Last Concert of Readings Today

We had a great few weeks and it all ended today. The following are some pictures from our final concert and final meeting!







A few thanks:

Thanks to:
Groundswell for sponsoring the event.
Victoria Sparks and Cathy Wood for performing our pieces with only 24 hours before the concert of readings.
Ilkim Togur and Luke Nickel for being composers and allowing themselves to be under intense composition pressure for two weeks.
Jerry Semchyshyn for arranging our facilities at Tec Voc, for recording the concerts, and for meeting us at Tec Voc to let us in!
All the people who came to both concerts!

Stay tuned to this blog as I will slowly be posting video from the two weeks!

We handed our Pieces in today

The following are pictures of us handing our pieces to Clarinetist Cathy Wood. The Pieces were due at 12:00 today.







Cathy will be practicing like crazy! Then at 1:00 tomorrow (Friday August 13) there will be a short Concert of Readings!

All are welcome. The concert will take place in the Performing Arts Area of Tec Voc High School - 1555 Wall Street. The Performing Arts area is at the South End of the Parking lot.

Photos from the Masterclass - Aug 11

So here are the pictures from the Masterclass:


Cathy and Luke (Ilkim is watching!)




Cathy and Me!




Ilkim and Cathy

So...done...for now anyways

I think the second week is simply harder...I'm tired.

I was hoping to create an entire final sections for today, but there was a lot of little editing, and I'm not sure about the flow of the entire piece. So I did a lot of tweeking and decided not to add anymore.

I'm happy with parts of it. I simply feel that I need a lot more time to think about it. It feels a little too random...but maybe that's okay?

I have about 3 minutes, maybe slightly less...but I'm done for now.

Looking forward to the concert of readings tomorrow.

1 min 12 sec.

Well... I'm really pleased with what I have, it's just far too short. I still have about 4 hours to expand it, but honestly no idea if I'll have something "done" done. I guess at this point I'll just have to submit what I have and hope it's good! Rather submit less but quality than more quantity that's not as good...

L

Great Masterclass today...

So we had a great masterclass today...(pictures to follow)

Now I am trying to make a bunch of changes...I think my problems are that I have too many ideas and so my "quick" pieces don't flow nicely...they are choppy and without direction.

I'm running out of steam and so I'm going to bed now. And I hope to have more creative energy in the morning. I think I could go with what I have...and I may do that.

Until tomorrow...

back in business...

....well.... I have something.

I'm trying to make it grow grow grow, mutate, explode, spiral out of control... take it to the extremes.

I have 4 hours.

Time to work work work.

Done for the night

So I'm slowing way down and I have enough for tomorrow...but I still want to get up early and complete one more section...Plus I still have to transpose everything as well!

So the following are pictures of the score with it's windows!


Here's one showing the window:




This shows how the music behind shows through...



I'm not happy with it yet...but I still have time!

Until tomorrow...

Paul Klee

Inspiration...

....like Karen, i haven't written even one note today.

...OK, I lied, I wrote one quintuplet and then one septuplet and decided both had no point.

I'm working on a larger project for saxophone and piano, so I figure this is a perfect time to explore the soft, and the "boppy" (leapy) style I'll need to be writing in.

I've been fascinated by the artist Tomokazu Matsuyama (as in, spend hours and hours looking at his art)... and came out particularly inspired by one image of his, apparently in a series about the "Kirin". The Kirin is the chinese Unicorn.... at once supposed to bring good luck and terrify people who are offending the subject of said luck. Gross simplification.

I want to write a piece using the moods/styles of the artist/painting. I figure the Clarinet piece can just be "Kirin Sketches" and I'll move from there into sax and piano.

...problem being... I just can't seem to compose right now!

Windows...and no NOT the PC kind...the house kind

So I've decided to be a little more thoughtful about my process this week, instead of trying to get notes down as fast as possible (which is what I did last week). For years I've been thinking about creating a solo flute piece that is revealed through windows. So, I thought that I'd switch the instrument and try it with solo clarinet. And maybe this could turn into a series of solo pieces that play with the idea of windows...A good way to explore a number of different instruments. Maybe I'll see how this one goes first...

Maybe I am stalling, or procrastinating, by thinking big instead of using this time to actually put notes on paper! GAH!

The different part about this piece is that I want the score to have holes in it that creates windows onto the next page...which is a tricky thing. I may be hand-writing this score, something I haven't done in years...

So after doing an image search on google I found the perfect picture to get my creativity working...(and to avoid that blank page!)

Here's what I'm working with:



Frank Gehry's Dancing House windows by http://www.mounirzok.com

I really like the curvy lines that weave around and through the windows. And there are so many possibilities for interpretation and inspiration.

And so this is what I've been doing all afternoon with graph paper and an exacto knife:



And I have yet to write one note...(sigh)

Project 2 / Day 1

Yippee...I have one minute long introduction already. Now I need to rest a little bit...

The interesting duality of being a composer...

Sometimes, oftentimes, we exist outside the world of being composers. We finish a piece, rediscover that fresh air and relationships and other interests exist, and before we know it, we forget that we were composers in the first place. Then, some big ugly commission or contest or (god forbid!) inspirational moment comes and hits us on the head and we are left suddenly sitting in front of a blank piece of paper once again.

It's kind of like being subject to a highly irrational interrogation by a police detective, or some special crime scene investigator. Someone keeps asking you why you did it, what you did, and the fact is, you're actually not that person at all. You can only scratch your head and keep saying "I didn't do it! I don't know how it happened", with them getting continually more frustrated. (Think of this as the dialogue between your rational mind - the interrogator, and your composer mind - the interogatee).

Or, better yet, think of suddenly finding yourself in your everyday job, except it's not actually YOUR job, but your neighbour's. Suddenly you're in a law office, and told that yes, your last case was absolutely exceptionally handled, now, please can you handle the next one just as well?

Perhaps the best thing we can do as composers is to continue; the more we do so, the less we forget in between. Do we ever reach a point at which transitioning from piece to piece is as seemless as we imagine it be? Do we ever have the luxury of feeling like a real artist from the first moment to the last, or - heavin forbid - in between periods of creation? Or is it simply the act of creating that forms us as artists? Do we have to learn each time we begin at a blank page how to be a creator again, and once our piece leaves us enter back into the world of the living?

(open ended questions. answers from anyone appreciated.)

Week 2 - Project 2

So the composing begins again.

Jerry, Luke and Ilkim, before they know what the project is:




Here is Project 2:

Compose a clarinet piece for Cathy Wood.

The clarinets we can choose from: B-flat clarinet, A Clarinet and Eb Clarinet.

Schedule for the remaining week:

Wednesday August 11
1:00 – Masterclass with Cathy Wood – Bring you sketches for Cathy to go over and play through. We will all be present for this to learn as much as possible from her and from each other.
After the masterclass we will be doing short video interviews.

Thursday August 12
12:00 – Piece Due at Tec Voc…Hand a paper copy to Cathy at this time
Again, be ready for a short interview.

Friday August 13
1:00 – Concert of Readings of Completed Pieces (to be recorded as well)
After Concert – all composers and performers fill out evaluations and rank all composers…


Luke, Ilkim and Cathy, talking about the clarinet:

Concert completed!

The Concert of Readings went really well!

It was great to hear the pieces. We had a nice sized audience as well - Friends and family of the composers and performer!

We took video and audio and I am hoping to post some video over the next few days!

Here are a few pictures I took of the event:

Pieces completed and given to Victoria

I was so exhausted and frazzled yesterday after finishing my piece, that I didn't get around to posting again!

We all handed our pieces to Victoria and here are a few pictures of us at around 12:

Ilkim and Victoria:




Victoria and I:




If you have the time, come to the concert of readings today at 1:00pm at Tec Voc (It's in the Performing Arts Area - Right at the South end of the parking lot)

Ahhhhhhhh

11:25 and I have to go...my piece is done, however I just found out that we may not have the gong that I just wrote for...hmmm. And I really wish I had more time to edit...however I simply have to go now.

I really work better in the morning...

but time is ticking. My piece is due today at 12 (which means I have to be completely done at 10:30 or 11 so that I have time to get ready and then drive over to Tec Voc). I'm feeling refreshed and ready to get the last details completed...

Let see what I can do!

Hit the wall...

.... so, so tired.

Somehow I forgot how much work "finishing" a piece is... even though I only have 2 miniatures to go, I forgot that I have detailed performance notes, concept work, poetry to edit, cover page etc. etc. etc. ...

....urk.

....and I just really want to go to bed! and yet, I can't, because if I do I won't have time to buy the spinning top/glass beads/oh crap!

Pressure, Pressure

Okay, so now is when the going is getting tough. I'm determined to fix my piece and I'm purging so much that there is very little left. And I'm really tired now. I now like the first minute and that is all! The final copy is due tomorrow at 12 and all I want to do is read and go to bed! Ah...

Whoo!

Well, today's masterclass went excellently. The one focal idea for my piece, the image/sound of a spinning top on top of the snare drum, works perfectly. The miniatures seem interesting, and I don't have a whole lot of editing to do on the existing three... so only 2 to go, editing some poems a friend provided for me, and making a pretty little score :) ...!

....now, too bad I can't really begin working until 10:30 PM tonight!

OOPS!

Great Masterclass Today!

So today Victoria Sparks read sketches of our pieces. It was a really great class. Our pieces are all so different and I am learning a lot already!

Here are a few photos:

Jerry, Luke and Ilkim listening...




Getting a closer look at the score and what Victoria is playing...




Ilkim and Victoria




Luke

Up n' at em'

Alright... well, after working on other business for a few hours, it's back to the grindstone. In the next few hours I need to find a spinning top (anyone have one that spins for circa 30 seconds they want to bring?!) and some beads. And string. And it's raining, meaning I'm gonna be one soggy sonofagun when I arrive!

A little insight...

for the competition I've decided to do miniatures. Why? Well, I'm fascinated by miniatures, and I want to see what complex emotions I can evoke in 30 second chunks. So far, I'm basing each on some idea of dreaming, and running with that. You'll see full details on friday I guess! All I can say is that they're more bizarre than most things I write, and the score looks more like a script ;)

signing off to keep at er'

L

Up and Composing again

I'm hoping that after a decent sleep my composing will go faster...we'll see... but I wanted to be up much earlier. Oh well.

I'm done for the day...

So this is a little crazier than I thought...but maybe fun?

This is me now...with my Iced tea and my composition sketch notes:



When composing I often struggle with combining different sounds. Right now it seems like my main instrument, the vibraphone, doesn't want to share the spotlight.

I often divide my piece into smaller sections, partially so that there is always a little goal on the way to the bigger goal. But then I get this really choppy and divided texture, especially when I switch instruments...hmmm. Ongoing problem for me. It takes me awhile to work through this issue, and often it's the 5 or 6th edit that fixes it. So with only a day to write a first copy (or a sketch) of a piece, I don't have time for 6 edits! I'm feeling exposed!

I'm losing concentration now, so I'm going to quit for the night and get up early tomorrow to attempt the final section. I do have a fair amount on paper, but it's too choppy! (Like my writing right now as well!)

Bye for now!

Procrastination Station...

things are coming along... slowly... unfortunately I'm also engaging in my favourite procrastination activity: baking!

In other news - who knows if it's safe to drop plastic beads on a vibraphone?

L

Inspiration Board!

Just thought I'd post a little something something about what's inspiring my piece at the moment (liable to change!)

The Composers

Introducing the Composers:

Ilkim Tongur



Luke Nickel



Karen Sunabacka



Jerry Semchyshyn

Project 1: To begin at 10am this morning!

So today we begin composing under pressure, a "composition slam" as a friend of mine is calling it!
The following is our first project and the schedule for the rest of the week:

Week 1 - Project # 1 – Compose a percussion piece for Victoria Sparks using the following base set-up:

vibes
snare drum
sus cymbal
hand drums (2-3 probably a conga and a pair of bongos)

This base set-up can be altered mildly for each composer…who can choose from the following:

gong,
more cymbals
glock
hand percussion (tambourines, triangles, castanets, guiro, wood block)

a few less traditional things:
small brake drums,
a few clay flower pots,

Victoria Sparks is open to other 'found objects' as the composers would like, but if you want something odd that isn't provided she will likely enlist your help in finding it!

Schedule for the remaining week:

Wednesday August 4
1:00 – Masterclass with Victoria Sparks – Bring you sketches for Victoria to go over and play through. We will all be present for this to learn as much as possible from her and from each other.

After the masterclass we will be doing short video interviews.

Thursday August 5
12:00 – Piece Due at Tec Voc…Hand a paper copy to Karen at this time
Again, be ready for a short interview.

Friday August 6
1:00 – Concert of Readings of Completed Pieces (to be recorded as well)
After Concert – all composers and performers fill out evaluations and rank all composers…