"Here in America people think that music must bring only pleasure, must entertain. That, of course, is not so, especially if you are a professional. Music also brings suffering and a sense of your own insignificance. It's not always comfortable to be one-on-one with it. That's why it's more pleasant to listen to music in a concert along with an audience."
-from "Balanchine's Tchaikovsky"
I just spent the last two weeks working with some wonderful musicians and guest composers.
The Principal Brass Quintet performed my piece, In the Seeking, I will have a recording from a reading session to post in a few weeks. This group impressed me more than I can express in words. They bring so much musicality and beauty of sound. What a privilege it was to work with them.
I also had the honor of meeting two wonderful composers, Tony Plog and Eric Ewazen. Plog's view of this world and music was refreshing. I am so glad composers like him are active writers! I also found Ewazen's joy contagious. What a joy for music he has!
And ofcourse I got in a few good bike rides!
Tomorrow I fly back to Columbus with a list of many projects to do.
I will be in residence at California State University from July 10-24 for a course in brass quintet composition with the Principal Brass of the New York Philharmonic. Looking forward to this great opportunity!
-Caspar David Friedrich
Excited to be back in East Lansing, MI in April for the premiere of my choir piece, Bread of Life.
There will be two performances this week, including a world premiere!
My piece, Through Wind and Whispers, will have it's premiere in Europe at Bath Spa University under the direction of Jeff Boehm on Wednesday. Wish I could be there!
Davis Middle School will premiere my piece, On A Hill Far Away, this Thursday at their 8th grade concert. This piece was written in honor of the band director's mother who past away last year. I've gotten to work with the students each week in preparation for the concert and it has been a joy. I must say, my favorite pieces are the ones with a dedication written on the top of the page.
“Learning to hear passing dissonances in counterpoint, for instance, made me more attentive to (and thus in greater control of) subtle dissonances arising in other areas of experience. (the most conspicuous example is writing.) More generally, the ‘inner dancing’ involved in listening naturally suggests ‘moving well’ in life. Similarly, the organic development of a theme evident in symphonic music, or the culmination of a tension toward climax in a jazz solo, are images of motional possibilities that are akin to configurations that arise in practical life…The symphonic development of a theme brings to mind the possibility that I can take a longer view of my relationship to any particular project, that perhaps I am making progress even when my particular hours of effort seem ungratifying. Or when a project is moving comfortably forward, music of admirable complexity can suggest the possibility of organization on multiple, often subtle levels”
-Kathleen Marie Higgins, The Music of Our Lives
I recently finished a book of short trumpet duets, each between one to two minutes in length. When my primary focus was trumpet I remember having a difficult time finding duets that were serious in nature that I could play on a recital or just with a friend during a practice session. At the most recent ITG conference I experienced the odd feeling of being surrounded by so many trumpet players, yet not being a performer. It was during a moment of listening to others warm up around me as I stood without a horn in hand that I thought about my role change in the trumpet community. I now consider myself a servant to them in many ways and one of my goals as a composer is to provide music that is serious and also enjoyable for brass players to play. I hope that these duets will be of good use to many.
And now, it is on to the next project! I was asked to write a choral work that is a part of a community composing project and I am excited to get started on it.
I was recently at Michigan State for the premiere of "Through Wind and Whispers". I had a great time talking with the composition studio class earlier in the day and felt honored to have a piece on the Symphony Band concert in the evening. The piece was on the first half of the concert along with great pieces by Aaron Perrine, Joel Puckett, and Joseph Spaniola. The second half was a bit lighter with Ewazen's "Celtic Hymns and Dances" and two pieces by Grainger. There was a great surprise as Professor Madden's sister sang "Oh, Danny Boy" before Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry". How refreshing to hear a folk singer! I thought that was a great idea to introduce the piece. And I cannot help but smile and be moved whenever I hear Percy Grainger's band works. It was a great concert and I hope to work with John Madden and the Symphony Band again.
Listen to the piece here:
