"Just listened to your Somnambulist piece. Very enjoyable! From the sound of the page turn in there it seems you actually played it as well, which is certainly refreshing round these parts. Very consistent, solid, entertaining…"
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Michael Staff
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Concert Piece
Started this discussion. Last reply by Michael Staff May 29, 2011. 2 Replies 0 Likes
This piece started in Sonata-allegro form but gradually evolved into a fantasy-like piece. Does it work from the listener's view? Do the themes lend themselves more toward a stricter form? Have I…Continue
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Michael Staff replied to Michael Staff's discussion Concert Piece"Thanks guys! I appreciate your feedback very much. I recorded it at Jungle Room studio which is in Los Angeles but since then Ive purchased a Tascam DP-02 digital portastudio (I highly recommend one) and I always use 2 mics when I record (one…"
Doug Lauber left a comment for Michael Staff"Interesting music. I appreciate your performance ability."
Peter Daley commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"First fugue, go ahead with the challenge :-). I've been on and off working on one myself."
Peter Daley left a comment for Michael Staff"Hi Michael, thanks for the friend request. I like Dreams of a Somnambulist composition. I want to study a little more in the 12 tone genre, starting with piano then moving on to an ensemble. How did you get started in music?"
Tyler Hughes replied to Michael Staff's discussion Concert Piece"Its a very good piece of music. I dont feel that the themes lend themselves to a very strict form, though the themes themselves can go either which way in this case.
There were some moments that were had a very mysterious quality which I enjoyed…"
Michael Staff posted a discussionConcert Piece
This piece started in Sonata-allegro form but gradually evolved into a fantasy-like piece. Does it work from the listener's view? Do the themes lend themselves more toward a stricter form? Have I evoked any emotional response in the listener?
Michael Staff replied to James Wise's discussion The end of the research period..."Have you thought of using several shorter movements to form a sort of suite? Ive found this lends itself to 12-tone music as in music by Schoenberg. How long is the composition supposed to be?"
Michael Staff commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"Thanks for your experience! I always enjoy hearing about other composer's experiences and I'll also definately check out Hindemith's fugue mentioned"
Ansgar Kreutz commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"if you interested in more "modern" fugues, you should study "Ludus tonalis" from Hindemith"
Paul Smith commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"I never studied fugue formally, unless listening to endless hours of Bach's fugues qualifies as actual 'study', which, of course, it DOESN'T...So when the day at last came not too long ago when I decided to try to write a proper…"
Peter Daley commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"Great to see you exploring various musical styles."
Michael Staff commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"I've actually already written the exposition as of this morning but there seems to be little direction as far as the episodic development. Nowhere have I read about a recapitulation or conclusion to the fugue."
Michael Staff commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"I studied counterpoint for 2 years early on in my studies but know only a little about Messiaen. I have written canons, inventions, and other polyphonic works but a fugue is more complex and my intention is to use it as a movement for a larger work.…"
Ansgar Kreutz commented on Michael Staff's blog post First Fugue"what experiences or studies do you have in counterpoint? do you know the meaning of Messiaen about the importance of fugue for music of today?"
Profile Information
- What have you composed for? Or what medium do you work around?
- Small Ensemble
- What is your favorite genre or style of music?
- Classical, Serious, Contemporary
- Is music your main income source?
- Sort Of - Music Related
- Where do you live?
- Idyllwild, CA, USA
- About Me (MUST be more than 10 words to be approved):
- The majority of my works are for solo piano which I perform myself, and occassionally for chamber and orchestra. Although my music is not truly atonal, I experiment with multitonality and chromaticism in much of my music.
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First Fugue
Posted on March 24, 2011 at 11:33am 10 Comments 0 Likes
Im just starting my first fugue as a project in counterpoint. Does anyone have any experience in this area who could offer some suggestions before I get started (since all I have at this point is my subject)?
Comment Wall (5 comments)
- At 3:00pm on January 20, 2012,
Tombo Rombo said… Just listened to your Somnambulist piece. Very enjoyable! From the sound of the page turn in there it seems you actually played it as well, which is certainly refreshing round these parts. Very consistent, solid, entertaining composition. Bravo!
- At 7:02am on June 6, 2011, Peter Daley said…
Hi Michael,
I started by playing in piano/keys/Hammond organ in my local church, Bethel United, Apostolic Pentecostal Church. It was a hard slog as the competition was great but healthy. My training started there, I learned to play by ear, improvisating, arranging, playing hymns, conducting, MDing, even leading the choir and vocal training. I soaked it all in and immersed myself in music as much as i could. I spent hours practicing everyday and was encouraged to got to college and university. There were many discouraging times but i persevered as i new that music was and is what i want to do. I have a degree in Composition where i learned orchestration and writing for various instruments/ensembles, such as string quartets, big-band, running a gospel choir and incorporating horn sections and even eastern instruments, as well as African idioms into my music. I like to cross genres when composing and producing wherever possible, as it brings out new flavours all the time. I have a Masters in World Music which involved studying various kinds of music genres, Cross Cultural Studies & Music Philosophy; oh and loads of assignments...but i'm glad i did it in the end :-). I work with a variety of artists/groups/projects/organizations now nationally and internationally. I've just produced an EP for http://gershombrown.com another artist on my record label http://anotherkeyrecords.com.
Currently i'm working with an African writer who is writing a play to be shown in theaters from September 2011 and I'm working with an international artist on a Jazz/R&B project, plus a bit of teaching- i like to keep busy.
What future projects do you have coming up, or planning?
- At 12:47pm on May 28, 2011, Doug Lauber said…
- Interesting music. I appreciate your performance ability.
- At 7:45am on May 25, 2011, Peter Daley said…
- Hi Michael, thanks for the friend request. I like Dreams of a Somnambulist composition. I want to study a little more in the 12 tone genre, starting with piano then moving on to an ensemble. How did you get started in music?
- At 3:38pm on March 22, 2011, Tyler Hughes said…
- Welcome to the Composers' Forum
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