Michael Cooke

January was a packed month, with several trips out of town and Chinese New Year celebrations keeping me busy. Despite that, I made solid progress on my ongoing projects, finalizing the transition of the Love Letters collection to Dorico by moving the last two compositions, G.A.C. for Orchestra and Minerva’s Dance, while also making minor touch-ups to pieces I had transferred in December.

Both G.A.C. for Orchestra and Minerva’s Dance received updates as well. The original performance of G.A.C. lacked second violins, so I added them back into this new version. For Minerva’s Dance, I transcribed an optional soprano saxophone solo from the original piece that had been missing from the Finale version and adjusted a few key signatures. While the process of moving music into Dorico continues to present challenges, I’m slowly ironing out the issues. I even created a video documenting some of the problems I encountered while transferring Minerva’s Dance.

New Circle-Music for Bassoon

Alongside these score migrations, I started work on two new solo circle-music pieces—one for alto saxophone and another for bassoon. The alto saxophone piece is still in the early experimental stages, with only rough notes completed. However, the bassoon piece is much further along.

This composition heavily incorporates multiphonics, a technique the bassoon handles beautifully and one I enjoy playing. I also have a particular fondness for the sound of low A♭ on the bassoon, so I knew that note had to be a central element in the piece.

Through extended improvisation sessions, I developed the core concepts: triplet-based (groups of three) rhythms, an emphasis on intervals of a third (minor and major), and the careful selection of multiphonics to ensure the best harmonic blend.

Identifying all the exact pitches present in the multiphonics was a challenge. I spent considerable time analyzing and refining phrases, improvising repeatedly to determine which ideas worked best together. Some lines were designed to function as low-end bass lines in a group setting, while others were shaped to allow for more open, spacious phrasing suitable for accompaniment. I also focused on how phrases should end, as the final notes are crucial for linking sections smoothly.

To ensure strong phrase connections, I decided I needed some that landed on F^# and E♭, as these notes connect well with A♭, B, G, and B♭—all of which are important to the work’s harmonic structure. I’ve developed several phrases that meet this need, but I still feel I could use a few more to round everything out.

The Circle-Music Writing Process

Writing these solo circle-music pieces follows a particular workflow. After settling on key musical directions (such as the intervallic focus or rhythmic motifs), I begin with free improvisation to generate raw material. From there, I shape structured phrases based on those improvisations, testing them to see how well they work together. Does the piece have enough variation? Do the phrases complement each other? Do they emphasize the intended musical themes? And crucially, will this piece integrate well into a recombinant work alongside other solo circle-music compositions?

This process involves a lot of trial and error—playing through phrases repeatedly, letting them sit for a few days, then revisiting them with fresh ears. I feel like I’m close to finalizing everything for the bassoon piece, with only a few more phrases left to refine. Once that’s done, I’ll shift my focus to the alto saxophone piece and continue developing that one.

January may have been a busy month, but I’m happy with the progress I’ve made. Now, onto the next phase!

After a well-deserved holiday break, I’m easing back into the creative flow. December proved especially productive as I completed a new Love Letter composition for piano and revisited the other piano works in the collection. In January, I continued this momentum by successfully transferring six additional pieces—excluding the orchestral works—from Finale to Dorico, bringing me closer to completing the transition of my catalog.

Revisiting Love Letters

The transfer process was smoother than I anticipated, though not without its quirks. For the piano pieces, I had to completely redo the pedaling, as Dorico handles it differently than Finale. However, the template system made it straightforward to ensure a consistent look across the collection, maintaining the cohesive aesthetic I’d originally envisioned.

While Dorico’s interface is often touted as user-friendly, I frequently find myself frustrated by how unintuitive certain tasks can be. After importing one of my Love Letters, I needed to fix a tremolo that didn’t translate well from Finale. In Finale, you simply specify the note values in each voice, apply the tremolo as an articulation, and adjust spacing. Dorico, however, requires you to input two notes in the same voice to fill the time (e.g., two quarter notes for a half note duration), then use the Repeat popover (Shift+R) to create a tremolo. Why is this a “repeat” instead of an articulation? I’ll never understand. It seems decisions in Dorico often favor the programmers’ logic over what makes sense musically.

Another puzzling design choice is the scissor icon for breaking ties. For 30 years, that icon has represented “cut” in cut-copy-paste workflows. A razor blade is a more obvious symbol that would make far more sense. These small frustrations make Dorico feel like a constant research project rather than an intuitive tool.

The Bright Side of Dorico

Despite these gripes, Dorico’s playback engine is a game-changer. It functions more like a proper MIDI performance system, offering a realism that Finale never managed. I’ve barely scratched the surface of its capabilities, but even the basics have been a huge improvement. Though playback isn’t my primary focus when using the tool, it’s exciting to see how much potential this feature offers as I explore it further.

Planning for 2025

This time of year, I like to map out my creative goals, even though they often shift with commissions and opportunities. Having a roadmap helps me focus, so here are some of the objectives I’m setting for 2025:

• Building the Solo Circle-Music Collection: Finish the pieces for the woodwinds I play, possibly record them, and release a CD or digital album. I’d also like to create a recombinant work using these pieces. Thanks for the idea, Joe.
• Symphony No. 4: Complete the fourth movement and rework the percussion in the third movement for a larger ensemble.
• Pierrot Ensemble Piece: Well, a Pierrot with alto sax instead of clarinet—thanks, Chris. Write a piece I’ve been thinking about for some time now.
• Other Chamber Works: Explore new ideas for chamber music and see where inspiration leads.
• 10 Circles: Make revisions to improve this work.

Looking Ahead

The year is already shaping up to be an exciting one. I’ll be starting with the new solo circle-music pieces, so keep an eye out for updates on those. It feels good to be back at work, and I’m eager to dive into these projects and see what the year brings!

After the whirlwind of preparations and performances for the November 2nd concert, I’ve finally returned to writing new music. The end of November was filled with cleaning up my Threnody for Democracy recording, conducting an interview for Music from Humans, and, of course, celebrating Thanksgiving. But as December rolled in, I found myself looking at long-overdue projects and decided to dive into both composing and refining an existing collection.

Revisiting Love Letters

I turned my attention to my Love Letters collection—pieces inspired by deeply personal and romantic themes. This collection contains four piano works and three pieces for various ensembles. I decided to start with the piano compositions, using this project as an opportunity to move them into Dorico while simultaneously writing a new piece to add to the collection.

Transitioning to Dorico

Exporting the piano works from Finale to MusicXML for import into Dorico went relatively smoothly, though a few issues cropped up: missing pedal marks, odd layout problems, and some quirks with titling. I created custom page templates to maintain a cohesive look across the collection, which streamlined the process. However, there were still elements like custom dynamics (f+) & tempo markings (in tempo) that will require extra effort to replicate.

A New Work: Inspired by Turkey and Greece

For the new piece in this collection, I drew inspiration from my 20th wedding anniversary trip to Turkey and Greece. Written in binary form, the composition reflects the two halves of the journey: the ‘A’ section represents the land and air of Turkey, while the ‘B’ section captures the sea and islands of Greece.

To develop the ‘A’ section, I explored Turkish music, delving into its modes and rhythmic patterns. Two Turkish melodies particularly inspired me. While Turkish modes incorporate microtones, I approximated their flavor using Bb and C# in a melody grounded in A, harmonized with Western-style D harmonic minor.

For the ‘B’ section, I looked to ancient Greek melodies, including one I remembered fondly from my college studies. This section blends E minor with plagal cadences (IV-I) and incorporates whole-tone scales to add a shimmering, fluid quality. These elements evoke the sea and the feeling of island-hopping between the Greek isles.

Shaping the Composition

With these melodies in place, I began sketching out the structure. Listening to Romantic piano works, particularly those by Schumann and Schubert, helped shape the piece’s stylistic direction. Schubert’s Sonata No. 8, for example, provided insight into accompaniment patterns that translated well into the 7/8 rhythms I planned to use.
For the ‘B’ section, Debussy and Ravel offered inspiration for a more impressionistic approach, especially in evoking the sensation of water.

The first ‘A’ section came together quickly, with a main melody, chord progressions, and a contrasting development section where I fragmented the melody into the bass and added flowing runs in the right hand. This section ends with a return to the main melody, setting up a transition to ‘B.’

In the ‘B’ section, I aimed to emulate the gentle rocking of waves with a new accompaniment pattern.

The melody in 5/8, takes on a pentatonic quality and I decided to brake it up to evoke the feeling of island-hopping. Whole-tone runs reminiscent of Debussy’s La Mer, add variation and enhance the water imagery.

Refinement and Feedback

As the piece neared completion, I made various refinements, including the transition between the two sections to enhance fluid movement. Drawing inspiration from Hindemith’s Moon, I crafted a passage that bridges the tonal and rhythmic contrasts. In the ‘B’ section, I modified the accompaniment, which initially felt too monotonous, to better convey a sense of movement. I also spent time improving the notation, though I still encountered challenges in getting Dorico to behave exactly as I wanted. To ensure the work remains accessible without sacrificing its expressive intent, I sent drafts to a few pianists for feedback. Their input will be crucial in determining the playability of certain passages.

The Key Dilemma

One challenge I faced was the key relationship between the two sections. Traditional binary forms often start and end in the same key, but my piece features two distinct keys—D for the Turkish section and E for the Greek section. While I feel these keys best suit their respective melodies color, I’m experimenting with ways to unify them, possibly through a shared key center, which will require reworking the transition.

A Journey Close to Completion

The piece is nearly finished. Once I finalize the key structure and incorporate feedback from the pianists, I’ll polish the notation and call it complete. This composition represents a blend of cultural influences and personal memories, and I’m excited to see it take its place in the Love Letters collection.

As I wrap up this project, my next steps include continuing the process of transferring other pieces in the collection into Dorico. Beyond that, I’m eager to return to my Solo Circle Music series, which I have only completed, Aureole so far. For now, it feels great to be writing again.

The past few weeks have been filled with intensive preparations for the upcoming concert on November 2nd. Mornings have been dedicated to practicing and mastering all the parts as a performer. Alongside this, I’ve been working on promoting the event—sending out emails to newspapers and radio stations, creating online concert announcements, and organizing ads.

Personnel Challenges and Last-Minute Adjustments

As with any production, unexpected challenges have arisen. I had to replace two players: one due to a last-minute surgery, and another who took the gig but then ghosted us. Rather than risk a potential no-show, I decided it was better to bring in someone more reliable. These last-minute personnel changes are always time-consuming, but necessary for ensuring the performance goes smoothly.

I also spent time working closely with one of the composers to refine their piece, ensuring that it was notated clearly and aligned with the conductor’s beat patterns. Inconsistent beaming had some musicians counting in 3+2+3/4, while others were reading in 3+4+3+3+3/16, which would have caused chaos during rehearsals. Notation needs to be clean, clear, and in sync with the conductor—especially when the piece is marked in 4/4.

Revising My Own Parts

As always, preparing for a concert involves refining your own work as well. I made several small adjustments to my own parts—correcting mistakes, adding dynamics, and clarifying phrasing to make things easier for the performers. I’m incredibly grateful to the musicians for their keen eyes and helpful feedback. It’s common to encounter small issues when a piece is being performed for the first time, but the more you can address these before rehearsals, the more time you have to focus on the music itself.

The Value of Feedback

One of the key lessons I’ve learned over the years is the importance of staying open to feedback. You don’t always have to implement every suggestion, but taking the time to listen and engage with performers often improves clarity and leads to a better performance. At the end of the day, music is a collaborative art form, and incorporating feedback can be the difference between a good performance and a great one.