My music bio is here.
The mp3's here are mostly realized with sound samples through MIDI, but good quality samples. When I get some live recordings, I'll happily post those.
Some other renditions are done on my tireless and uncomplaining performer, my Yamaha S80 Synthesizer. If I hit the big time or people start to perform my works, I'll post non virtual recordings.
Music for brass quintet.
Sorta tritone-ie, sorta clustery, sorta fun with suspended chords, definitely a herald...
Fun, little dance. Named after David Hammond's fun, little dancing girl, Dasha!
Contemplative, somewhat minimal. Pondering the Universe on your walk to school. Named after David Hammond's daughter, Kathryn.
Music for a large ensemble of symphonic musicians
Prelude to "Tracey and the Vampire" for the 2006 Tracey Lullaby
The 2006 Tracey Lullaby, "Tracey and the Vampire" with narration by Hunter Lee Brown.
Presented to Tracey for Valentine's Day 2006.
I developed the ideas, story and music after reading Anne Rice's Vampire books. But mostly it's all Peter and the Wolf.
Probably the best of the "Exhibition" pieces. Uses piano solo, electric pick bass, and depicts the sights, sounds and hectic nature of an urban scene as depicted in the modernist, expressionist painting from the contest guidlines.
Cheesy depiction of a very Romantic painting of the Grand Canal in Venice Italy.
The Tracey Lullaby theme, ala a big symphonic romp with piano runs, introspective middle, and a big Hollywood finish.
Tchaikovsky style symphonic waltz version (with harp and celeste of course!) of the now immortal, Tracey Lullaby theme!
The piano piece "Resevoir Reverie", but slightly modified, arranged, and realized by the Vienna Symphonic String sound samples.
a middle-ish movement for a string section. unfinished...
another middle-ish movement for strings. This time, done in all pizzicato.
Same as Relentless piece for Piano, but set for String Orchestra with added contrabass on major beats and viola 16th obligato to make the piece sound more urgent, tense.
A little bit of whimsical fun wth my synthesizer... reminds me of something fun from the 1980s.
Fun with my eastern music samples
Fun with my eastern instrument sound samples
First piece for Guitar, as I'm learning the instrument and took a year's worth of lessons.
My first work for four voice SATB (and it kinda shows.... not very adventurous.)
The text is "If music be the food of love"
by Colonel Henry Hevninghman, with the first line from Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night. Purcell set it for solo voice a few times. If not a superior interpretation of the text, this for
me was still a fun attempt at writing coherent music for voices. Not being very oriented or drawn toward prose and lyrics , I find writing music for singing and words a challenge. Hopefully, however, I'll get back to some better SATB writing. (Realized by my Yamaha s80 Synthesizer... leaves somewhat to be desired for voice sounds.)
Written for Tracey's Birthday. For her weekly walks around the Lafayette, California Reservoir. More upbeat than a typical "reverie", but heck the title was too hard to pass up.
More whimsy on the piano
Fun with the circle of fifths and minimalism for lack of a better word.
Piano idea, using more minimalist structures.
Music for two pianos, separated stereophonically and rythmically between triplet time and regular 4/4 time. Big orgy melodic middle section where the two pianos come together, and also a Eastern European vampy section.
The beginning to me sounds like a rail road crossing gate with double alarm bells, that are out of synch, which produce a really neat random effect, based on each pianist having a different 3 against 4 ryhtmn on middle C, with various arpegios, or chordal notes in syncopation.
I thought with the train crossing sound, Eastern-ish harmony and the proximity to Christmas when this peice was completed, that I'd name it "Eastern Star Express" in honor of the Christmas star.
The 2002 Tracey Lullbay. The little piece that started the whole set, year after year.
The Tracey Lullaby theme this time done in an extended arrangement for a small ensemble of strings. More intitmate and intense than the first lullaby.
A little Halloween music for solo violin and piano. Perhaps a bit old fashioned, but that's just the way my music is. Hopefully fun!
Written for my stepfathers's 80th Birthday. (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, harpsichord, string bass, drum kit)
Just a little piece for Brass Quintet based off of the intial theme from my
friend, and composer Darren Russo. See his "Scherzo Humoresque"
Very brief herald for brass quintet. (one of the very earliest pieces I wrote/tried out with Sibelius).
A competition entry, this piece was written to celebrate "The Spirt of Olympia." It tied for First Place from nine total scores voted on by community members of sibleiusmusic.com.
Instrumentation was limited by contest rules. I chose: flute (doubling piccolo), b-flat clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), horn, b-flat trumpet, piano, percussion I (xylophone, snare, timpani), percussion II (cymbals, vibraphone).
The four movements are:
1) Fanfares: a raucus timpani introduction with immitation and variations by
the winds
2) Citius, Altius, Fortius: a chase around the track and field
3) Recovery: featuring the winds, a momment to cool your heels
4) Parade: closing ceremony celebration and gleeful march.
This work was more of a parody of the Modern Olympic Games than a recreation of ancient Greek splendor and ritual.
March realized with the Vienna Symphonic Library sound samples -- saxaphones replaced with bassoons and oboe.
As a former low brass man in highschool, I always loved the concert season. The sounds of a wind ensemble are hard to resist. And a strong influence on this one, was Holst's First Suite for Military Band.
This March was my first arrangement for largish ensemble. The other movements are not ready for the world. Tracey calls this march, "The Little March That Could."Another informal competition entry, this quirky piece celebrating the return of Mars in closest approach to Earth, received a third place finish in votes.
6 original and 2 covers of songs written or arranged by me with my own vocal stylings. Varying styles, but all meditating on Love.
This is the first time I've done an album of songs. Usually I do short little instrumental pieces of varying complexity, but never have I written lyrics and sung them, etc.
I wrote the music and lyrics to 6 of these, with 2 being covers (one being an old time standard), but I've arranged all the music myself.
I've liked the process quite a bit, and I have a feeling there will be more song albums in my future. I like the little world you create in just a 2 to 5 minute space of time. Most of my music is short anyhow, so why not continue writing songs!
Why love songs?
Because we can all use some joy!
And if you're going to write lyrics and sing something, more than likely, it's about love anyway.
Each track is different in style from the other. I tried to do many things: synth disco/club, unplugged acoustic-ish, Tori Amos piano-ish, pop ballad, 60's groovy, Mexican/Country, old timey, and bits of everything else!
Fun with the circle of fifths and minimalism for lack of a better word.
Piano idea, using more minimalist structures.
Same as Relentless piece for Piano, but set for String Orchestra with added contrabass on major beats and viola 16th obligato to make the piece sound more urgent, tense.
Music for two pianos, separated stereophonically and rythmically between triplet time and regular 4/4 time. Big orgy melodic middle section where the two pianos come together, and also a Eastern European vampy section.
The beginning to me sounds like a rail road crossing gate with double alarm bells, that are out of synch, which produce a really neat random effect, based on each pianist having a different 3 against 4 ryhtmn on middle C, with various arpegios, or chordal notes in syncopation.
I thought with the train crossing sound, Eastern-ish harmony and the proximity to Christmas when this peice was completed, that I'd name it "Eastern Star Express" in honor of the Christmas star.
Presenting Worked Brass for Brass Quintet in four movements, Dedicated to and Completed for My Friend, David Hammond in Honor of His 40th Birthday.
Worked Brass, a new title for the complete Quintet, had its beginnings in the movement known as Energetico I have been working on that piece since 2003 as an idea of alternating 6/8 and 3/4 meter. I had the first melodic and supporting material fleshed out to mm. 36 and even a bit more to mm. 55, but it sat incomplete and I didn't know what to do with it, but I did like the main melodic content. It's a bit modal, meaning it sounds almost Renaissance in the harmonic progression, but its syncopation and rhythm are definitely modern. The Fanfare is also another piece I have had sitting on my virtual back burner for a long time too, since 2004. It's a tritone-ie, jarring herald, and recently added dramatic, clustery chords, but it also had had only stuff to about mm. 17 before I put it aside back when.
The two inner movements, "The Dasha Lilt" and "Katya's Journey" are named after David's adorable and amazing daughters, Daria and Kathryn.
Sorta tritone-ie, sorta clustery, sorta fun with suspended chords, definitely a herald...
Fun, little dance. Named after David Hammond's fun, little dancing girl, Dasha!
Contemplative, somewhat minimal. Pondering the Universe on your walk to school. Named after David Hammond's daughter, Kathryn.
I have competed in a few informal internet based music competitions hosted by the Sibelius Music community members themselves. There is no official award or recognition from bigger music circles, but to us it counts! As of yet, I haven't submitted any of my music to a more offical competition (in an academic sense). Heck, my music has hardly been played by real people!
Another informal competition entry, this quirky piece celebrating the return of Mars in closest approach to Earth, received a third place finish in votes.
A competition entry, this piece was written to celebrate "The Spirt of Olympia." It tied for First Place from nine total scores voted on by community members of sibleiusmusic.com.
Instrumentation was limited by contest rules. I chose: flute (doubling piccolo), b-flat clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), horn, b-flat trumpet, piano, percussion I (xylophone, snare, timpani), percussion II (cymbals, vibraphone).
The four movements are:
1) Fanfares: a raucus timpani introduction with immitation and variations by
the winds
2) Citius, Altius, Fortius: a chase around the track and field
3) Recovery: featuring the winds, a momment to cool your heels
4) Parade: closing ceremony celebration and gleeful march.
This work was more of a parody of the Modern Olympic Games than a recreation of ancient Greek splendor and ritual.
This is my vehicle for learning how to write music for a full
string section. A touch of 19th century, yes, but I love Tchaikovsky and you can
hear his influence. Serenades traditionally too are a great excuse for making
happy, pretty music. So far, two movements have surfaced. (A work, long in progress).
a middle-ish movement for a string section. unfinished...
another middle-ish movement for strings. This time, done in all pizzicato.
Music that is not in a group. A bunch of loose little ditties!
The piano piece "Resevoir Reverie", but slightly modified, arranged, and realized by the Vienna Symphonic String sound samples.
A little Halloween music for solo violin and piano. Perhaps a bit old fashioned, but that's just the way my music is. Hopefully fun!
My first work for four voice SATB (and it kinda shows.... not very adventurous.)
The text is "If music be the food of love"
by Colonel Henry Hevninghman, with the first line from Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night. Purcell set it for solo voice a few times. If not a superior interpretation of the text, this for
me was still a fun attempt at writing coherent music for voices. Not being very oriented or drawn toward prose and lyrics , I find writing music for singing and words a challenge. Hopefully, however, I'll get back to some better SATB writing. (Realized by my Yamaha s80 Synthesizer... leaves somewhat to be desired for voice sounds.)
Written for my stepfathers's 80th Birthday. (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, harpsichord, string bass, drum kit)
First piece for Guitar, as I'm learning the instrument and took a year's worth of lessons.
Just a little piece for Brass Quintet based off of the intial theme from my
friend, and composer Darren Russo. See his "Scherzo Humoresque"
Very brief herald for brass quintet. (one of the very earliest pieces I wrote/tried out with Sibelius).
Written for Tracey's Birthday. For her weekly walks around the Lafayette, California Reservoir. More upbeat than a typical "reverie", but heck the title was too hard to pass up.
A little bit of whimsical fun wth my synthesizer... reminds me of something fun from the 1980s.
More whimsy on the piano
Fun with my eastern instrument sound samples
The 2002 Tracey Lullbay. The little piece that started the whole set, year after year.
The Tracey Lullaby theme this time done in an extended arrangement for a small ensemble of strings. More intitmate and intense than the first lullaby.
The Tracey Lullaby theme, ala a big symphonic romp with piano runs, introspective middle, and a big Hollywood finish.
Tchaikovsky style symphonic waltz version (with harp and celeste of course!) of the now immortal, Tracey Lullaby theme!
March realized with the Vienna Symphonic Library sound samples -- saxaphones replaced with bassoons and oboe.
As a former low brass man in highschool, I always loved the concert season. The sounds of a wind ensemble are hard to resist. And a strong influence on this one, was Holst's First Suite for Military Band.
This March was my first arrangement for largish ensemble. The other movements are not ready for the world. Tracey calls this march, "The Little March That Could.""Pictures for an Online Exhibition", was written for the requirements of meeting the informal, amatuer composition contest hosted by fellow members and contributors to the sibeliusmusic.com chat page. From a set of 3 paintings, each composer was required to write some music depicting what he or she interpreted or saw in the painting.
The first painting "The Artist's Halt in the Desert" shows a group of weary travelers most likely in North Africa or Arabia.
The second painting, "The City" depicts an expressionist urban city scape.
The last painting, "The Grand Canal, Venice" depicts just that. A very romantic painting.
Voting for scores was open to the general public: anyone who viewed the scores and emailed in their votes for the anonymous entries was welcome. Votes were 3pts for first, 2pts for second, and 1pt for third. Of the 11 entries, mine placed 3rd.
Probably the best of the "Exhibition" pieces. Uses piano solo, electric pick bass, and depicts the sights, sounds and hectic nature of an urban scene as depicted in the modernist, expressionist painting from the contest guidlines.
Cheesy depiction of a very Romantic painting of the Grand Canal in Venice Italy.
An original musical narrative story with ME as the narrator. Uses original themes for each character, including the Tracey Lullaby theme. This was very much conceived with Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" in mind.
Selections 1 and 2 below are the main piece. The others are just the raw musical takes with out any narration.
Prelude to "Tracey and the Vampire" for the 2006 Tracey Lullaby
The 2006 Tracey Lullaby, "Tracey and the Vampire" with narration by Hunter Lee Brown.
Presented to Tracey for Valentine's Day 2006.
I developed the ideas, story and music after reading Anne Rice's Vampire books. But mostly it's all Peter and the Wolf.
Fun with my eastern instrument sound samples
Same as Relentless piece for Piano, but set for String Orchestra with added contrabass on major beats and viola 16th obligato to make the piece sound more urgent, tense.
Music for two pianos, separated stereophonically and rythmically between triplet time and regular 4/4 time. Big orgy melodic middle section where the two pianos come together, and also a Eastern European vampy section.
The beginning to me sounds like a rail road crossing gate with double alarm bells, that are out of synch, which produce a really neat random effect, based on each pianist having a different 3 against 4 ryhtmn on middle C, with various arpegios, or chordal notes in syncopation.
I thought with the train crossing sound, Eastern-ish harmony and the proximity to Christmas when this peice was completed, that I'd name it "Eastern Star Express" in honor of the Christmas star.
More whimsy on the piano
Piano idea, using more minimalist structures.
Sorta tritone-ie, sorta clustery, sorta fun with suspended chords, definitely a herald...
Fun, little dance. Named after David Hammond's fun, little dancing girl, Dasha!
Contemplative, somewhat minimal. Pondering the Universe on your walk to school. Named after David Hammond's daughter, Kathryn.
Fun with the circle of fifths and minimalism for lack of a better word.
A little bit of whimsical fun wth my synthesizer... reminds me of something fun from the 1980s.
Prelude to "Tracey and the Vampire" for the 2006 Tracey Lullaby
The 2006 Tracey Lullaby, "Tracey and the Vampire" with narration by Hunter Lee Brown.
Presented to Tracey for Valentine's Day 2006.
I developed the ideas, story and music after reading Anne Rice's Vampire books. But mostly it's all Peter and the Wolf.
The piano piece "Resevoir Reverie", but slightly modified, arranged, and realized by the Vienna Symphonic String sound samples.
Tchaikovsky style symphonic waltz version (with harp and celeste of course!) of the now immortal, Tracey Lullaby theme!
A competition entry, this piece was written to celebrate "The Spirt of Olympia." It tied for First Place from nine total scores voted on by community members of sibleiusmusic.com.
Instrumentation was limited by contest rules. I chose: flute (doubling piccolo), b-flat clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), horn, b-flat trumpet, piano, percussion I (xylophone, snare, timpani), percussion II (cymbals, vibraphone).
The four movements are:
1) Fanfares: a raucus timpani introduction with immitation and variations by
the winds
2) Citius, Altius, Fortius: a chase around the track and field
3) Recovery: featuring the winds, a momment to cool your heels
4) Parade: closing ceremony celebration and gleeful march.
This work was more of a parody of the Modern Olympic Games than a recreation of ancient Greek splendor and ritual.
The Tracey Lullaby theme, ala a big symphonic romp with piano runs, introspective middle, and a big Hollywood finish.
Just a little piece for Brass Quintet based off of the intial theme from my
friend, and composer Darren Russo. See his "Scherzo Humoresque"
Written for my stepfathers's 80th Birthday. (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, harpsichord, string bass, drum kit)
Written for Tracey's Birthday. For her weekly walks around the Lafayette, California Reservoir. More upbeat than a typical "reverie", but heck the title was too hard to pass up.
First piece for Guitar, as I'm learning the instrument and took a year's worth of lessons.
Another informal competition entry, this quirky piece celebrating the return of Mars in closest approach to Earth, received a third place finish in votes.
Probably the best of the "Exhibition" pieces. Uses piano solo, electric pick bass, and depicts the sights, sounds and hectic nature of an urban scene as depicted in the modernist, expressionist painting from the contest guidlines.
Cheesy depiction of a very Romantic painting of the Grand Canal in Venice Italy.
The Tracey Lullaby theme this time done in an extended arrangement for a small ensemble of strings. More intitmate and intense than the first lullaby.
A little Halloween music for solo violin and piano. Perhaps a bit old fashioned, but that's just the way my music is. Hopefully fun!
My first work for four voice SATB (and it kinda shows.... not very adventurous.)
The text is "If music be the food of love"
by Colonel Henry Hevninghman, with the first line from Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night. Purcell set it for solo voice a few times. If not a superior interpretation of the text, this for
me was still a fun attempt at writing coherent music for voices. Not being very oriented or drawn toward prose and lyrics , I find writing music for singing and words a challenge. Hopefully, however, I'll get back to some better SATB writing. (Realized by my Yamaha s80 Synthesizer... leaves somewhat to be desired for voice sounds.)
a middle-ish movement for a string section. unfinished...
another middle-ish movement for strings. This time, done in all pizzicato.
March realized with the Vienna Symphonic Library sound samples -- saxaphones replaced with bassoons and oboe.
As a former low brass man in highschool, I always loved the concert season. The sounds of a wind ensemble are hard to resist. And a strong influence on this one, was Holst's First Suite for Military Band.
This March was my first arrangement for largish ensemble. The other movements are not ready for the world. Tracey calls this march, "The Little March That Could."The 2002 Tracey Lullbay. The little piece that started the whole set, year after year.
Very brief herald for brass quintet. (one of the very earliest pieces I wrote/tried out with Sibelius).