All scores were created with Sibelius, the incredible
music scoring tool.
Lengths for each piece are given; of course, if tempo is changed, this will
change.
You will need the free Sibelius Scorch plug-in to view the musical scores. Alternatively, you can listen to the midi files without downloading the plug-in. (Also, the plug-in seems to work erratically on some computers... not my fault :) Try the scores---even if you do not "read music", just watching the notes go by can be an interesting experience, and there are certainly many elements in notation that are intuitive, like general pitch areas (high-low), lengths, note density, and instruments. The plug-in also gives greater control over the playback, including transposing up or down and changing the tempo. You can also click anywhere to hear playback from that point.
Note that MIDI playback varies widely from computer to computer. It is also only an approximation of real instruments, and sometimes a pretty poor one at that. In addition, lyrics cannot be played back with sounds other than"aah" or "ooh" (as far as General MIDI is concerned). Sometimes there are discrepancies in the intended rhythm of pieces, as in The Blackbird, explained below. Also, volumes during held notes often don't change when composing using scoring software ... this is lacking in pieces like Dust Devil, where the crescendos and decrescendos that a real orchestra would play are pretty crucial for the piece's expressiveness. (The volumes only change at the *start* of notes, not during a sustain.) Occasionally, during loud sections with many instruments, distortion may be present if your MIDI settings are high.
MIDI, and specifically General MIDI, is getting better, but there's a lot that can be done yet. Often, computer sound cards are equipped with basic, low-cost MIDI synthesizers, so some of the sounds are ... less than optimal. (This varies by instrument a lot.) To adjust the MIDI sound level (on PC), go into your volume control panel and adjust "Software Synth". This is the included MIDI generator on computer sound cards. To adjust level for mp3 files (as they may be a bit quiet), change the Wave slider. Generally, the level of Software Synth should be relatively high. Mac controls are similar, found in System Preferences.
Two Piano Scherzo -- 2:30 -- SCORE -- MIDI :: Scherzo ... literally, "musical joke" ... in this case, a frenzied, relatively disconnected string of ideas. I especially like the Stravinsky-esque "mosh chords" a little ways in.
O Dolce Vita Mia -- 6:00 -- SCORE -- MIDI :: A modern madrigal-like piece using text from a 16th-century madrigal. One of my most meaningful and expressive works. Set for 8-part choir, with several "sub-group" sections for a quartet or octet. Here is where some additional MIDI vocalizations would be wonderful ...
Note: Because there is no zoom feature in the Scorch
plug-in, the lyrics can be difficult to read.
Dust Devil -- 4:00 -- SCORE -- MIDI :: Large-scale work for Symphonic Band (30 separate instruments). My most challenging and time-consuming scored work to date.
Suite for Percussion: Master's Thesis Composition
For xylophone, two vibraphones, and three marimbas. These instruments sound pretty decent on most basic MIDI configurations ... a bonus for me while I worked. ;-) Plus I love playing them and wish I owned some.
If an instrument sounds like a piano, that's not intentional. Still working out the Scorch settings.
Prelude -- 2:30 -- SCORE -- MIDI
Scherzo -- 2:30 -- SCORE -- MIDI
Allemande / Waltz -- 4:00 -- SCORE -- MIDI
Evening Rain -- 3:00 -- SCORE -- MIDI
The Blackbird -- 2:30 -- SCORE -- MIDI
:: A setting of a short Wallace Stevens poem, for a small wind ensemble,
mandolin, marimba, and Alto. Also note that this piece was one of three Comprehensive
Exam questions (the other two were substantial papers) that I had a total of
one week to finish! I think it wound up being one of my best pieces, regardless
of the short time I had to write it. you know what they say about deadlines.
Note: In several places, tremolo of notes extends beyond
intended length and is erratic. This is unfortunate but apparently cannot be
remedied.
Strollin' -- 4:00 -- SCORE -- MIDI -- mp3 (live recording) :: Got the ideas for this one out walking one night. Started with the bass, made it in F minor for easy improvisation on the piano and sax, and the rest wrote itself.
Note: the second half of score / midi is filler background chord vamping for the sax solo (not "composed" as the first section is). Listen to the live recording instead. It's got me on piano and a couple of buddies on sax and percussion. Thanks Mark for a wicked job on the sax!