Cabrillo Festival

So, I decided to complete my submission for the cabrillo festival this year BUT... came to a screeching halt when I attempted to reorchestrate one of my many works for orchestra. The piece that I tried (the third movement from my Symphony) sounded horrid every attempt I made to reorchestrate it. So, the solution is to spend all night composing a new work for the festival. My start isn't bad actually - I'm about 100 measures in so far. I kind of like the idea! Hope it goes well! I post a new blog post once I get the piece submitted.

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 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.

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

Dream

I had an amazing thought today! I was walking to the back of the house - which has this huge backroom that used to be the garage. Well, I thought... hmmm.. why not use it to give performances and recitals of my works! Would take some decorating BUT it might be worth it to actually invest the time to do it. Just now, I have to get the energy up to do it.

Writer's Block

So, I sat down today to start work on my submission for the Cabrillo Festival this year. Well, I had a good work started and was in a good 50 bars... then I opened up Young Composers and read the dialog on the shoutbox - about how one of the composers there should 'embrace' the modernity and utilize more modern techniques in his music AND forget totally about all of the traditional 'blah' that came before. Since my music is very traditional in some aspects... well, a lot of aspects... it got me down. SO.. now I have writers block. I just don't know whether I should abandon my grasp on tradition or maintain it boldly. I just don't care for much modern sounds. They grate on my ears and don't sound overly musical at all to me. Sometimes I wonder why I should even bother...

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

Taking a break (for the most part)

I felt extremely tired this morning when waking up. My sinuses were inflamed, my legs hurt, and I had a nice healthy headache - so, I decided to lay off working on music today (for the most part). Sometimes, I will work till my eyes droop down and I fall asleep at the keyboard. Other times, I'll wake up and first thing I do is come on to check my scores and add notes and bars and passages - I work WAY too much. Usually, that doesn't bother me - besides the obvious worry about writing things noone else hears but myself. I do have performance opportunities - but most of those are months down the road. At times, I wish a kind benefactor would read this blog or my twitter or my facebook or my forum posts and show sympathy on me and offer to perform a work of mine... that would make me estatic beyond measure.

Piano Concertante no. 2

The newest project finished is another Piano Concertante. I originally envisioned this as a concerto - but, I don't know. The ideas were good but well - perhaps I'm moving in a different direction than I originally intended as a composer. Instead, this has turned into another 1 movement concertante. The work is a little rough around the edges but all in all I'm happy with how it turned out. I've posted a link for any and all who would like to listen.

Forum Posting of Concertante!

Busy times... stylistic changes

I am very busy working on a large scale piano concerto. The work is so far extremely different than my last work in this genre - composed last fall. The work is rather serious in nature and the harmony and thematic material used are put to extensive development and use. The piece feels rather mature for my current style even - which makes it well suited for its intent.

Busy Times

It's been a good week now since my last post. It's been a very BUSY time. I received the recording from the pianist and was NOT enthused by it. So, I have 1 week left now to find a good quality pianist to record one of my pieces - so much is riding on it :(

Works submitted and current projects

I submitted yet another series of works on Friday - the third this month. I also have a few more projects on the table as well as a few projects that are geared at getting me capital on a regular/steady basis to help finance my composition time. First, I am currently assessing the possibility of utilizing skype as well as other online features in giving lessons in composition to beginning composers. With skype as well as other features one can give lessons to students hundreds and thousands of miles away. My other planned project is an online group of musicians, via youtube, to collaborate and premiere works online - via youtube. I'm still examining the potential of the online universe on my physical career and as I see it, there really is no other way to break through without it. I have it set in my planner to come up with a thorough plan for these two ventures this week - my personal deadline is next week. I've already got a few youtube musicians on board and shouldn't have any problems getting more... so STAY TUNED! In other news, I am now collaborating with an east coast DJ. We are working on a few songs together and if things go well I will be receiving 50% of royalties from those songs - which is great news. The schedule of work, however, is 3 days a week and we spend a good 5 - 8 hours on those days working on the tracks... so it's not light work...lol! This month, I have a few more submissions for opportunities to submit to: mata festival, morton gould, and a shakuhatchi performance. So much to do... so little time to do it.

Overcoming Obstacles

Life has been a bit difficult for me the past week or so. Situations around me are changing - but surprisingly one thing has remained that I am devotedly working on: my music. The brass preludes are being added to - rather slowly BUT the work and results are good. I am now composing feverishly from the moment I awake till the moment I'm ready for bed - so much music to compose. My output has slowed as I work meticulously over each and every bar - making sure each note is perfect within my ideal of the piece itself. My eyes, despite the change in living situation, is still focused on my hopeful career as a composer. My good news is that I am now collaborating with a DJ from the east coast - assisting him in composing his tracks. The results of this venture would be immense for my career and would *hopefully* provide me the capital necessary to continue to compose full time. On the classical front, I am sending off the Preludes this Friday! This will meet the deadline for the opportunity in which they were composed. My favorite of the set of 6 is the fifth. This work is quite personal in sound and touch as it utilizes, I think, the brass quite well. I'll post a link to the works once the full set is finished.

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!!

Ideas and new submissions.

I sent off two works this week to two separate opportunities and I finally have a pianist to record one of my works!! I was so excited to receive that news - I admit, I almost cried. Hopefully now, I can get that submission ready and sent in by the February 16th deadline. Going to be cutting it close though! In the interim, I've started work on a new string quartet. I started the piece this evening around 3pm and have been working on it ever since (it's 4am now...lol). I must say this piece is shaping up to be a very good composition. I'm in now about 100 or so measures and am no where near completion. My idea is to have my new chamber ensemble premiere this work at our first concert. I have many other pieces ready for that date.

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.

Working on deadlines...

So, I am busily composing a piece that has to be ready by the 31st of this month. It's at times like these that I wish I could survive solely off of my music. Receive compensation for all this time I put into my craft. I compose almost 16 hours a day - only to break for food, restroom, and sleep. My partner, at times, has to pry me away from my work to hang out with friends or go out to eat/watch a movie/shop. On my online forum, I am a reviewer - so I break at times to review works by other composers. I have top profile views on the forum itself and two of my works are in the top 5 on the site's music storage network (12 short pieces for piano is #1 in views and my Symphony no 1 is #5 in views). All this attention I receive on the site makes me wonder, does anybody really care about my music besides myself? Obviously, I have a silent fan base on the forum BUT who are they? Do they read my blog? Do they anxiously await a new work by me? I would give the world to know who loves my music and who frowns upon it. As I get this work composed at breakneck speed for what I hope will be a performance this year... I must know, does anybody really care?