In my last post, I outlined my ambitious goals, but guest visits and the need to complete a new episode of Music from Humans cause me to not get as far as I would have liked. Despite these interruptions, I managed to dedicate several days to the second half of Confronting Our Shadows. This involved working on matching rhythms generated by the phasing part of the “tape”, a ssh-ssh sound. I compromised between being exact with the “tape” and ensuring it was playable and readable on the page. However, I only finalized matching the rhythms and couldn’t get to the actual notes I intended to use before I need to shifted my priorities to other projects.
Preparing for the Aspen Composers’ Conference
2024 Aspen Composers' Conference
I’m slated to give a talk at the Aspen Composers’ Conference on August 5, titled Circle Music: Choose Your Own Adventure. I completed the first half of the talk awhile ago, but had to sit down and finish writing the second half. This section highlights the music I’ve created using this form. Creating a slide deck for the talk consumed considerable time, as I wanted it to be perfect. Additionally, I also developed a new blog page dedicated to this topic, which will be released post-conference.
A New Piece for the Recital
The conference includes a recital where I can present a piece, but bringing a larger work posed logistical challenges. Thus, I decided to write a new piece for solo flute, Aureole: Circle of Light, using the circle-music form of course. It took 3-4 days to complete this composition, but some work remains to prepare it for publishing.
This piece features 20 phrases, with one phrase having two variations, effectively creating 21 phrases. Additionally, I incorporated a four-note cell that allows the performer to improvise rhythms. These cell notes serve as the key pitches of the piece. While this is a unique element in my circle-music works, it is a technique I often use in my other guided improvisation compositions. I believe it will serve as a very effective connector for the different phrases. The composition also includes various extended techniques for the flute, such as multiphonics (a favorite of mine), flutter tongue, tongue pizzicato, and speaking while playing.
Now, I need to ensure I can perform it effectively.
Looking Ahead
My hope is to return to my “tape” and orchestra piece between practicing my talk and the new piece. After the conference, I plan to fully dive back into my composition projects. Despite the busy schedule, including interviews for Music from Humans, I am eager to resume my creative endeavors with renewed focus.
Stay tuned for updates on my ongoing projects and insights from the Aspen Composers’ Conference!
