Preliminary Exercises Completed

This week I completed Book 1, Part 1 of Études Scéniques.  I began these études as a way for me to work on simplifying my musical language.  I do feel as if this "experiment" was successful.  To clarify I only consider this an experiment because it is not something I normally do.  I have composed 5 études in this first set.  The overall duration of this set is around nine minutes.  I still have not settled on an instrument for these études.  However, I do not think that a particular instrument is that important.  On my keyboard I was using clarinet sounds and I have considered trying to play through these on trumpet.

This first set is a series of simple études.  I will continue adding to the études as I begin new works or need to work out some issues in current projects.  The titles of these études are:

1. Cool Breeze Blows
2. Evening's Dawn
3. Sun-Drenched Fields
4. Rolling Hills
5. Shaded Path

Listening Journal: February 15-21, 2010

Pascal Dusapin - Extenso (1994) for orchestra
Pascal Dusapin - Apex (1995) for orchestra
Frank La Rocca - Secret Thoughts (1986) for cello
John Cage - The Perilous Night (1944) for prepared piano
Arnold Schoenberg - Herzegewaesche, op. 20 (1911) for soprano, celeste, harmonium and piano
Iannis Xenakis - Ittidra (1996) for string sextet
Franz Joseph Haydn - Symphony No. 94 "The Surprise" in G major (1791) Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
Franz Joseph Haydn - Symphony No. 95 in C minor (1791) Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell

Listening Journal: February 8-14, 2010

Luciano Berio - Formazioni (1987) for orchestra
Pascal Dusapin - Go (1992) for orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach - Orchestral Suite No. 2 (1738) English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
Joseph Haydn - Symphony No. 93 in D major (1791) Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell

Listening Journal: February 1-7, 2010

Tan Dun - Ghost Opera (1994) for string quartet and pipa with water, stones, paper and metal
Kaija Saariaho - New Gates (1996) for flute, harp and viola
George Crumb - Makrokosmos Volume 2, Part 2 (1973) for piano
Silvestre Revueltas - Toccata (1976) for orchestra
Iannis Xenakis - Ergma (1994) for string quartet
Johann Sebastian Bach - Orchestral Suite No. 1 (1724) - English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
Diego Conti - Fantasy No. 1 (?) for viola and 4 cellos
Diego Conti - Fantasy No. 2 (?) for viola and 4 cellos
Iannis Xenakis - Eonta (1962) for brass and piano

Études Scéniques

I wanted to take the time to describe the idea behind Études Scéniques.  The thought of working on a junior high school band piece is somewhat intimidating.  I am used to composing more complex pieces for college level or higher performers.  Theoretically I could just jump in and start composing the piece by working on a few melodies and ideas until I found something that I like.  However, I realize that it has been a while since I have composed melodic music; much longer since composing tonal music.

At this point I do not feel comfortable starting work on such a piece without some preparation.  I figured that the best and easiest way to work on melodic writing is to compose for a solo instrument other than piano.  Currently I an working with the mindset that these études are for trumpet.  However, I am open to other instruments.  I guess I am thinking trumpet because I can play that instrument (albeit not very well) and it would be fun to learn these pieces.

This current set of études will consist of 5-6 pieces.  Each étude is designed to depict a specific scenic image (hence the title).  I have been thinking about the long-range scope of the études.  I am toying with the idea that I will continue to expand this series of études when beginning a new project.  In a way I am thinking of it as being similar to Bartok's Mikrokosmos in how each piece gradually increases in difficulty and technique.  No matter how this series grows, I think that this could be a good way for me to explore some ideas for the piece prior to composing.

Preparing for My Next Project

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have taken on a new project.  I was talking with a friend of mine, Adam Noel.  We talked about the possibility of me composing a piece for his middle school concert band.  I am definitely on board with this project.  Adam is the instrumental music director at Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School in Moraga, CA.  I have know Adam since we were undergrads at California State University, Hayward.

In preparation for composing such a piece I have begun composing a series of études for a solo instrument. Most likely the instrument will be trumpet since that is an instrument I play.  However, I do think that these études could be transpose for just about any instrument.  These études are intended to be simple melodic studies so that I can prepare myself to compose a piece with simpler melodies and harmonic progressions.  The études will be relatively short exercises that will help develop not only my ability to compose melodies, but also the student's ability to play increasingly complex melodies.

Last night I composed the first in this particular set of études.  My plan is to compose five or six in this set before starting work on the piece for Adam's concert band.

New Opportunity

I am currently in talks with a friend of mine to compose a piece for his middle school band.  We are looking at the possibility of a performance this coming fall.  As a result I have decided to yet again put aside Dream Cycle.  A motivating reason to put aside the songs is that a piece for middle school band is a different technique than my "usual" style.

I have been thinking a lot about this.  One of the primary challenges in composing such a piece would be simplicity.  The melodic and harmonic content would need to be much more simple than the music I normally compose.  Because of this I have been considering composing a series of etudes so that I can revisit the idea of simplicity.  These etudes would be for one or two instruments, though most likely one.  It is possible that some of the material created in these etudes could go into the band piece.

Listening Journal: January 25-31, 2010

Christopher Rouse - Orchestral Works - CD

   Trombone Concerto (1992)

   Gorgon (1984)

   Iscariot (1989)

Toru Takemitsu - A Flock Descends Into the Pentagonal Garden (1977) for orchestra

Johannes Brahms - Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, op. 56a (1873) Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell

Johannes Brahms - Five Hungarian Dances (orch. by Dvorak) Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy

Johannes Brahms - Academic Festival Overture, op. 80 (1880) Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell

Johannes Brahms - Tragic Overture, op. 81 (1880) Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell

Listening Journal: January 18-24, 2010

Andre Previn - Four Outings for Brass (1974) for brass quintet
Iannis Xenakis - Anaktoria (1969) for octet: cl, bsn, hn, 2 vln, vla, vlc, db
Johannes Brahms - Symphony No. 4 in E minor, op. 98 (1885) Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell
Esa-Pekka Salonen - Foreign Bodies (2001) for orchestra
Iannis Xenakis - Dhipli Zyra (1952) for violin and cello
Kaija Saariaho - Mirrors (1997) for flute and cello
Kaija Saariaho - Il Pleut (1986) for soprano and harp