Composer

Latest

Listening Journal: March 26-April 1, 2012

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

Listening Journal: March 19-25, 2012

Kaija Saariaho – Oi Kuu (1990) for bass clarinet and cello
Einojuhani Rautavaara – Cantus Arcticus, op. 61 (1972) for tape and orchestra
Tristan Murail – Gondwana (1980) for orchestra
Malcolm Arnold – Quintet (1960) for brass quintet

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.

 

Listening Journal: March 12-18, 2012

Witold Lutoslawski – Paganini Variations (1979) for orchestra
Edgard Varèse – Density 21.5 (1936) for flute
György Ligeti – Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1992)
Krzysztof Penderecki – Clarinet Quartet (1993) for clarinet, violin, viola and cello
Anton Webern – Five Canons, op. 16 (1924) for soprano and two clarinets

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.

Listening Journal: March 5-11, 2012

Johann Sebastian Bach – The 15 Three-Part Inventions, BWV 787-801 (1720) arranged for string trio, Janine Jansen, violin, Maxim Rysanov, viola, Turleif Thedéen, cello

PDQ Bach – Music You Can’t Get Out of Your Head – CD
“Howdy” Symphony in D major
Perückenstück (Hair Piece) from The Civilian Barber
Suite from The Civilian Barber

György Ligeti – Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1988)
Igor Stravinsky – Octet (1952) for flute, clarinet, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets and 2 trombones
Pascal Dusapin – Granum Sinapis (1997) for chorus
Olivier Messiaen – La Fauvette des Jardins (1970) for piano
Jennifer Higdon – Blue Cathedral (2001) for orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach – Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043 (1730) Hilary Hahn, violin, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Kahane, conductor
Henryk Górecki – Sonata No. 1, op. 6 (1956) for piano

Listening Journal: February 27-March 4, 2012

Johann Sebastian Bach – The 15 Two-Part Inventions BWV 772-786 (1720-23) arranged for violin and viola; Janine Jansen, violin and Maxim Rysanov, viola
György Ligeti – Études for Piano, No. 16-18 (2001)
Leonard Bernstein – Symphony No. 2 “The Age of Anxiety” (1965)
György Kurtag – Messages, op. 34 (1996) for orchestra
Alexander Scriabin – Quatre Morceaux, op. 51 (1906) for piano; Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Alban Berg – Altenberg Lieder, op. 4 (1912) for voice and orchestra
John Cage – Primitive (1942) for prepared piano
Magnus Lindberg – Gran Duo (2000) for 13 winds and 11 brass
Henryk Górecki – Symphony No. 1, op. 14 “1959″ (1959)

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.