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.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Antics for Elementary Band - Movement II - Squirrels in a Park

This composition is being composed as part of a commissioning consortium where each participant contributes a small amount towards the commission fee and receives local premiere rights for up to a year after the composition is completed. The deadline for joining this commission consortium is January 31, 2015. For more information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page385/index.html

The second movement of this two-movement composition is "Squirrels in a Park."The overall tone of this movement is playful. Two measures of a repeated staccato chord serve as an introduction to the playful theme that consists mainly of rising and descending arpeggios. This section repeats at measure 11. An 8 measure contrasting section, beginning at measure 19, is in the subdominant tonality of Eb. Measure 27 brings back the A theme.

Picture a squirrel cracking a nut in this next section that begins at measure 35 with a wood block solo. This section is in C major. A modulation towards the end of the section brings the band back to Bb major for a repeat of the A section. Measure 60 begins with two measures of a repeated staccato chord like the introduction, but this time in Eb major. The melody is legato accompanied by staccato chords. I envision squirrels playing in trees during this section.

The "nut-cracking" section comes next before a return of the opening AABA material that has a little surprise as part of the ending. The overall form is AABACADDCAABA. Articulations, tonality shifts, and instrumentation are the major components that provide variety in this otherwise unified composition.

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. Be sure to use full screen mode to see large score more clearly. 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/Antics_blog.html

As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B

No comments: