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.
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.
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
Website:
www.youtube.com/user/music10036?feature=watch
Comments
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
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.
Just listened to Rhapsody in C,. Excellent! You have a wild sense of harmonic motion but none of it seems like it's from left field because it is so well integrated. Very enjoyable, thanks for sharing!
Tom