Studying the Score
It never ceases to amuse me that in preparation for an orchestra rehearsal I have to study my own music. Someone might ask whether it’s B-flat or B-natural, whether the …
Essays and Articles
A Soft Persistence: Composing for Symphony Orchestra
When I began to work on the recent orchestral commission from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, as usual, I began composing by outlining a logical structure and detailed description of the …
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Dissonance in Music
I spent the last few months examining dissonance in music. I cataloged hundreds of harmonies that express bliss, anger, frustration, pain, or indifference. I drew countless diagrams and made a …
AI Music
Right now, artificial intelligence in the field of music is in its infancy, but one day soon, I’m sure, it will catch up. When it reaches the capability to compose …
Provenance
When you hear the words “migration” or “immigration,” what thoughts come to your mind? Is it of adventure, exploration, and discovery, or is it of danger, political conflict, and refuge? …
How Long Did It Take You?
I truly dislike it when people ask, “So, how long did it take you to paint this?”. How should I answer this question? Should I count the time before I …
Instant Gratification
I crave instant gratification as much as the next person. I want minimal effort with maximum rewards. Immediate rewards. I want dopamine, the hormone of accomplishment, opening the floodgates of …