So... what did you do on Memorial Day?

We tried to shave the cat.

Pictures simply won't do it justice.

I feel guilty every time I look at the poor creature, but Nicki swears he's much happier in this summer heat, now that he has less hair...


If you think kitty looked pissed BEFORE the shearing...

correspondence catchup

On Friday morning, I was finally able to catch up on WEEKS worth of emails. I came across a few that I thought I'd share...

This is from Eric Beltran, the director at Nazareth Academy. You can CLICK HERE to read more about this concert... in a nutshell, we performed Chaos Theory and received some mixed responses from the audience:

I just wanted you to know that after you posted that blog, my voice mail at school has been very active...in a good way for once. Many of the calls were from parents who were really appreciative of you coming and of how much they loved Chaos Theory.

What I really appreciate about this email is that parents are taking the time to recognize this director's efforts and good work with this ensemble. Eric is doing a great deal to share his passion and expertise with his students, and to provide them with resources and instruments. I'm very glad to hear he's getting some recognition for that.

This next one was from a band director who has been trying to procure a copy of TranZendental Danse of Joi for MONTHS:

Just wanted to let you know that I contacted Shattinger music, and I should have "JOI" by the end of the week. I don't know what in the world is up with Pepper. I contacted them again a few days ago and they said that they couldn't get it and mentioned something about "James Bond Music Publisher"???

Anyway, the music should be here this week.

I have no idea what I ever did to Mr. J.W. Pepper, but it must've been really, really bad. If I had a nickel for every email I've received, telling me that Mr. Pepper turned them away and told them my music was not available... well, I'd have a lot of nickels. Mr. Pepper deserves a out-behind-the-woodshed-pass-me-a-can-'o'-whupass-four-alarm rant... well, maybe another day. In the meantime, folks -- order your music from Shattinger.

This is from a school who will remain nameless:

XXXXXXXXXX is still interested in procuring your services for a performance next year in XXXXXXXXX. In addition to performing Chaos Theory, Concerto for a Gentleman by Rodrigo with our string orchestra sounds interesting.

WOW -- being offered the opportunity to perform Rodrigo's Concerto for a Gentleman (also known by it's Spanish name Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre)... and yet, I had to turn it down?!?!?

The thing is, it's a 25-minute classical guitar workout, and with work and writing, it would be irresponsible of me to take this on. But man, it KILLED me to have to say no!

This is an excerpt from a musician at Chippewa Falls High School, where Threnody was premiered (CLICK HERE to read more about that concert):

I was on that bus and I was also a first responder. I knew who died before many of their own family members knew. I was awake when we hit and my window was hit from what we think was the tire from the semi. Some of the hardest things for me of the accident was being asked over and over what happened to G and knowing I couldn't tell them he was dead and having to explain to the families of the deceased what exactly happened. Your piece expressed what I have been feeling, thinking and seeing in my mind these past months. For the first time in months I have felt calm, almost at peace. Thank you so much for what you have done for me.

If my work was able to do anything for anyone that day, I am very humbly honored.

what's a ratamacue?

I've always had a severe case of percussion envy -- I have always wanted to rock out on the drums. It's a desire that started in junior high, when I'd carry a pair of drumsticks around in my back pocket -- I didn't have any drums, but I could beat on the bus seats, lockers, my sister, etc.

I've finally accepted that my desire to beat on stuff and call it art is never going to go away, so I'm finally making an effort to do something about it. I've got a new pair of drumsticks, and a practice drum in my studio, and every chance I get, I'm practicing. I'm working on getting my right wrist to loosen up and snap like my left, to play even and relaxed, and not to favor one hand (left) over the other (right). I'm also starting to practice paradiddles, and I figure I'll start working on some more rudiments soon. Mostly I'm learning that I totally suck, but I'm getting better, and actually really enjoying this challenge... I don't think I'll be challenging Montoya to a headcutting session any time soon, but maybe in a few years, who knows...?

Alchemy in Silent Spaces

If you aren't already doing so, you should keep an eye on Steve Bryant's blog -- you can CLICK HERE to check it out. He's been posting on a pretty regular basis lately, and this week is a particularly good time to keep watch -- he's having the orchestral premiere of Alchemy in Silent Spaces at Carnegie Hall, with the Juilliard Orchestra and maestro James DePriest conducting.

If you're completely unaware of this piece of music, you really should do your ears and your soul a favor and take a listen: CLICK HERE to go to the Alchemy webpage. I think it's one of the finest works in the wind orchestra's repertoire... Steve has composed a new second movement for the orchestral version, and judging from the sketch, it is going to be STUNNING.

The premiere should be a very moving experience...

The DaVinci Code

O.K., for starters, I saw this movie this weekend with Nicki and 2 friends, we had all read the book, and all of us liked it.

Let me also say that Hans Zimmer's score is EXCELLENT -- it's simple and never overstated (classic Zimmer), but it's got these really great, subtle compositional moments that are so effective... it creates the perfect atmosphere with the liberal use of the chorale, and the ethereal voice of my dear friend, Hila Plitmann.

I've mentioned Hila before on this blog, and many people know her as Extasis -- the lead role in Eric Whitacre's Paradise Lost. There's a great interview with Hila about her work on The DaVinci Code, that was aired on NPR -- you can listen to if you CLICK HERE. It makes me so happy that more and more people are hearing Hila's extraordinary voice and tremendous musical talent.

(A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to have her sing on one of my demos -- you can CLICK HERE to listen...)

The Vinyl Six

Jonathan Newman has posted excerpts from his new chamber piece, The Vinyl Six, for flute, tenor/soprano sax, electric guitar, piano, violin, and 'cello. I'm not even going to TRY to do justice to the intentions of this no-brow piece of chamber lit, so CLICK HERE and read and listen and peruse the score to your heart's content.

I was fortunate enough to have an advanced peek at this piece while Newman was working on it. He would send me sections of the guitar part and I would just double-check the fingerings and chord-voicings. Newm is a far more educated composer and orchestrator than I am, but guitar is so idiomatic that when you write a part for it, it really helps if you know how to play it... or you know someone who does.

I'm really looking forward to performing this piece -- Newm and I have agreed that when the next opportunity arises, he'll play the piano part and I'll play guitar... and we'll find the other 4 players somewhere...!

On the recording from the premiere, you'll hear Kevin Gallagher playing the guitar part -- a masterful musician, and from all accounts, an excellent guy to work with. You can learn more about him if you CLICK HERE, or you can check out his myspace music page if you CLICK HERE. It's worth taking the time to get to know Kevin's playing -- he's doing brilliant work to bring the color palette of electric guitar into the contemporary art music focus.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

You ever have a musical craving you just can't ignore. I had one this week that wouldn't go away -- I needed some AC-DC. And not just any AC-DC, but the Bon Scott-alley-cat-in-heat-being-chased-by-a-runaway-lawnmower-style AC-DC. And the funny thing is that I don't have ANY of their albums! So today I couldn't stand it any longer -- I headed to the nearest CD store and grabbed Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Highway to Hell, arguably two of the best AC-DC albums of all time... got home, cranked it up, and AHHHHH....

I also realized that this is EXACTLY the kind of music I had in mind when I was writing Sticks & Stones...

the kingdom of wingdom

Tonight my cousin and I went for dinner at my favorite place for Bufffalo Wings in the whole wide world -- YAKZIES, across from Wrigley Field.

As some of you might know, I take my wings very seriously. If you haven't read this testimony, CHECK THIS OUT. If you already have, then go read Steve's blog...

Holy hail-stones, Batman!

CLICK HERE

high points

After weeks and weeks and WEEKS of wild travel, concerts, premieres, and intense deadlines, I'm finding it very difficult to adjust to "normal life". Since I can't seem to get used to it, I thought I'd dwell in the past and share a couple of moments from the past few months that may not have made it into the blog:

Most rock-n-roll moment (onstage) - Rehearsing Chaos Theory at Nazareth Academy -- then after an INTENSE run-through, having the director suggest it could be a little bit LOUDER! YEAH BABY!!!

Most rock-n-roll moment (offstage) - CENSORED

Most educational moment - watching Tom Leslie coach the band at Mountain View -- I learned a TON.

Best performance space (the Steve Bryant award) - Murchison Center for the Performing Arts, on the University of North Texas campus.

Most positive media moment - the review of the Threnody premiere in the Chippewa Herald.

Coolest media moment - seeing my master class on the NBC evening news.

Worst bomb in a media moment - doing a really BAD Marlon Brando/Don Corleone imitation on a "morning zoo" radio show while promoting an upcoming Chaos Theory performance.

Best food (the John Mackey award) - VERY difficult to say, but I'm going to go with the Peanut Butter Silk Pie in Sun Prairie, WI.

Most thoughtful surprise - The directors in Chippewa Falls snuck into our hotel room before we arrived and left flowers for Nicki (and beer for me!).

Warmest, fuzziest surprise - Finding that Jerod and Ursula Tate, Eric Whitacre, and Barry Kardon all made it to the Sticks & Stones premiere! Thanks again guys!

Coolest memento - the Watercolors t-shirt from Huffines Middle School.

Most unique question during a presentation - "How much money do you make?" (from a 6th grader)

Most unique question after a presentation - "Can you get me a job?"

Most commonly-asked question after a presentation - "Can you get me a free copy of Mortal Kombat?" (answer = NO)

Coolest presentation - the guitar master class at Bismarck State College.

Wildest autograph (the Eric Whitacre award) - this was a toughee, but I think it would have to be signing a trombonist's face in Mountain View, CO.

Most unique gift - a custom-made, chain-mail bracelet from a bass clarinetist.

Most auspicious gift - a proclamation from the Mayors of two cities in Texas.

Best first run-through at rehearsal - the first movement of Chaos Theory at Sun Prairie.

Worst stagefright - playing the bass guitar solo on TranZendental Danse of Joi in Colorado... it was my first live performance on bass guitar... and I decided to take a solo?!?

Most emotionally moving premiere - the Threnody premiere in Chippewa Falls, WI.

Most intensely exciting premiere - the Sticks & Stones premiere (with Shilo Stroman on drums) in Mountain View, CO.

Most auspicious premiere (the Newman award) - undoubtedly the Watercolors premiere in Denton, TX.

Best CD/DVD of a performance - I don't know... I haven't received any of them!

Fastest trip - Indiana Purdue University (the second time): set up gear, quick soundcheck, played Chaos Theory, got the check, then broke down the equipment and left... all within 1.5 hours. It was great, but it was FAST!

Worst video game moment - getting absolutely SMOKED by Guitar Hero in Mountain View, CO (but I've been practicing and I'm ready for a rematch!!!)

Worst night's sleep (off the road) - the first night after I started putting notes down on paper for Threnody.

Worst night's sleep (on the road) - the hotel room where the fire alarm battery was going dead (had to rip it off the ceiling) at 2 AM, then the bachelor party returned to the room next to us for a dice game at 3:30 AM, then the jerk who had the room before us had boobytrapped the alarm to go off with a Christian rock station at full blast at 5:20 AM!!!!!!

Most talented student-musician - impossible to say...

Best band - YEAH RIGHT!

Threnody (pt.3)

A reporter from the Chippewa Herald wrote about Threnody, you can read about the concert if you CLICK HERE. Here are some pictures from that day (most taken by Nic):

Speaking to the ensemble before the dress rehearsal...

... a few small notes for the ensemble...

... dress rehearsal continues...

... Dr. Richard Mark Heidel, conducting...

... director Brian Collicott speaks to the audience...

... directors, Bryan Jaeckl (left) and Andrei Strizek (right) with the Chi-Hi band

... introducing Threnody...

... Bryan Jaeckl, Dr. Heidel, Jim, and Andrei Strizek.

Threnody (pt.2)

This is what I said before the Threnody premiere at Chippewa Falls High School on Saturday. It is times like this that I wish I were Yeats or Kipling -- able to shape terse phrases into a poignant, insightful anecdote that would set the mood perfectly for the music the audience was about to hear. But I know this performance was not about me, or this new piece -- it was all about those 5 friends and loved ones for whom this piece, and this concert, was dedicated to.

It is the following morning, and I am in a Best Western in Mauston, Wisconsin -- halfway between Chippewa Falls and Chicago. Nicki is still sleeping, and I still wish I was Yeats or Kipling, so I could describe what an intensely powerful experience it was to be part of that audience. This was not a band concert in a high school gymnasium -- it was a congregation of a community, so genuinely open to expressing their love for the gift of life, their gratitude for what others had brought into their lives, and the joy of music which they could all share in.

It is worth taking a moment to say that the music-making was really quite extraordinary, and a tribute to the directors and educators involved in the music programs up there. Some of the performances were a tribute, some were a lamentation. Some were a celebration of life, and some provided a moment's pause. But they were all tight, well-rehearsed, and bursting with musical expression.

It is difficult to say what was most moving to witness. Throughout the concert, you could look around the room and see audience members weeping openly. Most of the alumni choked back tears, and struggled to finish their speeches. You could also see musicians fighting to hold it together so they could continue to perform.

There was a moment when we were asked to recognize the first-responders -- the paramedics, firemen, police, and emergency evac pilots who'd been there to save the victims of that accident -- and when the 15-20 people in uniform stood, the audience overflowed with gratitude. I am moved even now as I remember the faces of those people who, in the course of "just doing their job" that night, were able to provide aid at that critical moment, and make such a difference in so many lives.

Perhaps the most amazing display of composure, character and dignity was demonstrated by Brian Collicott, one of the directors at Chi-Hi, who is still in the process of recovering from his injuries. He moved to the microphone confidently, and without the slightest indication of the pain or stiffness he was undoubtedly experiencing. Rather than preparing a speech, he spoke plainly, sharing his memories about each person, and referring to them by their first names, just as he had known them. There was never an awkward pause or moment of inarticulation in his speech, and I had a sense of the deep well of courage and personal strength -- the kind that comes from surviving and overcoming such terrible injury, and such tragic loss -- that Brian expressed for everyone in the room.

There were the moments Nicki and I were able to share individually with the musicians and family members. Even meeting them for the first time, I could immediately see what they had been through. For some, it was the scars on their faces, or explanations of the surgeries and treatments they were still undergoing. In many more, you could see it very plainly in their eyes, and hear it in the stories they chose to share with me.

And for a few, it was still pain beyond words, beyond expression, beyond anything that anyone could do for them. In these few instances, we just gave them hugs. I'm honestly not sure whether the hugs were for them, or for us... but that was all we could possibly offer them in that moment.

I regret not being able to spend more time with a few people who I'd become acquainted with before the concert. I was hoping to meet Courtney, who had been thoughtful enough to email me while I was still finishing the piece. I would have liked to have a little more time with Bill, a BCM forumite who came up from Nashville for this performance (and I am SO SORRY I couldn't remember your name! I had so much on my mind... ). I wanted to meet Tom Arneberg, who had put a great deal of work into creating a website to memorialize and update everyone on the accident -- I read EVERYTHING on that site, looked at every picture, and went to just about every single link. I was really hoping to personally thank Brady Nyhus for writing his account of the accident, which I read countless times, and gave me the best sense of what it was like.

I want to thank Bryan Jaeckl for contacting me to create this piece, and spearheading the commission consortium. I want to thank Andrei Strizek and Brian Collicott for being such gracious hosts at Chi-Hi. I want to thank Dr. Richard Mark Heidel for conducting such a sensitive and compelling performance of Threnody, and the wind ensemble from University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire and seniors from Chi-Hi for playing it so beautifully. And more than anything, I want to thank the entire community of Chippewa Falls for including me in this incredibly powerful, life-affirming event.

Threnody (pt.1)

"I want to thank you for welcoming me into your community for this performance, this afternoon. I am grateful for the opportunity you have given me to share this music -- it is very rare that I am asked to write about an event I feel so profoundly moved by.

And yet -- while I have tried to be as open and empathic as possible during my creative process, and I have tried my best to comprehend the significance of October 16th in your lives, I have never fooled myself into thinking that I really know you. I don't really know what you have been through, and I don't really know your experience. I don't know if this is a chapter of your life that is still open, or if this chapter has already been brought to a close.

But this is bigger than this performance, this afternoon. This music will endure, and will be performed in many other towns and cities all over the world, for many, many years. Some will grasp it's significance, and some may not -- but at the top of every score, and every part, it will always read:

IN MEMORY OF BRANDEN ATHERTON, DOUG GREENHALGH, THERESE GREENHALGH, MORGAN GREENHALGH, AND PAUL RASMUS

I thank you for being here, and for allowing me to be here with you."

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Welcome to Wisconsin

Greetings from Chippewa Falls! We're up here for the premiere of the new piece, which is this weekend. For those who don't know, I should bring you up to date on the title:

THRENODY

A threnody is defined as "A poem or song of mourning or lamentation". I like the simplicity and purity of this title -- it allows the music to speak for itself. The piece is very, very simple, but I think it is effective. I'm really looking forward to hearing this for the first time, and I'll tell you more about the trip on Monday.

Undoubtedly Chaos

Last night's Chaos Theory performance at Nazareth Academy seems to have drawn quite a response from the audience.

First off, the musicians gave it everything they had -- the director, Eric Beltran, totally GETS this piece, and he does not shy away from a fortississimo! I don't have any official way to measure it, but I think that last night's performance of Chaos Theory WAS the LOUDEST performance yet. And I think that they really enjoyed playing the piece...

There were quite a few audience members who came up afterwards and were very complimentary of the music and the performance... but there were also quite a few who walked out. Was it too loud? Were they upset? Angered? Scared? Disgusted? I've also heard unconfirmed rumors that there were some pretty irate parents... and another rumor that some people thought that Chaos Theory was "the devil's music".

I would encourage anyone who was at this performance and didn't approve of the piece to please contact me at jimbonney@aol.com, or here on the blog. I would be very interested to hear from you -- I promise you I will be respectful of your thoughts, and thoughtful in my responses.

I want to thank Eric Beltran and the musicians at Nazareth Academy for playing TranZendental Danse of Joi, Courage & Compassion, and Chaos Theory with such heart and conviction, and thank them for allowing me the chance to perform with them.

Chaos @ Nazareth (& E3 @ LA)

Tonight the concert band at Nazareth Academy will be performing no less than THREE of my pieces: TranZendental Danse of Joi, Courage & Compassion, and Chaos Theory -- all under the baton of Eric Beltran. We had rehearsal yesterday, and here's a photo of me and a few members of the ensemble:

We didn't have a lot of time to rehearse (regrettably unavoidable, but my fault nonetheless), but the band had their part down cold and I was able to drop right in -- the whole piece went together in about 20 minutes! The concert is actually in a church, and it has this huge, booming-long reverb -- and the band is playing with more intensity than I've heard in a while. This may end up being the LOUDEST performance of Chaos Theory EVER! Check in tomorrow and I should have more news about the concert...

On another note, I received this picture from Los Angeles earlier in the week:

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon has arrived at E3... yeah baby!

mmm...PING! mmm...PING!

The events these days are coming up so fast, it's becoming a total blur...

One of the unique things about the Chippewa Falls piece is that it features crystal glasses -- they're played by rubbing the rim of the glass, and they're all tuned to the same note. My original intention was to have (almost) the entire ensemble playing these glasses at the end of the piece... but that may not be musically appropriate. I'm leaving it up to the directors in Chippewa Falls to do what they think works best, and I will be very curious to see what they decide.

But I wanted to tell you about the search for these "perfectly pitched" glasses, because I thought it was a pretty good story.

Nicki and I woke up early one Saturday morning, and set out, tuning fork in-hand, to find THE GLASSES. I was sure it was going to be difficult to find the exact pitch I wanted, seeing as all the glasses in our house had turned out to be a C#, or a quasi-E-flat... we figured this could take all day. We started our search at CB2 -- they sell everything from furniture to kitchenware. It wasn't the closest place to our house, and neither one of us had ever been in there before, but I just had this strong feeling that this was a good place to start the search. I walked in, turned immediately right, and saw a stack of these:

I have no idea why I gravitated to these glasses -- there were at least 9 other kinds nearby, but I immediately grabbed one of these. I had experimented at home, and discovered that the glasses resonate at the same pitch when rubbed or pinged, so I whacked my tuning fork, held it to my ear, hummed the note, and pinged the edge of the glass with my finger -- PING!

It was EXACTLY THE RIGHT PITCH!

I couldn't believe it -- the first glass I tried, in the first store that we went to... AND THEY WERE ON SALE!?! That's kismet!

The only question was, there were only about 12 on display, and I wanted enough for the entire band.

I walked up to the register, and nervously asked the cashier how many of these they had in the store. A quick check of the computer... they had 237 in the back, and 973 more at the warehouse. I laughed out loud at my great good luck. I told her I needed 80 of them -- box 'em up, I'll come back and pick them up tomorrow -- mission accomplished!

I came back the next day, found the same clerk. She'd already set the glasses aside in the back, and while she's ringing me up, I'm making small talk -- y'know, telling her what I'm buying so many glasses for... a manager overhears us and asks,

"Have you checked to make sure they're all the same pitch? They're hand-blown, you know."

I pull one out of the box, whack my tuning fork, hum the note, and ping the glass with my finger -- BONG.

Wrong note.

I mean it's NOT EVEN CLOSE.

This was not good.

I find a semi-quiet spot in the store (damn that techno-muzak!), and start pinging more of the glasses. Some are close, a few are dead-on, but most of them are WAY OFF. Clerks are bringing me shopping carts FULL of wine glasses, and I'm separating them into these three different piles with this elaborate ritual -- whack the tuning fork, hum the note (over the muzak), ping the glass... when I've gone through all 237 blue ones, I start trying the clear ones...

Other shoppers are walking by me, seeing literally HUNDREDS of wine glasses in shopping carts all around me, and I'm whacking and humming and pinging and whacking and humming and pinging and whacking and humming and pinging and they're trying not to stare at this long-haired man in a leather jacket and a bandana on his head who keeps whacking and humming and pinging all these glasses but to the ones who I DO catch staring at me I shout:

"Stick around -- I'm going to try out the couches next!"

After pinging literally hundreds of glasses -- every single one that was this size that they had in the store -- I found 33 that were on pitch, or just sharp (FYI: glasses go lower in pitch when you add liquid to them, but they don't go down very far). And I managed to only break 2 during the whole process. I thanked the manager and the clerks not only for their patience and assistance, but also for not letting me walk out the door with a bunch of un-tuned glasses!

And even though 33 glasses probably won't cover every member of the ensemble, that may still be overkill. I had dinner with Eric last night, and when I told him about the 33 glasses, he thought that might be louder than the entire band! As I said, I'm leaving it to the discretion of the conductors in Chippewa Falls. So we'll see how many they end up using...

WATERCOLORS PREMIERE

(if you have a slow connection, be patient! There are a LOT of photos in this one!)

Saturday was the big day -- starting with the honor band rehearsal at 9:00 AM. More than EIGHTY of the best musicians from Huffines, Lamar, Durham, and McKamy Middle schools were here...

Alan Hanna warmed up the band, and got everyone's blood going with a runthrough of Echoes of Sun and Ice...

These students were not used to playing together, but all the best ingredients make for some excellent results...

The trumpets and horns were excellent -- great blend within their sections, and they balanced with the ensemble perfectly. (Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the trombones, but they were AMAZING during Echoes...!)

Bryan Edwards conducted a very moving version of Moon over Twilight Lake...

Kathy Johnson and I discuss Raindrops Hang on a Spider's Web, which she was conducting during rehearsal and at the performance that evening...

Dr. Danna Rothlisberger conducted Cast Adrift on a Stormy Sea -- this piece needed a little tweakage, but Dr. R and the entire band took on these changes with no fuss at all, and once everything was explained, no one ever slipped up and forgot about what we'd changed...

And Asa Burk conducted Reflections in a Tidal Pool. His interpretation and the band's responsiveness made for some stunningly beautiful music-making. By the end of the rehearsal, there was no question in my mind that this was going to be a beautiful premiere...

But I had no idea how beautiful it would be -- I still hadn't seen the performance space. Murchison Center for the Performing Arts is an AMAZING hall -- not only is it absolutely gorgeous, but it sounds great too. You can hear EVERYTHING, and there was a wonderful, warm reverb that filled out the sound of the ensemble. I want every premiere of every piece I write to be performed here. I want my children to be born and raised here. I want to be BURIED here! Here's a shot I took during the soundcheck...

I managed to sneak into the balconies and took this one...

And here's one from the choir loft behind the stage...

(l. to r.)Asa Burk, Bryan Edwards, me, Kathy Johnson, Dr. Danna Rothlisberger, and Alan Hanna...

The musicians played very, very well, and concert was very well received. If having a successful premiere in an amazing hall wasn't enough of an honor, the mayors of Flower Mound and Lewisville signed this proclamation for my work on WATERCOLORS...

The audience and the ensemble were very complimentary, and I shook a lot of hands and signed a lot of autographs. I got a little carried away, and even ended up signing this tortilla at the Mexican restaurant we went to after the concert!

A very special thanks to Asa Burk, Alan Hanna, Kathy Johnson, Bryan Edwards, Dr. Danna Rothlisberger, and all the students at Huffines, Lamar, Durham, and McKamy Middle schools -- THANKS FOR HOSTING SUCH AN EXCELLENT VISIT, AND PERFORMING SUCH A WONDERFUL PREMIERE!!!

Lewisville, Texas (part 3)

Today started late -- woke up early, but I laid around in bed for a looong time. I watched Hidalgo. I answered emails, checked myspace, sent out tweaks to the Chippewa Falls piece, sent out tweaks to WATERCOLORS...

Then I headed over to McKamy Middle School (didn't get lost!) to meet up with Kathy Johnson. It turns out this presentation wasn't for a handful of students (like Durham), or one band at a time (like Huffines) -- it was for ALL the bands at once! That's 300 students!!! I'm used to having a guitar between me and the audience, or at least I turn my back to them (when I'm conducting), so just TALKING to a group this big was pretty wild... but the students were actually really great, and I think it went OK. Afterwards, Kathy and I had a chance to talk about the music. I was particularly interested in her opinions on the movement Raindrops Hang on a Spider's Web -- she'll be conducting it on Saturday night at the premiere.

Lewisville, Texas (part 2)

Hey, no pictures today, but it was quite the day:

It started out at a rehearsal with the top band at Lamar Middle School -- Alan Hanna is the director there, and will be conducting Echoes of Sun and Ice at the Saturday evening performance of WATERCOLORS. As fate would have it (fate usually does!), I got lost on the way there, but managed to make it in time to hear them rehearse two of the sketches -- Echoes..., as well as Moon over Twilight Lake.

(At this point, I should mention that I've never heard anything like these Texas bands -- if they're not flawless, they're really, really close! It was the same thing at Huffines with Asa Burk -- these ensembles hone their performances to a razor-sharp point. It's really something to witness middle school musicians playing with intonation and rhythmic precision that would rival many college-level bands!)

It was really, really great to be at this rehearsal -- the band already played with such clarity and precision that I could easily tell what these pieces were going to sound like once they were performance-ready, and things I was concerned about (in my writing) that I'd heard at Huffines the day before were confirmed at Lamar. It was also great to be able to talk to Alan (and Asa the day before) about the music -- their suggestions and opinions help me improve my craft, as well as improve the music.

Fortunately, the music is very, very close, but Alan was agreeable to try some things out to see if they'd work better if orchestrated differently.

After a delicious lunch of BBQ from Red Hot and Blue, I headed over to Durham Middle School for a presentation for their students. I managed to make it on time, but I did get lost again. After the presentation the director, Brian Edwards, had time to talk about the music, so I picked his brain for thoughts about various ideas I'd had to change the orchestration. Brian will be conducting Moon over Twilight Lake, and the biggest changes (well, not that big, but still...) are in that piece, so I was glad to have a chance to see if he thought these were reasonable switches to make before the Saturday concert. He seemed agreeable to it, so be warned Trombones -- you've got some new parts coming!

I headed back to my hotel (got lost again) for a little practice time (gotta be ready for the Chaos Theory performance next week at Nazareth!), check my email and myspace, and grab a bite to eat.... then headed back out to Flower Mound High School (did NOT get lost this time!), where Alan and the top Lamar Middle School ensemble were having a short concert. The band sounded amazing, most particularly on Spiritual, by Don Gillis. It is a beautiful piece of music, and the musicians played flawlessly. After the concert, the audience was asked to leave, so the band could run through Echoes... and Moon.... We tried a few quick changes, but ended up going back to what I had originally written.

Headed back to the hotel (umm... yeah, lost again)... practiced some more, talked to Nicki, and eventually hit the sack... tomorrow is another day!

Lewisville, Texas (part 1)

Today was my first day in Lewisville, Texas -- where they will be premiering my new collection of pieces for concert band, WATERCOLORS. I started at Huffines Middle School, and I talked mostly about what I do as a composer for video games, TV, and films...

Afterwards, I signed a lot of notebooks, t-shirts (specially made for this concert), and a few arms...

I talked to 3 of the bands at Huffines -- this was the top ensemble there, and quite a few of the students are part of the honor band that will be performing all 5 sketches of WATERCOLORS on Saturday night...

I also had a chance to meet my evil twin, sax player and bass guitarist, Aaron...

Later, I headed over to Lamar Middle School, to talk to the students there. Here we are watching a video clip example of my work. Note: the trophies lining the top of the cabinets in the room -- those are for MUSIC. This concept still blows my mind.

Another shot of the students at Lamar...

My thanks to Asa Burk and Alan Hanna for putting on such a great day!

Mortal Exhaustion

It's been some long days lately at El Casa Del Midway... 15 hours on Sunday... 11 hours today... but Mortal Kombat has made it around the bend and is making it's way down the home stretch for E3. Tonight I did what is supposed to be the last delivery of sounds for the game -- I played it for a few hours today and I have to say, it's sounding pretty dang good. Which is a very good thing, considering tomorrow afternoon I get on a plane and fly to Texas for the premiere of WATERCOLORS... I'll be sure to keep you posted on all that.

(more stories about the Chippewa Falls piece soon... tonight I've just got to chill out!)