Please forgive my own self promotion of this project, but I am very excited about this and want to give band directors an opportunity to be a part of it.
“Bandscapes” Commissioning Consortium
I would like to invite you to participate in a band commissioning consortium for $50. Each participating school or organization would receive the following:
· PDF files of the score and individual parts along with an mp3 of an electronic realization
· A listing as one of the commissioning organizations and its director on the title page of the composition that will be published through Co-op Press and distributed through J.W. Pepper
· The right to print as many copies of the score and parts as needed for personal use and the right to perform the composition as often as desired.
The composition I am planning to write is a 10 minute piece called “Bandscapes” that would be a showcase for the sections of the band. The first movement would have an opening section that features the full band followed by features for the woodwinds, brass and percussion sections. Short movements (around 30 seconds each) showcasing each of the families within the band (flutes, oboes, clarinets, low clarinets, etc.) will follow. The finale will once again feature the entire band. The composition would be playable by high school/college level bands by my creating A and B versions of the movements and by carefully cueing exposed parts. Bands lacking instrumentation for the instrument family features can simply omit those movements. A suggested optional narration will be included so that the composition can be used on educational concerts.
The timeline for this project is as follows:
· No later that November 1, 2013 – expression of interest
· November and December – creation of the composition
· January 2014 – payment required and emailing of pdf files of score and parts and mp3 of electronic version of the composition
My bio and samples of my music can be found at my website http://www.cooppress.net/
Please feel free to contact me using sybrandon at gmail.com if you have further questions. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from interested parties.
Dr. Sy Brandon
Professor Emeritus of Music
Millersville University of PA
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Modern Jazz Suite Movement 4
Hello readers,
It may seem like I have fallen off the face of the earth as I have not posted in quite a while. Part of the reason was because I as on tour to Oklahoma for performances of my music by the h2 Saxophone Quartet in Oklahoma and for some presentations along the way. Another reason is that I was waiting to hear back from Todd and Mark regarding the last movement of Modern Jazz Suite. They were both busy with other projects this summer. We now have the premiere scheduled for April 21, 2014 at Texas State University so it is time that I got caught up discussing the last movement.
It was while writing this last movement that I decided to change the titles of the movements to tributes to the major figure in each modern jazz style. Therefore the movements are Parkeriana, Milesiana, Schulleriana, and Corealiana respectively.
Since the last movement is in a jazz rock style, I decided to use an electric guitar. The form of the movement is head, guitar solo, saxophone solo, riff passage, head, ending. A lot of different guitar effects are used including slap tone, tone bends, pizzicato, and use of the whammy bar. The saxophonist does some slap tonguing. Jazz rock rhythms permeate the movement.
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/modern_jazz_suite_blog.html.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B
It may seem like I have fallen off the face of the earth as I have not posted in quite a while. Part of the reason was because I as on tour to Oklahoma for performances of my music by the h2 Saxophone Quartet in Oklahoma and for some presentations along the way. Another reason is that I was waiting to hear back from Todd and Mark regarding the last movement of Modern Jazz Suite. They were both busy with other projects this summer. We now have the premiere scheduled for April 21, 2014 at Texas State University so it is time that I got caught up discussing the last movement.
It was while writing this last movement that I decided to change the titles of the movements to tributes to the major figure in each modern jazz style. Therefore the movements are Parkeriana, Milesiana, Schulleriana, and Corealiana respectively.
Since the last movement is in a jazz rock style, I decided to use an electric guitar. The form of the movement is head, guitar solo, saxophone solo, riff passage, head, ending. A lot of different guitar effects are used including slap tone, tone bends, pizzicato, and use of the whammy bar. The saxophonist does some slap tonguing. Jazz rock rhythms permeate the movement.
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/modern_jazz_suite_blog.html.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
National Broadcast of My Composition
This week, my composition "Prelude and Festive Celebration" for clarinet and organ is part of the American Public Radio Pipedreams program "Organ and Friends" that is broadcast nationally over many public radio stations. You can listen anytime on the web at http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2013/1330/ My piece is during the first hour from 9:22 to 17:23. I am honored that my music and CD label Emeritus Recordings product is included in this program.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Performer and Composer Partnerships
As a composer and performer, I am very concerned about the gap that exists between today’s composers and the rest of the musical community, whether they are performers or listeners. One way to help bridge this gap is for composers and performers to work together to create win-win opportunities. I have done this throughout my career from both the composer and performer end and continue to do so through my publishing company, Co-op Press.
The purpose of my publishing company is to partner with performers to serve their needs. To this end, we have created numerous opportunities that we feel serve the needs of performers at various levels of accomplishment. Accomplished musicians at any level can apply for our Commission Assistance Grant or our Fund Raising Program. Accomplished musicians at an advanced level can apply for our Recording Assistance Grant or to become part of our Performing Partner Program. If you perform with groups of unusual instrumentation, we can often adapt our chamber music selections to fit your instrumentation. We offer some free music at our website as well as a free guide to practicing. Right now, if your sign up for our mailing list, we are offering a free copy of my Holiday Etudes/Duets that contains original pieces that celebrate various holidays throughout the year. All of our profits go into supporting these programs. We are always looking for ways we can better serve the performer, so any ideas are welcomed. Please visit my website at http://cooppress.net for more information on any of these programs.
I encourage other composers and performers to be creative in working together where the exchange of money is not the primary criteria.
Dr. B
The purpose of my publishing company is to partner with performers to serve their needs. To this end, we have created numerous opportunities that we feel serve the needs of performers at various levels of accomplishment. Accomplished musicians at any level can apply for our Commission Assistance Grant or our Fund Raising Program. Accomplished musicians at an advanced level can apply for our Recording Assistance Grant or to become part of our Performing Partner Program. If you perform with groups of unusual instrumentation, we can often adapt our chamber music selections to fit your instrumentation. We offer some free music at our website as well as a free guide to practicing. Right now, if your sign up for our mailing list, we are offering a free copy of my Holiday Etudes/Duets that contains original pieces that celebrate various holidays throughout the year. All of our profits go into supporting these programs. We are always looking for ways we can better serve the performer, so any ideas are welcomed. Please visit my website at http://cooppress.net for more information on any of these programs.
I encourage other composers and performers to be creative in working together where the exchange of money is not the primary criteria.
Dr. B
Friday, July 12, 2013
Modern Jazz Suite Movement 3
Before I discuss this movement, I want to tell you about a website that has helped me greatly in composing for the guitar. It comes out of Indiana University and is called Instrument Studies for the Eyes and Ears http://www.music.indiana.edu/department/composition/isfee/ Most instruments are represented here and it demonstrates and shows the various playing techniques used by those instruments and how to notate the effects. Thank you Indiana University for this valuable resource.
The third movement is titled "Third Stream," which is a style of jazz that marries classical and jazz elements. This is a Lento movement and it is designed to be played straight instead with a swing feel. Therefore the style of playing is more classical than jazz. However, there is a large use of blue notes and jazz sounding chords that flavor it with jazz characteristics.
Once again, the form is quite free where the ideas develop and repeat as needed. The rehearsal numbers delineate the sections of ABCA'B'A'DA''. Variations are achieved through instrumentation changes, melodic elaboration, fragmentation of sections, and tonal shifts. The guitar uses harmonics, slurs, arpeggios, and single melodic lines to achieve a variety of tone color and texture.
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/modern_jazz_suite_blog.html.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B
The third movement is titled "Third Stream," which is a style of jazz that marries classical and jazz elements. This is a Lento movement and it is designed to be played straight instead with a swing feel. Therefore the style of playing is more classical than jazz. However, there is a large use of blue notes and jazz sounding chords that flavor it with jazz characteristics.
Once again, the form is quite free where the ideas develop and repeat as needed. The rehearsal numbers delineate the sections of ABCA'B'A'DA''. Variations are achieved through instrumentation changes, melodic elaboration, fragmentation of sections, and tonal shifts. The guitar uses harmonics, slurs, arpeggios, and single melodic lines to achieve a variety of tone color and texture.
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/modern_jazz_suite_blog.html.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Modern Jazz Suite Movement 2
The second movement of this suite is called "Cool." Cool jazz is very laid back, therefore I chose a moderate tempo. It also can use odd meters so this movement is in 7/4 time. Another characteristic is the use of pastel type colors therefore the saxophonist is asked to play subtone (with a breathy sound) most of the time.
This movement is typical of what happens when I compose. I begin with an idea and see where it will take me. As a result, the movement seems to develop, much in the manner a development section of a symphony develops. Motives are transformed, counterpoint is used, the music wanders between keys freely, etc. When I get to a certain point, the music suggests a need to restate something familiar, thus I return to the opening material. This restatement is often a slight variation of the opening material therefore one can look at the form of this movement as ABCDEA'B'CCoda. The rehearsal numbers help delineate this form.
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/modern_jazz_suite_blog.html.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B
This movement is typical of what happens when I compose. I begin with an idea and see where it will take me. As a result, the movement seems to develop, much in the manner a development section of a symphony develops. Motives are transformed, counterpoint is used, the music wanders between keys freely, etc. When I get to a certain point, the music suggests a need to restate something familiar, thus I return to the opening material. This restatement is often a slight variation of the opening material therefore one can look at the form of this movement as ABCDEA'B'CCoda. The rehearsal numbers help delineate this form.
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/modern_jazz_suite_blog.html.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Dr. B
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
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
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