April 2011 Blog Posts (18)

Hi. I'm new here, so I'd thought I'd kick things off with my final degree composition project, 'Drone Symphony'. It comprises of four movements that use four different compositional techniques and four different instrumental groupings.

The first movement, 'Strings (1st Movement in C)' uses the serialism composition technique and uses only stringed instruments.…

Good evening,

Just uploaded my Concerto for India (23 minutes): a tribute to that country.

It's written in such a way so as to allow for the possible substitution of some of the orchestral instruments by traditional Indian instruments.

Orchestral Instruments:

Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute,

Oboe, Cor Anglais, Clarinet,

Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Tenor Trombone,

Timpani, Cymbals, Harp, Piano, Celesta,

Violins 1, Violins 2,

Solo Viola,…

I have to admit - I forgot I was a member here and need to get back to checking out posts and responding here.  In a bit of a "sorry!" to everyone - here's a track I finished last November.   It's very short - intentionally so. 

The recording started with a piano piece - mostly an improv - and this is the 2nd take.   I then made four copies of that piano track in Logic... each with a prgressively heavier layer of processing... delay, pitch shift, time shift,…

Early this month for my birthday I received a lovely condenser microphone, an audiogram and a bouquet of wires XLR, speaker, adaptors, two Y's and a female coupler.  Actually I ordered the microphone first, but ordered the XLR cable later because I am such a newbie this is my first condenser microphone and I didn't know what wire to purchase.  There was a lot of waiting after I ordered all the wires because my town doesn't have a radioshack.   The wires came in 6 shipments! That is a lot of…

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here (blame the inspirational block!). Just to say how important and valued feedback from others is on music. It's funny how sometimes you know that something isn't quite right with the composition you're working on, but you think..."Ah, it'll pass" and then someone picks up on the very point you know hasn't been given your 100%! It's very much appreciated though and after this happens, it gives you the push you need to…

Hello friends. Today I worked on balancing the levels of various tracks within 'Instamatic'. Additionally, I worked on EQ'ing the DRUM submix, and then creating a couple of different versions of the track- two different approaches to compression. I ended up with three different versions of the drum sub-mix, all of which I am using for the final drumkit conglomeration: the primary drum track, plus two different compressed tracks that act as…

I have been studying Atmospheres by Ligeti lately, and I have a number of observations and questions.  Maybe you all can help me.

1.  How much of the micropolyphony does Ligeti expect to be heard.  After rehearsal C, The flute is below G4 and is barely audible.  Even though all the other instruments are ppp, the clarinet is in the meat of its register and will bury the flute.  Even considering the "coloring" the flute will lend to the sound of the orchestration, he has…

Basically there are two platforms for DAWs: Mac and PC. That starting point can narrow our search for a DAW. 

I'm often amazed at the capabilites of my DAW software- Sonar X1b.

I'd really like to know what other software can do.

What can PT, Cubase, Logic, and DP do that Sonar cannot do?

I made a lot of progress today mixing 'Instamatic'. I'd say just a few more days of work and the first mix version will be finished! I almost named this tune, 'Harsh and Tender', because the tune combines two different approaches- a tender, sensitive jazz-ish mood, with sections that are harsh, aggressive, and driving. The tender sections use piano and fr horn, while the harsh sections use distorted guitar improvs that alternate with sax improvs, and for those…

Colleagues,

I'm new in this Composer's Forum - that is , for a few weeks now. I just found this Blog section, and thought I could introduce myself with a Blog Post.

I hadn't composed for some years (making money is much easier with almost every other activity, I also tortured myself too fiercely with questions about the "Direction of Classical music") - until recently. Renewed interest for an old CD with some of my Nocturnes for piano and a commission (oboe…

Its been a while since I last signed on to Composers' Forum. I went off to take some time off from the online community as I like to do every so often. During that time I was involved a few projects. Where do I begin...

First, a new music school opened up downtown in my city and I was hired as a piano and composition/theory instructor. Since then the school's reputation has been growing with myself receiving a nice little photo session and spotlight in the paper. I kept my other…

Hi All,

I just found this website and it is really exciting to find a place to meet with other composers. I love to hear new music, so feel free to send me some of your own stuff to hear.

Warren

• play The Last Station 17…