Yesterday, composer for The Simpsons, Alf Clausen visited our school and focused on the broadway music that he has featured on that show. I only popped my head in from time to time as my chairmanly duties pulled me away, but the Mancini studio was packed — smelled like a basketball gym in there. Most [...]
I was in the mood for a little Conlon Nancarrow and found this fun 30″ video called “Everytime i prepare myself a cup of tea with milk, i can’t help spilling it.”
Before I moved to California, my teacher, Leon Kirchner, introduced me to Leonard Rosenman. I remember several trips out to his beautiful Malibu home. I brought my music, and we played each other music for three hours, and chain-smoked.
Leonard taught a few times for us at UCLA. And before my time, he taught music [...]
Graham Streeter brought over a CD of miscellaneous music by a gentle German composer. He made we watch an interview with him, one that I do not recommend watching — just listen to the music.
Musicians know of John Cage’s adaptation of the piano by putting paper clips, paper, metal stuff, screws and such in the [...]
After two years of disappointing “winners,” the Academy awarded a well deserved Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score to the Italian composer, Dario Marianelli for his score to ATONEMENT. Not since Alexandre Desplat have I heard such a terrific new voice in film music. Watch the film and listen carefully to [...]
I don’t think composers can really write constantly without taking breaks. To a person on the outside, these breaks might look like “goofing off” but we composers know that you have to recharge your batteries.
Swallow.
Take big breaths.
Stretch.
Take a nap.
Have a meal or a snack.
Take a walk.
Run an errand.
Surf the web.
Putter in the garden.
Make a [...]
Composer (and my teacher at New England Conservatory), Malcolm Peyton told us several times that a composer’s metabolism is reflected in his/her music. A brilliant observation — although I remember one classmate at NEC who loved to play late Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and Ravel, but when it came to writing his own music, it was like [...]
Composer Steven Mackey was UCLA’s visiting composer yesterday. He gave a 2-hour talk about his music and life. He played a fantastic work for 4 electric guitars, 5 singers and large orchestra called “Dreamhouse.” He stopped between movements and answered questions from students and faculty with great style.
Later, Paul, Mitchell, Susan, David and I went [...]
Last week composer John Adams agreed to fly down to rainy LA and visit our students. It was a big success. There was an hour of John critiquing live performances of student composers’ works followed by an hour and a half where he discussed some recent music. My chairmanly duties did not allow me to [...]
Another one of my heroes: John Williams. This clip was uploaded by karthiktn and explained in her/his notes:
John Williams did the theme music for NBC Nightly News Beat many many years back. Recently in 2006 he recorded it afresh with a 90 piece orchestra at the Sony Studios, Culver City, CA.
Subscribe in a reader