bicemusic.com: Page updated - Homage

I was going through the pages I have created and realized that the page for Homage was incomplete. It was lacking a PDF of the score and the program notes. Today I uploaded the score in an 11 x 17 format and wrote all-new program notes for the piece. I am considering posting a second recording from the performance at Stanford University in 2001, but for now the recording from CSU Hayward is the best one I have.

http://bicemusic.com/?page_id=30

Final edits for Flit completed

Yesterday afternoon I completed the final (for now) edits on the score for Flit for flute. After I finished entering the dynamics and expressions I listened to the piece through the basic MIDI playback. There were two sections in particular that I did not like.

One was the transition in the middle of the first section. These measures did not make sense to me, they did not fit. I cut out three of the measures and composed a transition the rhythmically and thematically made sense.

The next area that needed fixing was in the B section. In this case I mostly had to adjust the rhythms of certain measures. The rhythmic motion just seemed to stop.

So now the piece is finished. All that is left to do is send the piece to Greer Ellison and arrange a performance.

Sketch score for Flit is completed

Yesterday afternoon I completed the sketch score for Flit for flute. The piece ended up being just over six and a half minutes in duration. I think I like the way the piece turned out. The form is ternary with the sections of A B A’. There is a slight diversion in the A’ section going back briefly to B. This could be considered a form with in a form.

I am looking forward to entering the score into Finale and then being able to send it off to Greer Ellison. I hope she likes the piece.

Famous Composers

Found this picture in a desk calendar. Thought it was funny and worth sharing. My favorite composer on the list is Johann Sebastian BockBockBock.

bicemusic.com: Page added - Shadows of Dreams

Shadows of Dreams for flute quartet was composed for the University of California, Santa Cruz Flute Ensemble.  This piece came to be after I was put in contact with the ensemble director Greer Ellison.  She was very supportive during the composition process which made the writing of the piece much easier.  It is not often where you find someone who is genuinely excited about a piece being composed for their ensemble as Greer was.

Shadows of Dreams was composed between October 2008 and April 2009.  On the page you will find program notes, the score and the recording from the premiere on June 2, 2009.  You can view the page under the chamber music section of the Compositions page or by following the link below.

http://bicemusic.com/?page_id=475

bicemusic.com: Page added - Play Ball!

Play Ball! was my first attempt at encoding baseball statistics into music.  The process I developed was similar to twelve-tone music; however the primary difference is that not all twelve notes of the chromatic scale were used.  Essentially I selected two sets of fifteen of the “most important” baseball stats.  One set for batters and one set for pitchers.  Then I selected a player and a season upon which I would build my “tone row.”  For this piece I selected different players for the different instruments.  Similar to twelve-tone music the “row” would be played prior to the repetition of the “row.”

Even after all these year I am still uncertain as to how well the process works.  Play Ball! is a fun piece and there are moments that I really enjoy.  However without further exploration into this technique I really do not know if it is a viable method.

The recording available on the page is taken from the most recent performance in the Spring of 2004.  A score is also available as a PDF File.  You can view the page through the chamber music submenu of the Compositions tab or by clicking the link below.

http://bicemusic.com/?page_id=465

Listening Journal: June 20-26, 2011

Steve Reich - Double Sextet (2007) for 2 violins, 2 cellos, 2 pianos, 2 vibraphones, 2 clarinets and 2 flutes
Steve Reich - 2x5 (2008) for 2 drum sets, 2 pianos, 4 electric guitars and 2 bass guitars
Olivier Messiaen - Trois Petites Liturgies de la Présence Divine (1944) for ondes martenot, piano, chorus and orchestra

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