Little by little things get done. Another day and the formerly-hidden oak floors return to their original glory. As soon as workers return from a (well-deserved for some) holiday break, we'll be able to live in more than one bedroom and the kitchen, with an occasional sojourn in a semi-working bathroom...
On the musical front, it's a combination of getting ready for Christmas Eve services (one morning, 3 evening) and posting a bunch of my compositions on New Music Jukebox (run by American Music Center). I've had some modest success selling my music; it's time to promote better.
poco a poco: a little bit each day. But my fingers are getting itchy to write--the last composition of 2006? the first of 2007? Before I can do that, I need to burn a CD with my Christmas Eve postlude (so I can be in two places at once...).
Whether fast or slow (and moving slowly, even poco a poco on the way from one dynamic state to another, is not my natural state), it's music to my ears.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Pianissimo
Well, my life has been anything but quiet...but I've managed to take a five month break without even trying. In my last post (July 22) I spoke about putting together some info on Songs of Prophecy. I've done that, but just not taken the time to post it. Five months later, I'm in the afterglow of a pretty nice presentation of the piece two days ago.
The piece went well, and even exceeded my expectations. It was the first time I've written an extended work with handbells (the piece includes handbells, choir and string quartet), so it was, for me, a bit experimental. The handbell writing worked, although I tended to write the part a little thin. We ended up adding notes to fill out chords (handbells are more homophonic than linear, imho, although my linear parts fit nicely with the strings and voices).
We're in the middle of a big house remodel (we moved in with my Dad almost 2 years ago)--roof and windows done first (last summer, just about the time I stopped writing here). Currently we're in the midst of walls, floors, bathrooms--it'll be great when it's done (did I mention kitchen next?).
I'll post the info on Songs of Prophecy soon, as well as update on some of my other musical activities. I need to put some quality time into updating my my composition list on New Music Jukebox before the end of the year (they are putting together a compilation for an upcoming Chamber Music America conference--it'd be nice to have some of my recent chamber works included).
Even though I have to leave the house these days to hear it (unless I want to write an homage to Varese, or an update of The Anvil Chorus)--
it's music to my ears.
The piece went well, and even exceeded my expectations. It was the first time I've written an extended work with handbells (the piece includes handbells, choir and string quartet), so it was, for me, a bit experimental. The handbell writing worked, although I tended to write the part a little thin. We ended up adding notes to fill out chords (handbells are more homophonic than linear, imho, although my linear parts fit nicely with the strings and voices).
We're in the middle of a big house remodel (we moved in with my Dad almost 2 years ago)--roof and windows done first (last summer, just about the time I stopped writing here). Currently we're in the midst of walls, floors, bathrooms--it'll be great when it's done (did I mention kitchen next?).
I'll post the info on Songs of Prophecy soon, as well as update on some of my other musical activities. I need to put some quality time into updating my my composition list on New Music Jukebox before the end of the year (they are putting together a compilation for an upcoming Chamber Music America conference--it'd be nice to have some of my recent chamber works included).
Even though I have to leave the house these days to hear it (unless I want to write an homage to Varese, or an update of The Anvil Chorus)--
it's music to my ears.
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