A Friends Work

It's not my habit on here to share many works by my peers on Young Composers Music Forum, but this work I felt deserved a little plug. The work is by Justin Tokke.

Piano Sonata No. 1: Movs. 2, 3

The work is a wonderful compendium of various styles BUT it doesn't quite show upon first listening, which I find to be a wonderful thing that draws me into a work. The playfulness of the 3rd movement got stuck in my head while waiting for World Religions today.

Sofia Gubaidulina - A new role model!

I've been becoming increasingly more aware of the work of Sofia Gubaidulina. I was perusing YouTube to hear famous violist, Yuri Bashmet, and came across a viola concerto by Sofie Gubaidulina. Instantly, upon hearing, I was mesmerized. The work was in a basic ritornello form but was amazing in scope and intensity. After spending months listening to nothing but Gubaidulina, I have gained an amazing respect for this modern composer! If only I could study with her!

Here is her Piano Concerto:

Lisztian Gems

I was perusing the vast amount of videos on YouTube and came across this amazing gem by Liszt. I knew Liszt had experimented with quasi-atonality and other things, but this work really took my breath away. I think I might arrange this some day for strings - it'd be gorgeous!

A Beautiful Tuesday

I have a bit of free time today. I think I might be able to get some more work done on 'Story of the First Butterflies'. I may also make some amending to Imprintations. I received a lot of VERY positive feedback on the work. Lots of recordings to pour over! I didn't really expect that much response on the work - especially considering most of my other works seem to fall on deaf ears/eyes. Needless to say, I'm greatly enjoying the attention it's receiving!

Writers Block

I've been trying for the past two days to get a good start on the second movement of my Piano Quartet. All told, I have probably deleted about 70 - 100 bars of music - all because I don't like it. I haven't had writers block in a while and I hope this doesn't last!

String Quartet Finished!!!

I am very happy to announce that I have finished my very FIRST string quartet!!!!  It took me about a month to write and presented some very difficult obstacles.  The work was written for the Young Composers August Competition.  The object was to utilize the theme to the hymn 'A Mighty Fortress'.  I'm so happy to have it finished!!!  Link below!

String Quartet

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.

Morton Gould

Tonight I prepared my submission materials for the Morton Gould. I feel good about it this year - sending one of my best string quartet works! I'll keep you all updated!

New Project

So, I decided to enter the Cabrillo Festival this year. It's headed up by Marin Alsop - a conductor that I've held as a role model to some degree since I first saw her conduct the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra a few years ago. The piece I'm composed is a special project just for the festival. My inspiration for this work comes from visiting local cemeteries here in Illinois: Campground Cemetery (Coles County), Wright Cemetery (Shelby County), and Greenhill Cemetery (Moultrie County). The history in the region dates back to about the 1820s, when the settlers first settled the counties listed above. Some of the grave markers are from that very early part of the local history - and is fascinating to me as a composer. So, what I've done.. is the first section is a look at Campground Cemetery. This cemetery used to be a meeting place for the religious circuit preachers and pastors of the early to mid 19th century. So, I researched and found a very old version of Amazing Grace that dates to that period and set it in a fugato. The counterpoint and harmonization are all mine... but the theme itself is the original theme - and yes, it is public domain (I did include that I used it in my program notes). I'm very eager and hope this gets selected for the Cabrillo.

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