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!

New Solo Viola Work

Was talking to a friend of mine who is taking pre-college courses at Julliard and he wanted to know 'when' I would write a piece for him to play. He's a young man, I think only 13 or so, but is an amazing prodigy at music. On top of playing viola, he is also a wonderfully talented young composer! Needless to say, I was taken aback at him asking me for a piece - I hadn't even heard him play! So, in talking with him, I tailored a short viola piece of about 135 bars. I focused on exploring one of my favorite intervals: the minor second. The work's form is in abridged sonata-allegro AND is one which I purposefully work with climactic points. The work is viewable on Young Composers, link provided below. Enjoy! Once he gets the piece practiced he promised he would play it at his next recital!

Imprintations for Solo Viola

Work and Published!!!

Two things for today:

1. I'm aiming to get a substantial dent in this final movement of my Piano Quartet and am going to go back and work on the final draft of the first and second movements (considerably beef up the piano part, work out the string parts, etc.) The third movement so far is turning out really good - I'm very happy with what I have so far!

2, I have a poem published online now!!! Here is the link: Thanksgiving Poem! Also, you can view my contributor page here: Jason A Woodruff !!!!

Viola getting fixed!!!

Taking my viola to Nina's today to get the bridge fixed on it. I've started working on a tentative schedule for me. It's always good to organize one's time - especially when your pulled in multiple directions. I'm going to shoot for at least an hour of practice each day! I need to start organizing it as well so I have at least an hour a day of composition time. Sometimes, I get so busy with schoolwork that I don't do anything else.. and then on Wednesdays, I'll sit and play around all day till Ghost Hunters comes on.... procrastination is my worst enemy! In other news today, I still have an A in Algebra!!! Got my grade today, it's at 94%! I was so worried, especially after that last exam.

Working...

I've been taking a bit of a break from composition while letting my mind stew on a few ideas for the second movement. The first movement is largely done now with the exception of the articulations and perhaps beefing up the piano part. I'm not sure what I want to do yet for the 2nd movement - generally, I find slow movements to be easy to write. This one, on the other hand, has proven to be anything but. Stay posted! I will probably do a lot of the composition on Wendesday!!

FIRST DRAFT OF FIRST MOVEMENT COMPLETE!!!!!!

I'm so excited!!! I just completed the rough draft of my first movement of my Piano Quartet. Here are my notes from it:

The quartet uses three motives. The overall structure of this movement is a sonata-allegro, with brief coda. I figured I'd post this now to get comments before I show it to my teacher on Thursday. This is the work that I ended up losing 180 bars to a Finale crash! 

Structure:

Introduction:
Measures 1 - 14: Introduction: The introduction is quite tonal, I feel. I'm uncertain about it. It sounds like it fits - and it certainly introduces some of the material I use in the movement (albeit it in disguise.) 

Exposition: You'll notice that my exposition is rather short. I introduce both themes in what I consider to be a dramatic fashion. The first theme starts with a fugue like passage. The countersubjects here I really enjoy. 

Measures 15 - 32: Fugue. This is the first theme, presented in bars 15 - 16 of the viola. The countersubject immediately follows. I break with the fugal aspect of the idea around measure 26. 

Measures 33 - 82: This is the second theme. I wanted to go for something a lot more open for this idea - especially given the thickness of the fugal texture that preceded this. This theme, along with the first, will appear in the second and third movements - albeit it disguised. My manuscript of this section luckily had heavy notes. I'm probably only going to edit a few things here - as I'm quite happy with the overall quality of this section. A few things I will change, most likely, will be the addition of the articulations for the string trio. The third theme, which will appear prominently in the third and final movement, comes in at measure 43. I really like the theme itself. I might add a tad bit of harmony to the left hand in the piano - but, I'm not sure, I really like the nakedness of the motif.

Development:
Measures 83 - 148: The transitional passage at the end of the first theme is really the beginning of the development (starting at around measure 74.) For organizational reasons related to this thread, I decided to crop it up to 83 as the start of the development. In this section, I really go out there in terms of my usage of my three themes. Needless to say, I would call this part of the movement... pure madness (perhaps that gives you a little bit of how I felt today while writing this passage... ). That said, I don't think I will expand this. I am unsure of the final 4 - 8 bars of the development section. I'm not sure my transition there was as strong as I'd like it. I might delete what I have there and rewrite it tomorrow. 

Recapitulation:
Measure 149 - 217: Recapitulation. This recap is a verbatim recap. I'm not too happy with the first part of it after the transition back to it. What I plan to do to correct this is to instead of starting back with the viola... instead start with the violin in the upper register. The articulations for this and the exposition aren't entered yet - as I want to go through this part with a fine tooth comb to correct any playability issues with the string parts - as well as maybe beef the piano part up just a bit.

Codetta:
Measures 217 - Ending: This codetta is short and most likely will be expanded. I'm thinking of expanding the last 4 bars which constitute the ending of the piece. I might make a return back to the introductory material - just to ensure a bit more of a sense of closeness. I'm very picky of my openings.. perhaps I should be especially picky this work of the ending of the movements as well.

So, the above illustrates in depth my thoughts on the movement. Now, I'd like your thoughts. This piece has so far taken me about 3 weeks to write - and given that Finale crashed on me Sunday and I was left with only the introduction to this movement, I had to rewrite a lot of this from my notes, manuscript, and brain - needless to say, I almost gave up on this. But I think I have an amazing start to this piano quartet. I'm hoping I get some good reviews so far.

Piano Quartet

So, I've decided to work on a piano quartet for a competition. I have a few good ideas - two motives - and a good start. I am thinking this will be a massive work - not fully got the overall structure down. The work so far makes extensive use of fugal textures, something that I am strongly drawn to. I will post when finished.

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

Piano Trio no. 2 is DONE!!!!!

Finally!  After three hectic day's of composition - and nearly driving my self crazy staring at the notation program - I finally have the entire Piano Trio finished.  I'm very proud of this work overall - my first large scale serial work!  Enjoy!!


Piano Trio no. 2

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!

Rondo for violin, viola, and timpani

My forum hosts monthly competitions for its members. The February competition called for a work for violin, viola, and a percussion instrument. This was my entry for it - however, since the competition needed judges... I switched from being a competitor to being a judge. So - now I have this stand alone work. Now, I present my Rondo for Violin, Viola, and Timpani. Tell me what you think!

Rondo

New Submissions ready

I now have 1 string quartet work and a series of Brass Preludes ready to submit to two separate opportunities now! Also, I have incredible news but I don't yet want to make it public till its the right time! Just stay tuned!!

Another piece submitted.

Ah. Such productivity! I finished yet another work for a performance opportunity yesterday and finalized it and sent it this evening. So far now, I have sent out about 3 - 4 works. I have plenty more to send out.
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On other news, I have decided to start a chamber ensemble! I'm busy working on the plan and am about to begin networking within the Mattoon/Charleston, Illinois area in the search of musicians. My goal is to start with about 2 - 3 performances a year. First concert HOPEFULLY around May or June. First things first though: if any musicians from the Mattoon/Charleston area would like to become a part of this ensemble please leave me a comment here! I'm very eager to see what this area has to offer as far as music goes.

Bridal Processionals Completed!!

I am so excited!! Tonight I finished the third and final processional. Now I have a complete set of 3 processionals for my friend to chose from!!! If anyone is interested in listening to these pieces or ANY of my current works, here is the link:

http://www.youngcomposers.com/pg/Music/jawoodruff

Just click music above where it say's my name! Let me know if you like any!