Archive for the ‘Music from Humans’ Category

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Healing through Finnish Lament with Rent Romus

Monday, March 24th, 2025

Healing through Finnish Lament with Rent Romus

In this eye-opening episode, we explore the musical universe of Bay Area and Emmy-awarded saxophonist and composer Rent Romus—a creative force on the West Coast scene for over three decades. From his Finnish ancestry and its mythopoetic folklore to groundbreaking jazz improvisation, Rent shares insights into his project, “Itkuja (eet-koo-yaw) Suite: Invocations on Lament”, and reveals how he fuses Finnish lament with postmodern jazz, Estonian folk polyphony, and free improvisation. We also delve into the behind-the-scenes realities of touring, running a record label (Edgetone Records), securing grants, and nurturing a vibrant music community. Join us as we traverse the healing realms of Finnish laments, brought to life through the evocative music of Rent Romus.

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Further Exploration

Rent Romus on wikipedia
Rent Romus‘ home page
Rent’s CDs
Itkuja Suite CD
Heikki Laitinen
Heikki Koskinen
Horace Tapscott
Arthur Blythe
Domna Huovinen
McCoy Tyner
Pharoah Sanders
Teppo Hauta-aho

Edward Vesala
Lisa Mezzacappa
Finlandia Foundation National
Intermusic SF
Day of Noise KZSU
Edgetone Records
Outsound Presents
San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra
The introduction: Itkuja Suite, invocations on lament
Behind the scenes: Itkuja Suite Part 2
Itkuja Suite – Live at Berkeley Finnish Hall
Stands On Water, Falls on Land – Live in Helsinki

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More MusicXML Import Issues

Monday, March 10th, 2025

More MusicXML Import Issues with Dorico

Join me on a personal journey as I transition one of my orchestral composition from Finale to Dorico in this special episode of “Music from Humans.” We’ll explore the challenges composers face when moving between music notation software, focusing on issues encountered during the MusicXML import process. Which includes issues with two time signatures at the same time, dynamics in wrong place, incorrect tempo marking, Rehearsal Letter placement and more. I’ll share firsthand experiences with Dorico, highlighting its advantages and addressing the technical hurdles faced during the import process, along with the solutions I discovered. Additionally, I’ll discuss how the import performed in MuseScore. Dorico experts, please share your insights and suggestions in the comments.

👉 Tune in to learn more about preserving the integrity of musical compositions during software transitions, and discover tips on how to choose the right tools for your creative process.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more behind-the-scenes looks at the lives and workflows of musicians and composers!

Further Exploration

End of Finale
Dorico

MuseScore
When the Last Tree has Fallen

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Music of An Unaware Cosmos with Joseph Klein

Monday, February 17th, 2025

Music of An Unaware Cosmos with Joseph Klein

Dive deep into into the mind of composer Joseph Klein—a true innovator blending structured composition with improvisational, theatrical flair. In this candid conversation, Joseph reveals the inspiration behind his groundbreaking modular composition, “An Unaware Cosmos,” a six‑year project comprised of 19 overlapping modules that explore timbral, spatial, conceptual, and quantum structural relationships. Drawing from fractal geometry, natural phenomena, and the human tendency to find order in chaos, he explains how he fuses structured composition with open-ended structure, creating a dynamic interplay between control and creative spontaneity. Whether you’re a composer, performer, or simply passionate about innovative music-making, this interview offers a rare glimpse into a work that continuously pushes the boundaries of contemporary music.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more insights into the lives of creators who make our world a richer place through their art.

Further Exploration

Joseph Klein‘s home page
Klein on YouTube
An Unaware Cosmos — complete cycle
Improbable Encounters CD
Frank Zappa


Kim Luevano
Eric Nestler
Steve Duke
Redi Llupa
Madeleine Shapiro

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Moving From Finale to Dorico, Import issues

Thursday, February 6th, 2025

Import issues with Dorico

In this special episode of “Music from Humans,” we delve into the challenges and intricacies faced by composers when transitioning between music notation software. Issues I ran into moving on piece from Finale to Dorico using musicXML. Which includes loss of music cause by grace notes before triplets, percussion being wrong, issues with chord markings. We’ll tackle the technical hurdles from an import that didn’t go well and solutions I found to fix the issues. Additionally, I’ll discuss how the import performed in MuseScore. I will share my firsthand experiences with Dorico, highlighting the challenges of this tool. Dorico experts let me know the better way of dealing with these issues in the comments.

👉 Tune in to learn more about preserving the integrity of musical compositions during software transitions, and discover tips on how to choose the right tools for your creative process.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more behind-the-scenes looks at the lives and workflows of musicians and composers!

Further Exploration

End of Finale
Dorico

MuseScore
A Love Letter: Minerva’s Dance

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The Importance of Space in Music!

Monday, January 13th, 2025

The Importance of Space in Music!

On this episode of Music from Humans, host Michael Cooke continues the conversation with Stephen Main, a multifaceted composer, conductor, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. In this follow up to The Art of Music Improvisation, Stephen shares his thoughts on what composers should do to be came better composers.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more insights into the lives of creators who make our world a richer place through their art.

Further Exploration

Stephen Main‘s home page

Main on YouTube

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Storytelling Through Music with Yangfan Xu

Monday, December 16th, 2024

Storytelling Through Music with Yangfan Xu

In this episode, we’re joined by composer Yangfan Xu, whose fusion of Chinese heritage and global influences creates a unique blend of contemporary classical music. Yangfan transforms rich multicultural experiences into captivating musical stories. A visionary, she has captured the hearts of international audiences by weaving these experiences into the fabric of her music. We discuss how she uses narratives to deepen the connection to her listeners. We’ll delve into her creative process behind works like Fantastic Creatures of the Mountains and Seas, inspired by ancient Chinese folklore, Jungle Sway, and the multimedia-enhanced Turn Me into Ocean. The resonating message from this interview is clear: music is more than sound; it’s a medium for storytelling, connecting cultures, and exploring new worlds. Yangfan Xu isn’t just composing music; she’s crafting epics.

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Further Exploration

Yangfan Xu‘s home page
Xu on YouTube
Fantastic Creatures of the Mountains and Seas
Peter and the Wolf
Jungle Sway

Different Trains
Igor Stravinsky
Béla Bartók
Jean Sibelius
Kenneth Radnofsky
Turn Me into Ocean

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Evolution of a Composition with Joseph Klein

Monday, December 2nd, 2024

Evolution of a Composition with Joseph Klein

Delve into an enlightening journey into the mind of Joseph Klein, a revered composer and my former composition professor, as we explore the innovative world of his musical creations on this episode of Music from Humans. Known for his unique approach exploring modular forms, and recombinant properties of music, Joseph opens up about his long-term project, Canetti-Menagerie, which brings literary characters to life through music. Inspired by Elias Canetti’s “Earwitness: Fifty Characters,” Joseph discusses how his compositions have transformed over three decades into a full-fledged theatrical experience. Tune in to learn about the intersection of music, literature, and performance in Joseph’s work.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more insights into the lives of creators who make our world a richer place through their art.

Further Exploration

Joseph Klein‘s home page
Klein on YouTube
Canetti-Menagerie
Improbable Encounters CD
Frank Zappa
Elias Canetti
Chris Russell

Magnus Lindberg
Madeleine Shapiro
Redi Llupa
Voices of Change
Earle Brown
Andrew Glendening
Elizabeth McNutt

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Counterpoint Makes Composing Easy!

Monday, November 25th, 2024

Counterpoint Makes Composing Easy! says Stephen Main

On this episode of Music from Humans, host Michael Cooke continues the conversation with Stephen Main, a multifaceted composer, conductor, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. In this follow up to The Art of Music Improvisation, Stephen shares his thoughts on how counterpoint is more important the harmony especially when improvising.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more insights into the lives of creators who make our world a richer place through their art.

Further Exploration

Stephen Main‘s home page
Main on YouTube
Johann Sebastian Bach

Michael Orlinksky
The Tyger (Poem)
William Blake

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When Nature Sings: Cheryl E. Leonard’s Sound

Tuesday, November 12th, 2024

When Nature Sings: Cheryl Leonard’s Sound

Prepare to enter a world where sound, art, and nature become one in the hands of Cheryl E. Leonard, a San Francisco-based composer, performer, and instrument builder. Cheryl’s unique approach involves creating musical instruments from materials like stones, ice, and water, collected from nature. In this episode, she shares how her experiences in remote locales, especially Antarctica, inspire her compositions and help reimagine our connection with the environment.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more insights into the lives of creators who make our world a richer place through their art.

Further Exploration

Cheryl E. Leonard‘s home page
Leonard on YouTube
Leonard as Topic on Youtube
On Vimeo
Journey to Manala with Rent Romus
Echoes of the Sierra Nevada with Alexis Alrich
Sounds of Ice with Christopher North
Exploring the National Parks Through Music with Stephen Lias

CDs:
Antarctica: Music from the Ice
Schism
Littoral

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Be Like Ravel!

Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

Be Like Ravel! says Stephen Main

On this episode of Music from Humans, host Michael Cooke continues the conversation with Stephen Main, a multifaceted composer, conductor, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. In this follow up to The Art of Music Improvisation, Stephen shares his thoughts on what composers should do to be came better composers.

Subscribe to “Music from Humans” for more insights into the lives of creators who make our world a richer place through their art.

Further Exploration

Stephen Main‘s home page
Main on YouTube

Maurice Ravel

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