arrange • compose • conduct
I wrote for an hour today and then threw it all away. Was it a waste of an hour? It’s easy to say yes, because I finished the hour precisely NO closer to completing the project. And I’d be lying if I didn’t walk away from that precious hour a […]
I have been writing and rewriting a challenging bridge section of a piece. (It’s always the bridge, isn’t it?) For these challenging sections, it’s all about multiple drafts for me. I write, I print, I markup with a colored Flair Pen. I revise, I edit, I start again. It’s hard […]
I’ve been thinking a lot about what sorts of musical characteristics will be effective in arrangements and compositions written for virtual choirs. Here are a few I’ve settled on: Guided aleatoric writing. A freely sung section lessens the burden on lonely singers to master tricky rhythmic timing. Great voice leading. […]
Don’t write it down until it’s the same three times. I learned this rule from others, especially Alice Parker, who has written with her usual clarity about her process in her books. As I’m writing, I’m constantly singing (shakily) and playing (barely passably) whatever I’m working on. And until it […]
I am so gratified to be able to announce results in the first ever Composition Competition from the Michigan Choral Composition Competition. We welcomed submissions from women composers and had fourteen entries in our no-entry-fee competition. There were two tiers of competition, for Established and Emerging composers, with cash prizes […]
The Michigan Choral Commission Consortium has been a labor of love for me for four years – during which time we have commissioned nearly 10 new choral works from a remarkable and diverse group of American composers. When the Stay-at-Home order hit in Michigan, I offered my services for one […]
Here are five questions I ask myself before I start an arrangement: In as much detail as I can determine, who will be performing the piece? In as much detail as I can determine, who will be listening to the piece? (Is the audience fluent in the style of music, […]
I played a new little arrangement for dear friends tonight, and it included a tasty reharmonization that arrived once in each verse. My brilliant musician friend reminded me, don’t overuse the good stuff. As he said, overusing a powerful move can dilute its power. The surprise of a reharmonization is […]
How do you end without an ending? Musicians are well accustomed to clear endings. Whether it’s the exuberantly repetitive final cadence in a classical symphony, a wailing 13(#11) chord for a big band, or the Plagal Amen at the end of a hymn, we pay a lot of attention to […]
In times of upheaval, I lean on touchstones–works of art that have shaped me and the continue to be sources of inspiration, influence, and solace. It might be rereading a favorite novel, a cherished poem, a movie, or (especially often) a favorite album with a good pair of headphones. How […]