Kaija Saariaho – Graal Théâtre (1994) for violin and orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonata No. 1 in G minor BWV 1001 (1720) for violin, Julia Fischer, violin
Claude Debussy – Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp (1915)
Kaija Saariaho – Monkey Fingers, Velvet Hand (1991) for piano
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Back after a brief hiatus
After completing Tribulation I opted to take a voluntary hiatus from composing. During this time a lot has happened. I left my job of almost nine years to work for a company where I have potential to make more money and to get ahead. I also wanted to spend a little more time with my daughter, Carmen, as she is the most important thing in my life.
Also I have not decided what project to take up next. There are three pieces that I have in mind. On is either a solo piano piece or a song cycle for pianist Yvonne Wormer. The next is a solo clarinet piece for Soo Goh. Also on the short list is an arrangement for wind ensemble of the second movement of my trombone quartet Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. I will likely start one of the two chamber pieces as right now I am more interested in composing something for a smaller ensemble.
Tribulation: parts completed and delivered
Last week I finished editing the parts for Tribulation a three-movement piece for wind ensemble. Over the past two years I have composed four wind ensemble pieces. During this time I have been able to get part extraction down to a science. I am able to edit a full set of parts in about eight to ten hours whereas in the past it would take fifteen to twenty hours to edit.
After completing the parts I was able to send them as PDF files to Rita Zigas-Brown at Walnut Creek Intermediate School. I am excited and interested to hear some feedback from her about this piece. It is always a little nerve wracking waiting for the first bit of feedback. I start to wonder: Did the parts turn out alright? Did I forget to transpose and instrument? Never-the-less it is a relief to have this piece finished. I can now start to think about my next piece.
Editing the 3rd movement
The third movement of Tribulation turned out to be the easiest one to edit. One of the goals I had set in composing this movement was to keep the texture thin. I did not want to have all of the instruments playing similar rhythms in harmony like the other movements. I tried to give most instruments easy yet independent parts. As a result there were less areas within the movement that needed to be harmonized. This cut the editing time almost in half. I think this will be a great ending to this piece.
The score for Tribulation has been finished
Yesterday, I finished editing the third movement and the score of Tribulation for wind ensemble. This piece composed in three movements was written for Rita Zigas-Brown and the Walnut Creek Intermediate School Symphonic Band (California). As with any piece it is an exciting time when I can say “this piece is done” and I can send it off to the performer or conductor. Of course I still have one more hurdle to jump before I can put this piece to rest… for now. Parts. Extracting and editing parts is not a difficult task, however it is a time-consuming one.
I have sent a copy of the score in PDF format to Rita. I look forward to receiving feedback from her about the piece.
What happened to…
Back in November when I first started working on Tribulation I wrote about a second piece I planned on composing at the same time. This piece was to be for violin and piano. At this point I have yet to start the piece. As it turned out I became engrossed in Tribulation and spending time with my daughter that this piece just fell by the wayside. I am fine with this. After all there were no performers attached to this work. I was looking for a diversion to turn to when I got stuck on the wind ensemble piece.