Michael Cooke

Crafting Motifs Out of Rhythms

I’ve been fortunate this past week to have several uninterrupted days to work on my “tape” and orchestra piece. Returning to the “Confronting Our Shadows” section where I previously mapped out rhythms matching the “ssh-ssh” sound, I began filling in the details. Establishing a bass pulse on B, I used the rhythms as interruption points, creating patterns in the bassline. As the phase shifts the rhythm naturally, space opened up to introduce an upward motif, with longer woodwind notes appearing off these motifs. This section may remind some of Rzewski‘s “Coming Together.”

Refining the Idea

Initially, I started with a single piano bassline. After one or two iterations, I began incorporating other instruments, knowing I wanted the trombone and bassoon to play this line. Realizing my target ensemble was one on a part instead of a full orchestra, I needed to create more space for the instruments to breathe. I experimented with trading off the line, giving a few measures to the bassoon and a few to the trombone. After that, I wrote the cello and upper piano parts.

A Fresh Approach

Subconsciously, I wasn’t satisfied with the arrangement. I woke up early the next morning with a better solution for creating breathing space. I wanted to emphasize the upward motif, knowing the bass trombone would be much louder than the bassoon, I ensured that all upward motifs were played by the trombone. The music was rearranged between the bassoon and the bass trombone in this way. This resulted in a much better arrangement and orchestration. I also added the upward line to the alto sax for emphasis. Additional touches included extra percussion, other brass instruments, and more upward lines to match other background rhythms. This section is likely the climax of the composition, and I’m now pleased with the first draft.

Transition to the Dawn of Hope

The next section transitions back to 4/4 for a 16-bars. Unsure of the direction, I plan to skip ahead to the third section: “The Dawn of Hope.” It’s common to skip transition sections and revisit them once the next part is more established, allowing for a better transition to be developed.

Crafting Optimism

“The Dawn of Hope” is intended to be more optimistic and hopeful, reflecting the possibility of change and improvement. I researched uplifting works and listened to them for inspiration, also analyzing their chord progressions. Eventually, I sat at my keyboard and created a progression that felt hopeful to me. I then crafted these chord changes to fit the Obama speech that starts this section and edited part of the “tape” to better synchronize with the chord progression.

Seeking Feedback

At this point, I almost feel too close to the work to judge its success, so I reached out to friends for their opinions. Their feedback was valuable, though challenging for them, as they heard just piano chord changes over the section without the full orchestration. At this stage, I’m just trying to figure out the structure of this section. I’m thinking I might put an ostinato under this, but we will see. Most feedback indicated that the chords felt hopeful and optimistic, but the underlying phase part of the tape created tension and anxiety, which is my intent. I think I’m at a good stopping point for a bit while I attend the Aspen Composer Conference and return with fresh ears to work on this section.

Check back for news on how the conference went and more about the creation of “The Dawn of Hope.”

After recovering from my trip and completing a new episode of Music From Humans, I resumed work on my “tape” and orchestra piece, focusing on the Confronting Our Shadows section. I aimed for this part to evoke tension, anxiety, and eventually a more menacing feel.

Crafting Tension

To achieve this, I used high strings playing harmonics in long chords. For the notes, I based them on the Pater Noster (Lord’s Prayer), continuing with my hidden mass elements:

Pater Noster Gregorian chant

I spent considerable time deciding on a decatonic scale for this section. I wanted constant eighth notes but in a random order. Initially, my attempts felt too pattern-like, so I turned to Python to generate code that would randomize the octaves and note choices within my scale and output a MusicXML file. This took the rest of the day, but I eventually got some results I liked. The following day, I ran my script multiple times, selecting different sections that appealed to me and orchestrating them for woodwinds and piano.

Building Complexity

I then wrote a short B section, referencing the “false” hits from the “tape” that start this section in the brass, again using the decatonic scale and some randomness. While I’m not 100% satisfied with the chords in this part, I plan to revisit it but wanted to press on. The A section reprises as it approaches the halfway point of Confronting Our Shadows.

A short transition leads into the more menacing second half. Here, the piano remains prominent, but now in the ultra-low register. I switched from the decatonic scale to an octatonic scale and increased the tempo by shifting from 4/4 to 12/8. This section also references the Dies Irae, similar to the beginning of the piece. I’ve reached a climactic part of the text in the “tape” and had the music follow that energy.

As I near the end of this section, there will be more prominent hits, similar to the introduction of Confronting Our Shadows, along with increased orchestral energy, but that is still to be written. Hopefully, I can complete this part by next week.

Stay tuned for more updates as I continue to refine and develop this composition.

I had an incredibly productive week working on my “tape” and orchestra composition. I’ve been wrestling with a syncing issue in Finale where the “tape” part (audio track) would only stay in sync if I started playback from the beginning. Given that I’m 6-7 minutes into the piece, this was wasting a lot of time. After days with Finale support, we discovered that although both my file and Finale were set to 48 Hz, a bug required switching them to 44.1 Hz. This change saved me an enormous amount of time, allowing me to write over two minutes of music since then.

Building the Musical Narrative

The B-section of the second part focuses on the positive contributions of our leaders, even those not entirely successful. Here, I’ve woven in additional references to requiems, including Gregorian chants from Agnus Dei, with lines that translate to “have mercy on us” and “give us peace.”

After completing the first draft of the second part, I started the intro to the third section, which highlights Presidents who have let us down and are more self-serving than serving the country. This segment begins with a powerful series of hits, setting a darker tone.

A Week of Productivity and Future Plans

With the software issues resolved, I felt an incredible surge in productivity. I made significant progress just before needing to take a brief break. To ensure continuity, I’ve created detailed notes so I can seamlessly resume work later. I’ve also submitted the “tape” portion to The San Francisco Tape Music Festival, 2025—fingers crossed for a positive response. I probably won’t have updates until the end of June, but stay tuned for more on this and other compositions!

As my orchestra and “tape” composition continues to develop, I find myself on the cusp of choosing a fitting title that encapsulates its essence. In early May, I played a modern Requiem, which made me think about my piece as a smaller-scale Requiem. Currently, I’m oscillating between Lament for Democracy, Threnody for Democracy, and Democracy’s Lament, each with a potential subtitle of “You Can Do Anything” or “What You Can Do.” These titles reflect the poignant themes woven throughout the piece.

Deepening the Musical Dialogue

In recent sessions, I’ve been meticulously transcribing vocal lines into their instrumental counterparts, ensuring the orchestra resonates with the voices it aims to echo.

Meanwhile, earlier sections—originally drafted in a flurry of creative output—are now receiving their due refinement. This process of revisiting and polishing not only enhances clarity but also enriches the textural depth of the composition.

Embracing Serendipity in Composition

A particularly serendipitous moment reshaped a portion of the work in a way I hadn’t anticipated. While extending a repetitive segment, I halted at a random point to then play back the work and check the results. This unplanned pause aligned perfectly with a transition in the “tape”, creating a poignant, impactful moment. Captivated by this unexpected alignment, I adjusted the “tape” to fade out the background phase chant, leaving a solitary, resonant voice. This led to an intensified orchestral buildup that set the stage for a fresh thematic shift.

This happy accident underscored a valuable lesson in composition: the beauty of spontaneity. While it’s crucial to approach a work with intent, remaining open to the unexpected can lead to discoveries that surpass initial expectations. This flexibility has allowed me to embrace and integrate changes that enhance the narrative and emotional impact of the piece, reminding me that sometimes, serendipity can be more fortuitous than the most meticulous planning.

Looking Ahead

As I continue to weave this intricate tapestry of sound and sentiment, I am reminded of the dynamic interplay between structure and improvisation. The next steps involve continuing the creation of the orchestra part and refining the orchestration, ensuring that each note and rest serves the greater narrative of the composition. Continue to follow the progress of this work and its hopeful debut in the fall, which promises to be both a reflection on and a tribute to the enduring spirit of democracy.

The Interlude of Busyness:
The orchestra’s recent performance consumed my days and nights, leaving scant moments for reflection or updates. With the concert behind me, a brief pause in the composition allows me to turn my attention to lingering tasks and the anticipation of our next concert in May.

A Harmony of Endeavors and Earnings:
Amid the whirl of concert preparation, royalty checks from my publisher and ASCAP arrived, a modest 🤣 but appreciated acknowledgment of my work.

Given my publisher’s focus on high school band and small ensemble pieces, there’s a dissonance between their specialty and my current creative direction. This disjunction sparks a thought I should compose more small ensemble works, potentially bridging the gap between my musical evolution and their publishing niche.

Composing the Tapestry:
A significant milestone was reached in the development of my latest composition—the completion of the “tape” portion’s rough first draft. The third section, infused with themes of hope and the potential for change, interlaces quotes from its predecessors, culminating with Reagan’s iconic call to “tear down this wall,” thus leading us into the coda. I’ve merged my two different files into a singular narrative, setting the stage for orchestral integration through Finale.

Reflections and Revisions:
Despite the progress, feedback from a composers’ forum on the phase section remains unaddressed. My strategy? To draft the composition in its entirety before revisiting these insights, ensuring a holistic view of the piece before embarking on adjustments.

Orchestrating Emotions:
The journey into the orchestral part of the composition has begun, with progress on the opening segments. After the introduction, the initial section of the first part is a meditation on societal fear in a post-9/11 world and its push toward authoritarianism. The orchestra marks this by the ominous Dies Irae theme, resonating with the echoes of “fear.” My current focus lies in transitioning into the subsequent, more positive segment, seeking a balance that mirrors the complex emotional landscape of our times.

As this symphonic journey unfolds, the blending of life’s crescendos with musical cadences continues to challenge and inspire. Stay tuned for further updates as I navigate these chords of creativity and reflection.

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity, stretching my time across various fronts – from the meticulous preparations for the much-anticipated memorial concert on March 16, to essential updates in my studio, and diving into engaging video projects. Amidst this bustling schedule, my latest composition has been a constant beacon, drawing me back to the creative fold, albeit with the wish for more uninterrupted time to devote to it.

Progress Amidst Pressures

I’ve reached a pivotal point in my composition, rounding off the second section and venturing into the third. Yet, there’s a whisper of concern in the back of my mind about ensuring the orchestra’s voice isn’t overshadowed. The third section’s inception has also brought its own set of challenges, notably aligning my initial vision with the unfolding reality of the material at hand. Aiming for a substantial three-minute section feels just out of reach with the current content, prompting a reassessment of incorporating more orchestral breadth, which I’m currently navigating.

Drafting and Redrafting

The path forward seems to lie in drafting this section with flexibility, allowing for the organic integration of the orchestra as the piece evolves. This iterative process, balancing between the tape and orchestral elements, promises to be an intriguing journey of adjustment and discovery.

Feedback and Reflections

In a quest for fresh perspectives, I brought this evolving work to a composers’ forum last week, particularly highlighting the short variation I wrote for the memorial concert and the in progress one featuring presidential quotes. Through the Looking-glass with Mark was received well and the session was illuminating, with the debate on the final chord’s tonality—major for an uplifting resolution or minor for depth—capturing the essence of creative divergence.

However, introducing my new work proved to be a lightning rod for reactions, with its content stirring a mix of negative responses. While intended to provoke thought, the intensity of the feedback was a stark reminder of the fine line between challenging perceptions and crossing into realms some might find uncomfortable. This balance between provocation and respect, intention and reception, is a delicate dance.

Looking Ahead

Fueled by the forum’s feedback, I’m now contemplating subtle adjustments to ensure the piece remains provocatively engaging without alienating listeners. This process of refining and reevaluating is the heart of creative evolution, an endeavor made richer by diverse perspectives. Navigating through these complexities adds to the challenge of meeting the May concert deadline for this work, especially if significant revisions are necessary. I already sense that I’m behind schedule.

I plan to seek additional feedback by having others listen to the piece and gather diverse opinions. I might be reaching out to you, my readers, for insights, this piece’s journey is a testament to the complex tapestry of modern composition—where every note, every pause, and every feedback loop weaves into the broader narrative of our shared human experience.

Stay tuned as I continue to navigate these creative waters, seeking that harmonious balance where music not only resonates but also sparks meaningful dialogue and reflection.