Finals, Performances, and Moving

The next two weeks are going to be grueling on me. On Tuesday, I have the performance of Silence! for mezzosoprano, oboe, horn, and violoncello. Next week I have several finals to take: musicianship: aural skills, piano skills, theory. To top those off, I will also be relocating for the Spring and Summer back to Indy to work to pay off the housing costs incurred by living on campus for the Fall Semester.

Needless to say, I've not had much time to post on here. I'm sure my readers FULLY understand. I'll be sure to post the audio from the performance once I have it.

Ideas from Practicing!!!

I was practicing piano this evening while waiting for Mark to get done with his Photography class and came up with AMAZING ideas for a new work. I knew I should have brought the manuscript paper today, BUT NO... I completely left it at home. Thank GOD for my miniature staff paper notebook. I LOVE YOU!!

New thoughts

So, as I gear up to start school again after 10 years... It's really making me look back at how far I've come as a composer in that time.   At 19, I was very naive on my views of music.  To me, at that time, music was something far different than it is now.  It was a means at which to relieve myself emotionally.  Today, it's a little more complex than that.  I view music now as a language.  One that can transcend cultural and social boundaries and express ideas and thoughts in ways that words for me can not.  Yes, it still helps relieve my emotions - but it serves far more than that now.  At 19, I didn't want to listen to criticism.  I felt that I had learned everything there was to learn about music.  From the shaping of melody to the fine intricacies of harmony.  That's most likely why I got so discouraged in my time at the University of Indianapolis.  I wanted to just 'do' it instead of take the time to learn from those who 'did' it.  That was a mistake, in my opinion, but not one that I would ever take back.  I've learned a lot in the last 10 years.  My music today is a clear representation of that.  It is an extension of me in every aspect now.  I'm so glad to be going back to school and I look forward to all the connections and opportunities it will bring me.

Meditations I

After composing the second movement of my Piano Trio no. 3, I came to a personalized style of my serial style.  The result of the second movement, is a more personal and intimate usage.  Contemplative in nature and moved by my own personal whim.  I started a new piano work this evening and finished it.  I composed the work originally with the time signature of 37/1 and then switched to 2/4 - which is what I wanted the pieces tempo to be.  The result is quite an interesting work. Tell me what you think!


Meditations I

From Indianapolis

I haven't written anything in a week!  I am soooo sorry.  It's been a very hectic time the past week.  My father passed away and I've been in Indianapolis since.  Sadly, I haven't been able to compose - since my laptop is still in the shop AND I don't have a replacement.  Instead, I purchased a new desktop - which, of course, it is in Illinois.  Some news since:  my father's service is pending, i've met my nephew finally, i've gotten to know my step-mother and her family, AND I've come to realize I miss Indianapolis.  Whether that will equate to me moving back to my hometown - I don't know.  I enjoy the country, it's peaceful.  There's not a lot of people around.  I can compose to my hearts content.  Besides, I start school in June and will register for classes this next Monday.  So, I'm tied down there.  I suppose, if anything, this will mean lots of trips back to Indy to visit all my family - something I will from now on make a regular thing to do!

Finally finished and submitted

So today I completed my work for the submission to the Cabrillo festival. I expect there to be quite a deal of revision IF I am selected to participate - which I really, really, REALLY want to participate! The work is quite unlike any of my previous orchestral works and I think really shows a nice amount of growth in my own personal style and sound. I posted the work for peer review on Young Composers. If any of my readers, whoever you are, wish to hear it click the link below! Enjoy!

The Western Gates

Trying something different.

So, at the behest of another composer on a forum I am a member of, I worked on a miniature for solo flute. I rather enjoyed the little exercise. It's an interesting work. For any and all interested, feel free to listen. And if you like it or can't stand it... leave a comment. You can access the sound file by clicking the link underlined on the page.

Miniature for solo flute

Follow Me!

Ok, I see that I am getting a lot of people viewing my blog here. Who are you? Where you from? Do you like my music? What are your names? Tell me about yourselves! That's not a hard thing to ask for - trust me, I don't bite! I'd love to meet the people who read my many hours of ramblings.

New Composers Online

I am currently assisting a friend of mine in a venture that he has undertaken to help bring a more stable income to composers. The idea's are still in development currently BUT the initial start is now online and active: New Composers Online! If any of my readers are interested and would like to assist in the start up for the site, please check out the forum and sign up as a registered user. The more the merrier.

The website is: http://newcomposersonline.com

New Piano Work

Well, my break didn't last long - SOOO, now, I get to break for two days while I travel to St. Louis - a sort of mini vacation. I did get some composition done and composed a very intense Piano work. I must say, this was sort of a treat for me - this piece. I got to get some good emotions out during it. Feel free to give it a listen.

Adagietto

Bridal Processionals

So, I was asked by a friend to compose a series of Bridal Processionals for him to choose from as a gift for the woman he loves. I've composed two and am greatly becoming endeared to the idea of making the piece a regular form that I add works too - this is largely due to the fact that for processional music... there is little to chose from. My goal for him was to compose 3 processionals and then 3 dances to accompany them. The insrumentation for these works is Flute, Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Violoncello. This instrumentation provides an ample amount of color to accentuate the works and provide a nice 'aural' interest. As usual, I will post the 3 processionals and 3 dances here.

Busy Working

I have had a rough past few days. A few of my peers on YC gave me some rather negative reviews of my symphony. I've never been one to take criticism well - especially when it comes to work that I've poured over meticulously. I know it should be something I take in stride - but... lol! Aside from that, I've still been chugging a long working. I have been working on quite a few small works. Completed a short essay for piano, a miniature piece for string quartet, and am now working on 3 bridal processionals on a request from a friend. The bridal processionals are going to be three processionals meant to accompany the brides walk down the aisle. I decided to do away with the traditional bombastic march, alla Mendellsohn and Wagner, and replace it with a more delicate and poignant walk. I'm very pleased with the first of these - and may expand the idea behind this specific 'genre' and add to it. I researched the repertoire available for it and found there's not many pieces at all for this special moment. I'll post links to the finished opus once all three processionals are finished.

A student!

I was talking to a friend in the Philippines the other day. He is a very charitable person - he has set up a program to assist the local youths in his village. The program provides musical instruction and vocal training to impoverished youths. He uses the opportunity to create music to be performed by the choir. Well, he has been struggling with some of the intricacies of music composition. Halfway through the conversation he asked humbly if I could take him under my wing and teach him! I accepted. So the result is now that I have my first student!!! Given the fact that he does charity to the youths there I've decided to give him the lessons free of charge. Hopefully it will give me the experience teaching and I can acquire more students.

Awaiting musicians

Well, I posted my ad on my online forum for pianists. So far I have a grand total of 1 reply... lol! I know I shouldn't expect much BUT I really, really, REALLY want this opportunity - so I'm eager to start recording. I might be able to do a competition on the site - but then I'd have to do an award LOL.

Administration

Today, I am preparing my scores for submission. Hopefully, and I'm PRAYING, this will go good and a commission or two will come from all the hard work I have put into my craft. It'd be nice if this country had a safety net to enable its artists and composers to work on their craft without concern of making ends meet - if it did, I probably would've been somewhere by now.

Next Project

Finally, I completed my symphony. I still have to polish up the finale in parts - but overall, I'm very proud of the results. I feel the infusion of serial rows as melody worked greatly! This new technique will prove useful, I feel, in future works of mine. This week I have to send off my submissions for two of the projects I have on the table. As the third movement of the symphony was the most well liked by those who reviewed the piece I have decided to submit that as one of my opportunities. Sooo, this week will be busy for me. My next project, still in the works planning wise, may be a full string quartet. I've been listening to those by other composers and am really eager to write a full scale string quartet as opposed to the single movement works of my past. Will see though, I may just write some more piano work.

First Symphony completed!

I have finished my first symphony. The fourth movement is absolutely amazing in my opinion - perhaps the best music I have written to date. I feel the ending may need revised just a tad but overall I feel the movement is the best of the 4. I've posted the entire work on a composers forum that I am a member on. The site is still in beta testing BUT the work is viewable and listenable. I have it split into two separate threads on the forum. The first can be accessed here: Symphony no. 1 opus 2. And the second can be accessed here: IV. Largo. If anyone is reading and would like to listen please tell me what you think by leaving me a comment OR if you like my music please follow me here on my blog!

Sympony Finale

The finale to my symphony has turned very dark. I intended at first to contrast the opening with a faster major key section BUT the material connection just was not adequate to justify that. SOOO I have gone even darker and even dissonant with a return to the opening movements serial transitional passage being the chief theme of the finale's B section. This time, as opposed to hiding the theme in the classical textures of the first movement, I have the theme clearly in the center. Uttered in the winds at measure 34 of the movement. In a canonical passage. So far, this passage appears to be very rich and still not at conflict with the movement as a whole - which, I find, to be quite shocking...

Fourth Movement

The fourth movement is coming along nicely. The introduction is richly romantic with classical overtones. The material is derived from that in the first movement. I've decided the overall form of the movement will be a Rondo form (ABACADA). The only additions to the form will be the largo introduction and a coda. My hope is to have the movement last for about 10 mins or so. Though, I wouldnt be surprised if I could draw the music out longer. The completed Largo section is around 2 - 3 mins in length!

Fourth Movement Started

I started the fourth movement today. The opening is Largo (slow). And will slowly weave together the pieces that comprised the first 3 movements. My plan is to create a very expansive finale to the symphony as a whole.