Ratty boo, Sofa so far so...

...a three hour tour?

2008-11-02T22:17:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a whirlwind weekend tour in the land of my birth, California. Visited the family units on Friday and then the rest of the weekend was taken up by attending the marriage of my dearest and closest friend to his wonderful partner. Happy marriage wishes to them both!!

2008-10-29T18:22:00.002-07:00

So...

A lot has happened this year! I've set aside some pieces, started others, finished at least one, and done a lot of conceptualizing/writing in general. It's been a very productive year so far.

Most recently, I finished a work for solo Oboe and Orchestra, somnus corvidae ("a crow's dream"), which I transcribed from my original presentation of the work for solo Oboe and Piano. To listen to an .mp3 of the work, click here! (9.5MB). For a (mostly cleaned-up) copy of the score, send me an e-mail. Likewise if you're interested in the Oboe/Piano version.

-Flint.

2008-10-29T18:14:00.001-07:00

*crickets*

*crickets*

News

2008-01-27T10:23:00.001-07:00

Here's an update!

No additional work has been done; I've put the concerto on hiatus until I can finish the work for 50 strings, since it's consuming my mental energy. ;-)

Another update when there's more info!

-Flint

Long overdue...

2007-12-21T14:57:00.001-07:00

...update!

Sorry about the lack of updates lately, I simply have had no time to compose, let alone update das blog. Expect some updates within the next week!

-Flint

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

No work today...!

nothing to report

2007-11-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

... Tuesday was band rehearsal and Wednesday was dinner with friends. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!

first cadenza

2007-11-19T22:32:00.001-07:00

Bowling was tonight, so I only put together another two measures... the first cadenza.

and so it begins

2007-11-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today I cobbled together the first 4 measures of the first movement. I also did the first ad lib. cadenza for the soprano saxophone, but Finale crashed when I tried to go to the next staff.

HARUMPH!
I'll have to re-enter it later. Ah, well.

And so it begins!

-Flint

Die Fledermaus...

2007-11-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

...was awesomely hilarious. I burst into laughter at the "Champagne Song". The orchestra was faboo, especially the bassoons, clarinets, and strings.

off to the Opera...

2007-11-17T18:44:00.001-07:00

I'm off to see Die Fledermaus!

-Flint

Finalizing the form

2007-11-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

After sleeping it over, I think I'm almost set as far as form goes. I am definitely dropping the fourth movement (waltz), and I'm probably going to re-evaluate the first movement's form.

For the time being, the movements are:

I. allegro (form unspecified at this time) - soprano saxophone
II. intermezzo (cha-cha) - baritone saxophone
III. à la française (tango/galop) - tenor saxophone
IV. furioso (mambo) - alto saxophone/all saxophones

I may change my mind at a later date, but for the present time I'm going to work off of this skeleton. Below is the orchestration again, this time with ideal number of players specified:

(1) Solo Saxophonist (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone)

(1) Piccolo (doubling C Flute)
(4) 1st Flutes (2 players doubling Piccolo)
(4) 2nd Flutes

(1) 1st Oboe
(1) 2nd Oboe

(1) 1st Bassoon
(1) 2nd Bassoon

(4) 1st Bb Clarinets
(4) 2nd Bb Clarinets
(4) 3rd Bb Clarinets
(1) Eb Alto Clarinet
(3) Bb Bass Clarinets

(1) 1st Eb Alto Saxophone
(1) 2nd Eb Alto Saxophone
(1) Bb Tenor Saxophone
(1) Eb Baritone Saxophone

(2) 1st Bb Trumpets
(2) 2nd Bb Trumpets
(2) 3rd Bb Trumpets
(2) 4th Bb Trumpets

(1) 1st Horn in F
(1) 2nd Horn in F
(1) 3rd Horn in F
(1) 4th Horn in F

(3) 1st Trombones
(3) 2nd Trombones
(3) 3rd Trombones

(4) Euphoniums
(4) Tubas

(5) Percussion

This is how the work stands at the moment, more later!

-Flint

Friday hat mir frei gemacht!

2007-11-16T23:50:00.000-07:00

Hey, no update tonight. It's Friday! I have better things to do than compose, such as... well, clean the kitchen (which is coming along nicely - a huge chunk of the floor was laid today).

More updates tomorrow, perhaps even a draft (don't hold your breath...)!

-Flint

On the naming of movements...

2007-11-15T17:18:00.000-07:00

At this point I have a few ideas running around in my brain as to general form. I'm almost settled on the dance forms for each movement.

I say almost because I'm still debating over movement I and movement IV. Movement I is currently envisioned as a Rag, featuring the Soprano Saxophone, while movement IV will be a jazz waltz featuring the Baritone Saxophone. I'm not convinced that a Rag would be a good opener for a suite... (proper) rags are slow and syncopated, and I'm picturing something with a faster, more intense beat so as to be able to throw some fast finger work in for the soloist. I'll have to give it some additional thought.

For movement IV, I'm thinking a Waltz featuring the Baritone Saxophone. I'm actually considering dropping this movement entirely and having movement II (Cha-Cha) be the Baritone feature. The Cha-Cha will also feature the flutes and piccolos.

On the larger scale it makes sense to have four movements; one for each of the four saxophones. I don't know... I'm waffling for now.

More later!

-Flint

Work in progress - Burlesque suite

2007-11-14T22:52:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd do something new and different for a change, so here I am, documenting my latest work on my (oft-neglected) blog.

The impetus for this piece is a conversation I had with my friend B.. We play in a band together and usually hang out after rehearsal to talk shop and kvetch. I was lamenting my lack of a project to focus on and he blurted out, "write me a solo piece with the band! Something where I can play each of the saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone) in the same piece." I thought about it for a while and decided, 'why not!'

After a few days of thinking on it, I put together a tentative orchestration for the piece:

Solo Saxophonist (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone)
Piccolo
1st & 2nd Flutes
1st & 2nd Oboes
1st & 2nd Bassoons
1st, 2nd, & 3rd Clarinets
Alto Clarinet
Bass Clarinets
1st & 2nd Alto Saxophones
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Trumpets
1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Horns
1st, 2nd, & 3rd Trombones
Euphoniums
Tubas
Percussion (5 players including drum set)

The working title is "Burlesque Suite for Saxophone and Wind Symphony". So far the tentative movements are:
I. moderato (rag)
II. intermezzo (cha-cha)
III. à la française (tango/galop)
IV. divertimento (waltz)
V. furioso (mambo)

Tonight I put together the score in Finale. I'll post a sample once I start working!

-Flint

Ratty boo...

2007-11-14T22:38:00.001-07:00

Ratty boo
Sofa so far so
Automobee
Ought to be Moby
Sofa so far
Ever over debout
Ever tin over
Skid a lit day
Skid a lit Ada Abarbanel:
who but Abarbanel buys a visa...vis

(copyright 1953 by Leonard Bernstein)