Astor’s Nod

 Events, Music, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Apr 302011
 

So I’ve been involved in a seminar on Composer/Performer Symbiosis. During the course of this seminar, composers were paired with performers and worked closely to develop a new work. I had the privilege of working with Alysa Treber, an excellent flutist. The end result was a solo flute piece called Astor’s Nod. I wanted to explore a few different things in this piece, including implied harmonies with a single line & the natural agility of the flute. As we began this process, Alysa played me a tango by Astor Piazzolla which intrigued me, so I decided the piece would take a latin turn while exploring other virtuosic things. (This is Juxtacomposed Music, after all…).

Astor’s Nod premiered Wednesday night (April 27th) at the Symbiosis concert. Alysa knocked it out of the park and there was lots of great feedback! A recording is here or via the music page. Check it out~

tom

 Posted by at 2:22 pm

Water:Dance premiere

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Apr 142011
 

Cassandra Hibbard will be premiering my clarinet solo Water:Dance which was written for her on Monday the 18th at Michigan State. The piece was inspired by two paintings (actually hanging in the auditorium where it will be performed) whose characters are intertwined through the piece. Its a tough piece and Cassandra is outstanding! Come hear it on Monday.

 Posted by at 10:25 pm

April is a promising month. Much going on.

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Mar 312011
 

I have three (count ‘em) premieres happening this month. This is a flurry of activity after last year’s work on a large piece for wind symphony.

Ryan McMasters will premiere “Critical Mass,” a piece written for him for solo double bass on April 8. It will be the featured work on a solo recital at the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford in Connecticut. Ryan has collaborated quite a bit with me and I am utilizing several interesting techniques that he has developed.

Cassandra Hibbard will premiere “Water:Dance” for solo clarinet on April 18th. The concert is at Michigan State University and will feature the clarinet studio there. Water:Dance was partially inspired by two paintings hanging in the Music Auditorium, the interpretation of which has been a topic of conversation for Cassandra.

Finally, Alysa Treber will premiere a solo flute piece, the name of which is still in limbo (the piece isn’t done yet!) on April 27, also at Michigan State. This is the culmination of a seminar on symbiosis, the collaboration of performers and composers.

Having my music performed is always rewarding. Thanks to the wonderful performers out there who put in all the hard work learning them!

 Posted by at 2:17 pm

Rush Hour at Tutti Music Festival a success

 Events, Music  No Responses »
Mar 312011
 

The folks at Dennison University did an excellent job with Rush Hour. You can hear my bootleg recording of it on the site now. The whole weekend was a great experience, getting to meet some interesting composers and performers! I ha d a great response to my piece, which opened the first concert on Friday. Several performers asked me for more of my music.

 Posted by at 1:59 pm

Rush Hour this week!!

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Mar 012011
 

My piece Rush Hour for mixed chamber group will be played this Friday at Tutti! New Music Festival @ Denison University outside Columbus. Looking forward to hearing this piece again~

 Posted by at 12:43 am

Upcoming works

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Dec 142010
 

I’ve recently finished a piece for solo bass, tentatively titled “Critical Mass”. It will be premiered in the spring by Ryan McMasters, for whom it was written.

I’ve also been selected for involvement in the Tutti! New Music Festival at Denison University. They will be playing “Rush Hour” and I’m excited not only to hear it but to be involved in the festival. March 3-5.

Juventas New Music ensemble based in Boston has chosen “tritonicity” for pierrot ensemble + percussion for inclusion in its ’10-’11 concert series. Program date TBD.

 Posted by at 12:15 pm

Latest premieres

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Dec 142010
 

Ok, I’ve been lax about updating. Two new pieces premiered on December 2. “5 Wet” for 5 metal water bottles is a rhythmic piece with lots of metric modulation. “Fly Blog” is based on themes from Bartok’s Mikrokosmos and is directed improvisation for 5 musicians and loop.

 Older Entries  Newer Entries