Category Archives: Art Music

Compositions for the concert hall and other more classically-oriented performance venues.

Tavala

Just in time for Halloween, here’s some scary monster music. Even scarier than the music itself is the story behind the music: When I arrived at the University of Pittsburgh, I had already spent four years experimenting with a variety of … Continue reading

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Inventions for Orchestra, movt 3

The third movement of Inventions for Orchestra is less subtle than the first two. It’s an all out assault in 10/8 time. While I like the visceral excitement of this final movement and the way it churns through various harmonic regions, it … Continue reading

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Inventions for Orchestra, movt 2

Inventions for Orchestra, movement 2, began its life as a song called “Raining in Pittsburgh.” One day I’ll record that wistful take off on Bruce Cockburn’s “Thoughts on a Rainy Afternoon.” But in this case, its ever ascending chord sequence … Continue reading

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Inventions for Orchestra, movt 1

I’m slowly trying to digitize my collection of cassette recordings. Here is the first fruit: For a long time I’ve been obsessed with M.C. Escher. My question has always been, “what would Escher have created were he a musician?” Well, … Continue reading

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Budapest

Having just returned from two weeks in Ukraine, with flight arrival and departure from Budapest, Hungary, I thought it would be appropriate to post a recording of a composition inspired by my last visit to Budapest. This is a demo … Continue reading

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The Allegro Sessions: Palestrina

Yet another composition about composing, this time I’m asking the question “in the face of so many great composers, should a minor talent like me even bother?” It takes the form of an open letter to the Renaissance master Giovanni Pierluigi … Continue reading

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A Christian’s Farewell, pro recording

A few weeks ago, I posted the video of “A Christian’s Farewell.” I just got the professional recording of the performance at Baylor, and it sounds great. Listen to the MP3 on headphones and you’ll hear the piano, solo, children’s … Continue reading

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The Christian’s Farewell, premiere video

My latest commissioned composition, “The Christian’s Farewell,” was premiered Saturday night in Waco, Texas in the “Southern Harmony” Concert at Baylor University’s Armstrong Browning Library. The musicians did a lovely job! You can see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KDyiU3a3LM. Check out … Continue reading

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The God of Abraham Praise

In December I blogged about an arrangement of mine that we used in this year’s Lessons & Carols service at Church of the Servant. The hymn “The God of Abraham Praise” fits beautifully with the reading about the calling of … Continue reading

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The Christian’s Farewell

My friend Carlos Colón-Quintana was kind enough to commission a new choral work for an upcoming concert at Baylor University. The concert is an interesting mix of children’s choir, fiddle, barbershop quartet, and strings, unified around the theme of William … Continue reading

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