Welcome to my blog

I have created this site in order to provide performers, listeners and composers with a description of a composer's experiences with the creative process. The posts will provide discussions of the inspirations, challenges, and successes of a composer from the inception of the piece to the culmination in performance. I will provide a link to where you can see and hear the works in progress. Comments and questions are always welcomed. They will not posted unless you grant me permission.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Happiness

I was talking with Joan Wolf Prefontaine, a poet friend of mine, about how I want to write something for the Verde Valley Voices and she sent me a lovely poem that really inspired me. As a result, I sat down this week and composed "Happiness" for one of the premiere musical organizations in the Verde Valley and its wonderful conductor, Beverly Hall.

While the poem has three stanzas, I really saw it in two main sections, a slightly humorous part and a more serious reflection. My music begins with a folksy type accompaniment and the chorus sings joyously over little things that bring happiness. There is tone painting in the section reflecting the swirling of "dust devils." The piano picks up this material and uses it as a transition to the more reflective part which is in a slower tempo with lush chords reflecting the text. I tie the composition together at the end by bringing back the "I am happy" motif before the final chord.

I am now using flip pdf technology for the musical examples that go along with my posts. It uses Flash Player that most browsers come with. You will be hearing an mp3 of sampled sounds playing the music and you will see the score at the same time. You will need to turn the pages by clicking on the arrows at the appropriate time. To see and hear what I have discussed, go to http://www.cooppress.net/Happiness_blog.html.

As always, your comments are appreciated.

Dr. B

1 comment:

Melobeau said...

I loved listening to this new work. Hope to hear it performed live soon.