James Oppenheimer

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James Oppenheimer left a comment for Steve Chandler

"I had not seen activity that applied to my kind of music, so I kind of drifted off.

I certainly have an interest in choral music. I've had a couple of pieces performed recently. Can we put up PDFs of our compositions? It has been a while....."

James Oppenheimer commented on William J. Joel's blog post Getting your stuff played

"I have the same problem. I write a lot of stuff for choir, and I find that many people will take the score, thank me for it, and then I never hear anything more. If I ask them, they often turn out not to have had time to look at it.

Also, I find…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Variations on a Carol

"Thanks for your kind words. If I add more variations, I will seriously consider a modulation. I'm sort of working along the lines of Van Eyck, but there's no reason to keep all the variations in the same key. Unfortunately, I can't change the key on…"

Vlad Burlea replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Variations on a Carol

"Hi, James.I listened with pleasure Your "variationes". They have a scent of New Year celebrations and something authentic, "old fashion", modest but nice and tasteful. Only (maybe) keep all variations in d moll its too simple? I prefere the modal…"

James Oppenheimer posted photos

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James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"I was thinking, with regard to the type of performance, that if you listen to Bruno Walter's performance of a Beethoven sympnoy, it will be very different from, say Bernstein or Fuertwaengler or von Karajan. And while someone might like one more…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"J R Oppenheimer is not a relative. The surname simply designates anyone who was from the area around the German city of Oppenheim. At some point in the past, people were required to adopt family names. Some folks adopted their profession (Shumacher,…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"I think if you listen to my midi and your version, it will be much more apparent as to the slip of the ritard one measure too soon, and the slide of the lower part of the right hand. I think there may be similar problems with the left hand, but I…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"The piano sound is a bit deeper and a bit more sonorous than the sound available from Finale. Even though Finale talks as though their sounds walk on water, it's hardly surprising.

Unfortunately, the reproduction you made has some major problems…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"I wish they'd just stop making the darn things, but nobody listens to me. I even wrote the President just before we invaded Iraq and said it would be a major mistake, with roadside bombs blowing our troops up even as we "won" the war, but did they…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"Thank you very much for your kind words, and your very kind offer.

I can't remember offhand if the piece is my variations on a theme or fantasy on Jingle Bells, so...

Here are the fantasy on Jingle Bells and the variations on a theme both.…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Oppenheimer -- Theme and Variations

"I would have liked a bit better a piano too. Maybe when I get my new PC the sounds will be better...

Per-Erik Rosqvist said:Thanks for sharing this. I like the piece a lot.
I am not a pianist either, but looking for info on playing techniques for…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Oppenheimer -- Theme and Variations

"Thanks very much for taking a look at my piece, and thank you for your kind words.

At the 3/4 (measure 181), a new variation begins with a small introductory section. The actual theme begins at measure 185 (where the big arpeggio happens). The main…"

Adrian Allan replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Oppenheimer -- Theme and Variations

"I thought that this was one of the most professional and detailed scores we've seen on here.

I also admire your compositional ability and understanding of the piano. I can only make a few comments as I'm sure that this is better in many ways than…"

James Oppenheimer replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"I like to do a lot of arrangements of early music, so a platform that scans in music easily is important to me, and Finale's facility for this has consistently been unacceptable. I am going to try a trial version of Sibelius and see how things…"

Shad Young replied to James Oppenheimer's discussion Comments on my pieces

"I had listened to the first three earlier. I did not comment, mostly because I have nothing intelligent to say. Composition wise, I am weak. My strength is in productions at this time, and you already addressed that in your post.

I doubt that a new…"

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Gender

Male

Location

Hyde Park, NY

What have you composed for? Or what medium do you work around?

Choir, Small Ensemble

What is your favorite genre or style of music?

Early music

Is music your main income source?

No - Not at all.

Where do you live?

Hyde Park, New York

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'm a Rehabilitation Counselor, retired after 35 years. I've composed for many years, but have only recently become more serious, taking composition lessons. I have sung in choirs for a long time, and have played early music instruments for a long time. I compose mostly for choir and recorder ensembles. My primary group is the Adirondack Baroque Consort. Our web site is abconsort.org Founded in 1955, the ABC is the oldest continuously active early music group in the United States. I am also a member of the Saint John's Recorder Ensemble and several choirs. I have been composing works for these groups for some time with mixed results. They have all performed works of mine. Most of my work is small pieces for the recorder ensemble. Many of these have been performed but are unpublished. Part of my Requiem was performed and recorded a few years ago. This is a piece for organ, piano, flute, violin, cello and choir. I am very fortunate in that I do not have any need to make any profit from my work. I simply do not wish to be involved in the work of copywriting and marketing. I am happier to allow my work to be freely available. I have put a number of my works on imslp.org where they are freely available for download. I get word from time to time that a work of mine is being played in New Zealand or Texas, and this is what I hoped would happen. I am not aware of any composer here with interests like mine, and I have to wonder if this is a place for the type of work I am doing.

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Comments

Chris Dargay October 12, 2009 at 3:35am

And yet I find another amazingly talented individual. Requiem + Adagio are stellar. Thank you!
Martha Maria / Dogwood Daughter October 7, 2009 at 9:30pm

Hi James, thanks for your note. I agree with you completely about varying up things a little bit, in general, especially with instrumental music. That doesn't hold however, in songwriting, especially the Nashville school of songwriting which I follow a lot...you kind of have to keep it simple and repetitive for the average audience....in fact, there are very specific Nashville rules ( all made to be broken, once mastered)
about the 'hook' and the number of repetitions needed to make it 'catchy' to the average, unschooled listening public. With my songs, I'm generally going for that. I've written a few 'art' songs and certainly, they are different. I do know what you mean about being too close to your own work to be objective. This site is very helpful with that. I also have a co-writer in Nashville that I value as an obejective ear for some of my solo work. He was my co-writer for "Roll On Titan Thunder" (you know, Titan football in Nashville.) Dan is a master of the songwriting format, has over a hundred cuts with Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Dionne Warwick, too many to name. It's all about the intended audience. Be well. I think you have a LOT of talent. When did you start playing? Did you play by ear when you were a child? You seem to have natural musical instincits. Martha
Martha Maria / Dogwood Daughter October 6, 2009 at 12:00pm

Hi James, I'm listening to your Easter Hymn variations right now. I reached your page by way of Shad's. Reading your discussion, I see you also have been influenced by early music. I used to play in a little early music band, but have gone digital. I like this minor variation very much. Now, I've moved on to another which is also beautiful. This is VERY good work. This slow one is terrific....has a tragic, solemn sense.....adds a very nice contrast. Speaking of contrast, mixing up the register the melody is played in as well as dynamics might add more interest for the ear. I know these are played on FINALE and I don't know how that works, I don't have any computer equipment, though I keep thinking I will learn. So maybe dynamics are hard to mange with FINALE? This final variation has a very brass sounding motif. I wonder if about a trumpet sound on your organ to carry the final melody? Your first variation sounds a little rushed to me, by the way. Let me conclude by saying you should take all of my comments with a grain of salt....I'm an amateur myself and have an unsophisticated ear. But I think this is a beautiful piece of work. I would like to hear it in a church setting with a real organ. I believe with the grandeur of the organ, it could sound quite magnificent.