There were SO many great alto entries, and what a joy to listen to them all sing their parts over and over again. (Alto is easily my favorite voice part). I narrowed it down to my favorite 12, then my favorite 6, then my favorite two…... continued
This will be the third of five movements in The City and the Sea, the E.E. Cummings cycle I’m writing for SATB choir and piano. It uses the same ‘oven-mitt’ technique that I’m using in the others, but this time the piano plays... continued
Beautiful sounds from the tenor section with singers representing nearly every continent. (Give it up for Sweden! Argentina! Indonesia!). I think it was because of the distance to NYC, then, that over half of the tenors didn’t apply... continued
My great friend Steven Bryant is documenting his composition process while writing his latest piece, a new ‘Concerto for Wind Ensemble.’ It really is a must-see for aspiring composers and conductors – I can’t ever... continued
The singing throughout the bass section was extraordinary; congratulations to everyone that everyone that posted! Please know that I listened to all of you several times and more than once I was moved to tears by the sheer beauty and... continued
Yep. Just go to the Carnegie Hall online box office to buy tickets, or call (212) 247-7800.
In honor of the occasion, here’s a video that perfectly captures how excited I am:
A few years ago Hila recorded a bunch of solo vocals for the film The Da Vinci Code. We spent a week or so in London while she recorded, and I got the chance to talk quite a bit with Hans Zimmer. He’s incredibly nice, and funny, and very,... continued
The original trio from Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings, with my wife Hila Plitmann singing all three parts. Woo hoo!
So excited to get this one out into the world!
Here’s a peek at the first seven pages:
And here’s a re-post of the premiere:
I can’t tell if this is real or a parody. All I know is that it transcends space and time and makes me genuinely proud to be a band geek.
I’m working hard on the Lux scholarships. SO many good singers!
Got a letter from the American Academy of Arts and Letters today, letting me know that my application for an award has been rejected. THEY INVITED ME TO APPLY and I still lost.
Hungry, baby, that’s what it makes me. Hungry.
Back in the year 2000 (I think) I was commissioned by a consortium of thirty high school bands to write a ‘grade 3’ piece. Band pieces are graded from 1-6, ‘grade 1’ being for beginning bands (think kids just learning their instruments), ‘grade 6’ being serious,... continued
