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.
This is the first movement of a composition that I am composing through a commissioning consortium for tuba and prerecorded sounds for performance by college level musicians and above. The composition is called Adventures and the three movements will be African Safari, Final Ascent to Mt. Everest, and Rafting Down the Colorado River. People interested in joining the consortium can do so by going to http://cooppress.net before April 1, 2018.
The three animal sounds that are used in the first movement are hyena, lion, and elephant. Djembe is used for the drumming sounds. The movement contains sections of traveling alternating with sections of observing.
The second movement uses Tibetan bowls, wind, an avalanche, and heavy breathing for the prerecorded sounds.
This is a composition that I am writing as a result of a commissioning consortium. The composition is for Brass Quintet. For more information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page385/index.html
Lexicon II is the second composition in a series that defines words through music.
The fourth movement, Amok, is filled with dissonance, counterpoint, and chromaticism in order to represent its definition; "to behave uncontrollably and disruptively." Sections of order seem to break down into sections of chaos and the movement ends on an unsettled chord.
This is a composition that I am writing as a result
of a commissioning consortium. The composition is for Brass Quintet. For more
information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page385/index.html
Lexicon II is the second composition in a series that defines words through music.
In order to represent Eerie, the word for the third movement, a slow tempo and sparse instrumentation are used along with dissonance, extreme dynamics, trills and glissandi. Eerie means "uncanny, so as to inspire superstitious fear."
This is a composition that I am writing as a result
of a commissioning consortium. The composition is for Brass Quintet. For more
information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page385/index.html
Lexicon II is the second composition in a series that defines words through music. The second movement,Clandestine, uses pyramids to disguise the melodic line and asymetrical meter to disguise the beat in order to represent the definition of "characterized by, done in, or executed with secrecy or concealment, especially for purposes of subversion or deception." The brass instruments are muted throughout this movement.
This is a composition that I am writing as a result
of a commissioning consortium. The composition is for Brass Quintet. For more
information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page385/index.html
Lexicon II is the second composition in a series that defines words through music. The first movement, Ballyhoo, means "clamor or outcry." This is achieved musically through a fast tempo, wide intervals, asymetric meter, imitative sixteenth note patterns, and mild dissonance.
This is a composition that I am writing as a result
of a commissioning consortium. The composition is for Alto Saxophone and
Tuba. For more
information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page10/index.html
Spectrum Suite consists of seven short movements that
musically depict the seven colors of the spectrum. Here are movements 6 and 7.
Indigo–Indigo is mystical as it bridges the Gap
between Finite and Infinite. Indigo colored gemstones are often used for
spiritual attainment, psychic abilities, self-awareness and enhancement of
Intuition. This movement is mystical in nature.
Violet–is considered the highest element of
spirituality. This movement is rich and inspirational.
This is a composition that I am writing as a result
of a commissioning consortium. The composition is for Alto Saxophone and
Tuba. For more
information about the consortium, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/page10/index.html
Spectrum Suite consists of seven short movements that
musically depict the seven colors of the spectrum. Here are movements 4 and 5.
Green–denotes fertility, growth, balance, health and
wealth. This movement has a pastoral nature with lush harmonies.
Blue–makes us think of the Unknown. The sky and the
wide oceans are in this color and hence it has been associated with
Spirituality and Divinity. This movement focuses on the vastness of the
oceans and would contain sea scenes.
