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.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Intermezzi for Euphonium and Piano Movement 3

This is the third movement of a composition for euphonium and piano at a college level. It is being composed through a commissioning consortium where each participant pays a small fee that is refundable and receives score and parts, local premiere rights and an inclusion in the dedication. For more information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page385/index.htmlhttp://www.cooppress.net/page9/page385/index.html

The composition for euphonium piano is a series of intermezzi in a third stream style. Third Stream is a combination of classical and jazz elements. The third intermezzo is in a Lento tempo and while it is metered with a quarter note pulse, the music feels unmetered. This fits with the free, moody nature of the movement that wanders in tonality as well. The form is loosely ABABCA but it is obscured by motives each section appearing in other sections and by the euphonium and piano exchanging melodic material. The accompaniment is also sparse and coloristic utilizing the full range of the piano.

I export my Sibelius Music Notation file as a movie (new to version 7.5). I also use Noteperformer software for the sounds. These are sample sounds, but the software also includes an algorithm that reads ahead in the music and phrases the music according to context, therefore making the realization closer to live performance. I  upload these videos to youtube and embed the video for each movement. I hope that this technology allows the reader to have an easier experience and a more realistic performance. To see and hear what I have discussed, go to http://www.cooppress.net/Intermezzi_blog.html

As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B

Monday, October 13, 2014

Bachburg Concerto No. 5 Movement 2

This is the second movement of a concerto for two tubas and piano that is commissioned by Thomas Lukowicz of Wright State University. Tom is planning a CD of Bach duets and wanted a modern composition that would fit with the music of Bach. Since Bach composed 6 Brandenburg Concerti, I thought that Brandon should compose 6 Bachburg Concerti. This is number 5 in the series. It is influenced by the music of Bach mainly in its reliance on counterpoint.

Since writing the first movement, I had heard from Tom with some suggestions. Both suggestions had to do with the tubas sounding muddy. In measures 36-38, I brought the first tuba up an octave to gain the needed clarity. In measure 46, I changed the 2nd tuba note to a G from and Eb. This avoided the first inversion of the triad that tends to be muddy because of the abundance of overtones in the tuba tone color. There is enough of the Eb in the piano accompaniment so that no harmony is lost. Thank you Tom for those suggestions.

The second movement is at a Lento tempo. Lyricism and lush harmonies were my goal in this movement and counterpoint, while still presented, is secondary. The form is quite simple ABAB Coda. It begins with the two tubas alone for eight measures. Then this idea is repeated with piano accompaniment. The piano introduces the material for the B section that consists of descending thirds and dotted rhythms. The tubas enter for the second part of this section. Once again the ideas repeat but this time with the piano up an octave for timbral variety.

The A section only comes back once in the repeat. It is varied by a slower tempo and the tubas are alone for only 4 measures before the accompaniment enters. The B sections returns in a similar manner to when it was first heard. A brief coda that elongates the last motive leads to the two tubas finishing the movement alone.

I export my Sibelius Music Notation file as a movie (new to version 7.5). I also use Noteperformer software for the sounds. These are sample sounds, but the software also includes an algorithm that reads ahead in the music and phrases the music according to context, therefore making the realization closer to live performance. I  upload these videos to youtube and embed the video for each movement. I hope that this technology allows the reader to have an easier experience and a more realistic performance. To see and hear what I have discussed, go to http://www.cooppress.net/Bachburg5_blog.html

As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B