dietz's damaged brain and herky-jerky incursions of his own distressed voice as he struggles to regain clarity and indeed his own sense of self.  The skillfully calculated sum draws listeners into an unbalanced, high-anxiety place that is more than uncomfortable - - it is alarming." - Lawrence B. Johnston, The Detroit News.

 Haunting and powerful - a remarkably sophisticated score that blends words, music and visual displays top touch the heart and mind." - Pittsburgh Tribune Review.