"Since it's your thread Tim you can take it in any direction you want. As for how to do this stuff: There are all kinds of ways. All that matters are the results. My music was all composed years ago with pencil and paper, and then around 20…"
Music Composers Unite!
Michael Diemer's Page
Profile Information
- What have you composed for? Or what medium do you work around?
- Orchestra, Small Ensemble
- What is your favorite genre or style of music?
- Romantic-Impressionist; Classical; Baroque
- Is music your main income source?
- No - Not at all.
- Where do you live?
- Maine, USA
- About Me (Must include at least one paragraph of biographical information about you as a composer) - blank or minimal answers on this line will cause your request to be rejected. Include a link to your website if you have one.
- I am basically self-taught, which means I learned how to compose in non-traditional ways. Some of my favorite composers are Mozart, Beethoven, Sibelius, Debussy, Ravel, Rimsky-Korsakov, Vaughan Williams, Faure and Durufle. Some favorite pieces: Mozart's 40th, Sibelius' 7th, NRK's Scheherazade, the Requiems by Faure and Durufle; Ravel's Tombeau Du Couperin; Copeland's Appalachian Spring, and pretty much everything by Debussy. I began composing in the mid 70's, strictly on amateur basis. Necessity of earning a living has limited me to 5 completed symphonic works to date, but I hope to expand this when I retire. (Note: now retired). I use a very basic setup: small midi keyboard, Cakewalk By Bandlab (what used to be Sonar), Garritan, East West and Vienna sound libraries, and recently I added Cinematic Strings. And even more recently, Appasionata Strings.
- Website:
- https://mdiemer0.wixsite.com/mysite
Music
michael diemer's Discussions
Non- Jazz Use Of Saxophones
Started this discussion. Last reply by michael diemer Sep 7. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Does anyone have an idea of how likely it is to get a non-jazzy rendition of a saxophone part in orchestral music these days? I occasionally use them in my music because of their unique sound,…Continue
Berceuse (Lullaby And Good Flight)
Started this discussion. Last reply by michael diemer Apr 13. 13 Replies 0 Likes
This is on my home page here, but because there is a brief pause between the second and third sections, someone could easily think it was over when the pause occurs. So I wanted to make sure people…Continue
Vienna Enemle Pro & Epic Orchestra?
Started this discussion. Last reply by michael diemer Feb 25. 11 Replies 0 Likes
Can anyone comment on this? I currently have Vienna Special Edition 1, plus GPO5, EWSO Gold and Cinematic Strings2. Using Cakewalk for my DAW (formerly Sonar). Would this be worth my while? Is the…Continue
In The Garden
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bob Porter Feb 21. 18 Replies 0 Likes
This is the first movement of Three Easter Scenes. The garden of course is Gethsemane. A fairly impressionistic work, I attempted to portray the agony as Jesus contemplates His coming ordeal. A…Continue
Latest Activity
"Since it's your thread Tim you can take it in any direction you want. As for how to do this stuff: There are all kinds of ways. All that matters are the results. My music was all composed years ago with pencil and paper, and then around 20…"
"Hey there Rod, I didn't know you were so into sound sculpture! You seem to have a gift for it, which makes for some interesting results, given your already considerable compositional skills. At first I though I was watching 2001, A Space…"
"I like this, Tim, and welcome to our world. This kind of sounds like you're working with tone rows, or at least along those lines? I like how you interweave the instruments, creating a light, transparent mix. It is a catchy little theme, which…"
"Really nice job with the sequencing, Disco (can we call you that?). I agree it would be a workout for pianists, though it sounds playable enough. Very creative interplay of two competing yet complimentary styles. A thoroughly enjoyable romp through…"
"I like the unusual approach to melody you take, with brief snippets rather than longer phrases. Also the chord progression is interesting, and the altered chords provide a nice touch of color. Could stand on its own as a prelude or sketch, or would…"
"Very nicely done, john. My only suggestion is that there is an extended passage where there don't appear to be any rests. But then, I have heard James Galway go on for so long that I myself became out of breath, so maybe this isn't a…"
"Very nicely done, Randy. My only wish is that you did not confine yourself to the parameters of the contest, and just let your imagination take you wherever it wanted, but obviously that was not the idea here. But within those parameters, I agree…"
"I forgot to mention that mastering also takes in producing an album. Much music here is single-movement stuff, occasionally something multi-movement. but if you're doing songs, you need to make them all have the same characteristics (same…"
"First of all, there are two stages in the process of getting good sound: Mixing, and only then, Mastering. Mixing takes in everything you do to maximize your sound, such as adjusting volume, reverb, EQ etc. Only then are you ready to do mastering.…"
"I agree it probably should not be mainstream; perhaps something more akin to the English Horn. While I love the EH, I find it just doesn't work well in many places. I usually end up using the Clarinet instead, or the oboe if it's not to…"
"You quote some good examples that demonstrate the versatility of the saxophone family and how well they can fit into the orchestral mould. I think the tenor sax is a great jazz instrument and the sax family is at the heart of a good dance or swing…"
"Congratulations, Gav! And thanks to everyone who contributed. Looking forward to another great year of sharing, learning and laughing."
Non- Jazz Use Of Saxophones
Does anyone have an idea of how likely it is to get a non-jazzy rendition of a saxophone part in orchestral music these days? I occasionally use them in my music because of their unique sound, extensive range, and considerable power. They are a unique hybrid instrument, half woodwind, half brass. The soprano sounds like a cross between a clarinet and oboe. The Alto can sound wonderfully expressive, when not played in the usual contemporary manner.But is it risky to put them in your music? Are…See More
"I do like it! Very fresh and creative. You do it a disservice by referring to it as modern. Too often that word has negative associations with it. This is just great music. Let it stand on its own. I especially like the rhythmic motion. also…"
"Well, it has a kind of religious feel to it, which is a function both of the fact that it sounds like a pump organ, as well as the hymn-like chord progression. As for the intent, since you told us what it is, yes, I can see it. But if you…"
Comment Wall (34 comments)
- At 1:24pm on February 23, 2019,
David Carovillano said…
Michael,
Just as honoured to share some great conversations with you. We're all lucky that music is part of our lives, to whatever extent we pursue it. Thanks for your kind words and much continued success with your work :)
- At 11:12pm on January 23, 2019,
Gav Brown said…
Welcome back, Michael!
- At 10:57am on July 26, 2016,
Art Lowell said…
Thank you for the welcome, Michael. I have actually been a member here for a couple of years, and I have posted all of my tunes. I'm not sure what location on this website they appeared in, but people did respond, so I know they got heard. I posted them in Music Analysis And Critique. I have enjoyed the input from the members here.
- At 3:26pm on January 8, 2015,
Tim swanger said…
- Thank you! I'm hoping to post more soon. I'm enjoying listening to others work, though I'm traveling at the moment and I can't access many audio files from my phone.
- At 11:09pm on January 3, 2015,
Greg Monks said…
Skating is a fabulous little piece, reminiscent (to my ear) of some of Jongen's works. It would make for an excellent National Film Board score.
- At 10:03pm on January 3, 2015,
Thanks, Michael, I'll post there once I have the equipment/software for making PDF's of my music.
I can see now that I'll have to learn how to use Finale or Sibelius or both. I've had both for years, but have taken only a cursory look at them.
- At 11:47am on December 25, 2014,
Simon Hamel said…
Can't wait to trade fours on feedback man, I'll post some music soon.
- At 3:05am on November 8, 2014,
René Torenstra said…
Thank you for welcoming me to the site and getting me started, Michael. I'm sure I'll see you around in the comment threads! Cheers, René
- At 2:28pm on November 7, 2014,
Pekka Vermasvuo said…
Thank you for your encouraging words Michael!
- At 4:39pm on October 26, 2014,
Thank you Michael!
I have already taken my time to read a number of interesting threads and blogs and get used to this forum. I will be posting some music at some stage - whenever I'm ready.
I'm currently working on a very short virtual piano+strings+choir thingy which I hope to get to a stage when I can call it ready (not finished as they never are). I am still learning the ropes of "virtual orchestration" and proper production practices. At the same time I'm trying to learn how to properly structure the music and develop my usually shortish ideas to a longer pieces of music. I find it extremely challenging to get the musical balance right, especially with strings. Well, I think like with real instruments, it just takes a lot of time and requires practice and more practice to get it right.
Pekka
Michael diemer's Blog
On "Skating"
Posted on January 28, 2015 at 10:30pm 9 Comments 0 Likes
Revised as of 1/28/15, Skating is my most finished piece to date. It's from a three-movement work called Three Winter Scenes. It's an impressionistic piece, intended to depict skaters on a frozen pond or river, and attempts to capture the exhilaration of being outside on a cold but beautiful winter day, as well as the elements of snow, sun, clouds, etc. Sounds are Garritan, Vienna, Cinematic Strings2 and EWSO Gold, as well as some sounds from Sonar. While I strive for transparency,…
ContinueSolstice
Posted on September 19, 2014 at 11:00pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
"Solstice" is the first movement of "Three Winter Scenes." It was written after a poem I wrote in my twenties called "Winter Sunset." The poem was about watching a beautiful sunset on a very cold day, and wondering where my life was going. The last lines were "Where were the clouds hurrying to? Their motion in that dark sky was all I saw." The music tries to capture the cold beauty of a winter sunset, and also the slow ticking of time down to the moment of the Solstice, the first…
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