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Sylvester Wager
- Male
- New York, NY
- United States
- Blog Posts (3)
- Discussions (54)
- Events
- Groups (4)
- Photos (11)
- Photo Albums
- Videos (14)
![Rudi [Rudolf Schmitt]](http://api.ning.com/files/VwFGPE6m4Udzri7S-mAlosVeH6Nw3WfcqSNN-1Cqhrdcqukpzcf8*gUDnQOcxkuUMSY-4RlraLge95ChLaJsfhcse1Wx9LNW/Foto0052_250x250.jpg?width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1){kind=small}
Music
Sylvester Wager's Groups
Sylvester Wager's Discussions
How many concerts in the style that you compose do you attend?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Tyler Hughes Feb 13, 2012. 5 Replies 1 Like
I'm in the smug position of having a long-term, adoring friend who likes concerts. He pays for most of them. I go to too many concerts. Morning rehearsals for the NY Phil, chamber recitals, piano,…Continue
Percussion issue with a Full Score in Finale 2012.
Started this discussion. Last reply by Greg Brus May 22, 2012. 2 Replies 0 Likes
The problem is me. I don't really understand how Finale 2011, the internal Garritan MIDI sounds, soft-synth and GPO4 are supposed to work together to create a score that even sounds.My first score…Continue
Poor, lonely Jazz category. And we owe so much to Jazz: every day of our lives.
Started this discussion. Last reply by Michael Tauben Jan 24, 2012. 17 Replies 0 Likes
Classical musicians usually know practically nothing about jazz theory. When they do, they tend to throw a wet blanket over it and send it through some sort of blender: a violins and…Continue
French Noel: Quelle est cette odeur agréable? Piano Quartet
Started this discussion. Last reply by Nigel Keay Dec 31, 2010. 4 Replies 0 Likes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksHmT79pC78 I was not going to promote my own work, but it is seasonal. Like now or never! The work was…Continue
Sylvester Wager's Page
Profile Information
- What have you composed for? Or what medium do you work around?
- Choir, Small Ensemble, Other
- What is your favorite genre or style of music?
- Mainstream Classical 1st; Jazz standards 2nd; novelty music 3rd.
- Is music your main income source?
- No - Not at all.
- Where do you live?
- New York City
- About Me (MUST be more than 10 words to be approved):
- Just another gay composer with HIV and a serious mental illness. I was once a decent, paid musician/organist, etc. Now I'm on disability forever. I think of it as a gov't subsidy for a lost composer. I cannot say that music drove me mad; it was the only sane thing about me. I'm happily ensconced in The Times Square Hotel. I live alone, and I am somewhat reclusive. I stay on my Island of Manhattan most of the time. I share a dog (rat terrier) with two friends in Kew Gardens, Queens.
I go to dozens of classical concerts every year, and that keeps keep me humble. The "real" and "accepted" body of mostly dead composers is awesome. I have not seen a real and lasting challenge to them for decades. There is a great deal of talent out there: just no decent work. We may be at the end of the classical-music era. Museum-orchestras are popular, these days. They make attempts to premiere works - but the new music they play is no longer "classical." I think it might be time to accept that being novel is not the king/queen of all virtues. I really do not care "when" it was written: just that is was.
I have been to college & conservatory. I studied composition, at times. It was my first major, in 1981. I also studied organ, seriously. My only rule: I believe that I need to be aware of some/most of the rules before I can bend them. Much of writing is trial and error. More of it is having a plan, which is why I stick to accepted forms that can be easily heard, usually.
I may not write highly dissonant music today, but I have in the past. I am a fan of the music of Messiaen, and the whole bank of 20th Century French organ composers.
peace from Sylvester
Sylvester Wager's Photos
Sylvester Wager's Videos
Sylvester Wager's Blog
First Blog Post: When does classical music become boring?
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 9:06pm 4 Comments 0 Likes
A jazz pianist and I had this discussion tonight: when is it just too much, or too little? My friend is a gifted artist; he can handle dissonances well, by ear.
I always wonder why jazz and classical music have mistrusted one another in the concert hall. The conservatories are worse: their theory tracks are completely different.
But this not about that difference. This is about interest. When does it get boring? Anything, really. Any music.
For me, when I am hopelessly…
Continue Garritan Personal Orchestra 4: who knows how to trick it up?
Posted on December 16, 2010 at 11:59am 19 Comments 0 Likes
'Recently purchased Finale & GPO4. I did not expect much, since most digital scores (that try to sound acoustic) are disappointments.
.....I went to venerable YouTube, and I heard a few passable to even decent orchestral scores. That means that there are all kinds of tricks to work out with the ARIA player. Each instrument voice has several controls, some of which I played with to get a recent string-centered piece to sound less irritating. They are meant to be…
Continue Jumping in: Buying Finale 2011... what else will a classical, orchestral composer need?
Posted on October 24, 2010 at 3:52pm 6 Comments 0 Likes
I've been asked to write for a piano quintet [piano + string quartet]. Nothing fancy, but the players will be first-rate. So I cannot hand them manuscript.
Been offered anything I need. I also need to be reasonable. I set my budget at $2,000. I'd like not to ask for more than that.
I will get Finale 2011 at $350 (academic/institutional)
I need a new, stronger PC. Any RAM ideas? I know, "as fast as possible." I will go for Windows.
Those are…
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Hi Sylvester,
Thank you very much for visiting my site and listening to my music. I have listened to much of yours as well and I can hear years of successful study. You are really a terrific musician and your music is very moving for me. I intend on listening to it much more over the weekend when I don't have to work. Hope you will accept my Composrs' Forum friends request.
Thanks again,
Dan
Thanks a lot for listening Sylvester!
Many of my pieces are originals and others are knock-offs. Many libararies and music supervisors need some that sounds like...
Listen though your music too and I love your piano music. Especially the sad film music
Take care
Tom
Sylvenster, you've written some remarkable and pleasing music. I was enthralled by Soft Woods and especially Puppy Play wherein did I detect some French influences and inflections?
Thank you for your comments about my arrangment/improvisation of Csárdás. Taking a few liberties with enhancement melodic strains, some modulation, and rhythmic devices is places; it was my intention not to change the basic structure or melodic content of Monti's primary work. I'm happy you liked what you heard.
The 2 piano 4 hand version naturally included more improvisation possibilities including the challenge of alternative splitting of melodic lines between the pianos hopefully to achieve almost a stereophonic effect.
(Perhaps being over a decade in retirement reflects having too much time on my hands...)
Thanks Sylvester. I agree. I live in that intersection.
Wonderful music " Puppy play " I loved it . Could you send me pdf file?
pcma1970@gmail.com.
Been away for some time now, working on mundane and practical matters and making new humans. Happy to see you're getting Finale, maybe you can tell me how to use it properly. If you have anything newly uploaded, let me know. I'm buried with machining and diaper work of late, but will be checking in occasionally.
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