I very much enjoyed working with artist Seth Rouser on our latest collaboration Immersion. Immersion, a video focusing on the inherent beauty of moving water, was created for and premiered at the Water in the World: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Access and Sustainability conference at Winthrop University held on November 7, 2015 in Rock Hill, SC …
The Red Clay Saxophone Quartet performed my composition “Off on a Tangent…” as part of the Society of Composers Inc. 50th anniversary national conference on November 13, 2015. The spirited performance was one of the best I have had in recent years. Bravo Red Clay! The Red Clay performance was recorded. I will post audio when it …
This weekend I had the pleasure of working with percussionist Tony Steve on a performance of my composition for percussion and interactive computer processing Afterimage 3. The performance was part of the second annual Root Signals Festival and Tony was the featured performer. Tony’s performance was the most musical performance of Afterimage 3 I have had for some …
Today was a productive and fun day in the recording studio. Members of the Bechtler Ensemble with guest pianist Tomoko Deguchi recorded my piece Reflections and Lore at Concentrix studios in Charlotte, NC. It was great working with Fred Story, Creative Director at Concentrix (and all round good guy). Fred and his team do great work! …
The Washington D.C. based Great Noise Ensemble will perform two movements from my piano trio Things Get Out of Hand tonight (June 24, 2015). If you are one of my friends in the Charlotte region, the concert will take place at the in Suzanne Little Recital Hall on the campus of Queens University, Charlotte, NC. The …
The world premiere of my companion pieces for Holst’s Planets went very well. The Charlotte Civic Orchestra, under the leadership of conductor Geoff Whitehead, really rose to the occasion and they played beautifully. Thank you Geoff and CSO! The Planets suite (with my Earth and Pluto included) was well received and the musicians were acknowledged …
Winthrop University’s web site is currently featuring a write-up on the upcoming performance of my companion movements to Holst’s Planets, Earth and Pluto. Winthrop has been very supportive of my scholarship and creative activities since my arrival there in August 2001 and I very much appreciate their efforts to promote my music and creative activities. …
I have added computer rendered audio of Fantasy for Two Pianos to my Audio page. The score is available on my Scores page. Fantasy for Two Pianos was written during my 2005 residency at the Aaron Copland House in New York, USA. During that month-long residency I also wrote several Test Pieces for Piano and …
My companion compositions for Holst’s Planets, Earth, The Sustainer of Life, and Pluto, Guardian of the Underworld, are now in rehearsal. The Charlotte Civic Orchestra, under the exceptional guidance of conductor Dr. Geoffrey Whitehead will premiere the pieces on June 7, 2015. See earlier posts for details. I attended the latests rehearsal and things are coming …
My Vernacular Songbook was intend as a collection of songs about everyday issues facing working class people. I want the songs to fuse elements from the art song tradition and the chamber ensemble that has become ubiquitous since the mid-twentieth century, rhythm section plus voice and melodic instruments. (For example, most rock songs feature drum …
I have posted the scores for Earth and Pluto, as well as renderings of both pieces on my audio page. I am looking forward to the premiere in June 2015 by the Charlotte Civic Orchestra led by Geoff Whitehead. I hope to see many of my friends in the Charlotte NC area at the premiere. …
My latest latest two compositions for orchestra, Earth, The Sustainer of Life, and Pluto, Guardian of the Underworld, will be premiered by the Charlotte Civic Orchestra, conducted by Geoff Whitehead, on June 7th, 2015 at 3:30pm. The concert features Gustav Holsts’ The Planets and will take place at Sharon United Methodist Church, 4411 Sharon Road, Charlotte, …
The premiere for Silence in Forty-Two went very very well. This is my second premiere since January of this year with at least two more scheduled between now and June 2015 (look for a post on this soon…). Baritone Jeff McEvoy sang wonderfully and pianist Tomoko Deguchi played brilliantly as usual. The concert was well attended …
For my friends in the Charlotte area… My latest composition, Silence in Forty-Two for baritone and piano will be premiered Sunday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. The performance is part of the Providence Chamber Music Series at the Providence United Methodist Church, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC. 28211. Silence in Forty-Two is a collaboration between me and …
I have posted the score for my most recent composition Silence in Forty-Two on my SCORES page. As mentioned in an earlier post, the premiere is set for April 12, 2015 in Charlotte, NC, USA. See my previous post for details. The premiere will feature baritone Jeff McEvoy (for whom the piece was written) and pianist Tomoko …
I have posted a remixed – re-mastered version of Afterimage 8 to my audio web site. I think it sounds better than the older un-mastered version. Among other improvements, I adjusted the balance between the orchestra and the computer audio to create a more realistic mix. Enjoy.
My latest composition, Silence in Forty-Two, is nearing completion. Scored for piano and baritone, Silence in Forty-Two was written for baritone Jeff McEvoy. The text is an adaptation of Dustin M. Hoffman‘s short story of the same name. The premiere is set for Sunday, April 12, 2015 as part of the Providence Chamber Music Series. The …
I have posted the score for Reflections and Lore to my Scores page. I also posted a live recording of the Bechtler Ensemble/Out of Bounds Ensemble performance of Reflections and Lore from February 1, 2015 on my Audio page. The premiere of the Firebird pieces at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art was sold out! …
My latest composition, Reflections and Lore, was premiered at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, NC on January 25, 2015. The performance took place amid an exhibit highlighting the Firebird statue and the career and work of Niki de Saint Phalle. What an amazing place and way to present new music. The concert …
For some time I had the desire to create a collection of songs based on the lives, work, and experiences of working class people. I grew up in a proud working class family and did my share of of manual labor in my youth. Recently, I met a creative writer (Dustin Hoffman) who, among other …