I Finally Finished!

Somehow, at long last, after a very long week I've finished another song!  It only took me a month to finish a new piece.  Why would this take me that long?  I wrote the first two-thirds in two days.  Whatever.

How long a week, you ask?  It's no big deal.  Not like it's the second to last week of the semester and suddenly every project is due in every class.  Can't tell you how much I enjoy that.  Probably about as much as I enjoy placing a spider on my face.  Nah, that's a little harsh, maybe just gnawing off a limb.

Now all of that is done and I can focus my attentions on other things.  This isn't necessarily one of the most important things I could accomplish right now, but I'm still happy!

Again, if there is anyone reading willing to help me out so I could have a proper live recording of something I would owe you so much - like cookies or something...  If you want to read the lyrics so you know what's going on, feel free.

If I should die

Love/Hate Relationship

So I'm sitting here at my computer with every intention of doing some homework, and yet here I am blogging instead.  Odd how that happens.

This month so far has been incredibly busy.  Our choir, the USU Chamber Singers, just did a recording for two albums last week (which will be phenomenal, by the way) and that is exhausting work.  Unless you've recorded a professional quality CD before you don't realise just how many hours it takes to lay down a handful of tracks.  The end result will be totally worth it, but I was sick of doing take after take after take.

At this time, I'm finding myself less than two weeks away from my junior recital.  I've discovered with this, and some related events transpiring, that I have a deep love/hate relationship with planning events.  I absolutely love hosting any sort of event, be it a party, games, social, ceremony, what have you.  I get such a kick from being a host, but I also get a little incredibly stressed worrying that I may have forgotten something.  If you know me, you will agree that I always, and I do mean always, forget something - especially while travelling.  No matter what I feel like something has slipped my mind but I can't remember what it was.  That feeling increases ten-fold while planning things.  It's annoying.

So it is that, amid all this potential stress welling up inside me, I blog.  I don't actually have any new songs completed, but I'm nearly finished with a new choral piece.  I'm really getting tired of posting MIDI files on here, so if there is anyone reading willing to do some sight-reading and give a guy a hand I would be much obliged.  At the very least, I can share the lyrics that go with said song.  I really like them and they actually came from my heart (I hate writing lyrics because they always feel forced - not this time!).

If I should die tomorrow, please hold me one last time,

Let me feel your arms around me, your heart beat close to mine.

Do not fear for me, my love, mine is not the cause to mourn.

All I ask is that you live your life, our life, as bravely as before.

Walk the paths that we have trod, see the sun arise each day,

Hear the music now surround you, smell the breezes swift and gay.

Do not weep for me, my love, mine is not a fate to fear.

Promise me you'll savour every day for I will always be there.

That music, my music, will never leave your side,

For I've already claimed a spot as your angel and it is there I'll ever abide.

Nothing else incredibly important nor humourous to say, but I think that will suffice.  Happy Almost-the-End-of-the-Semester, everyone!

Happy Easter!

If you're anything like me, you've been bombarded this week on Facebook and elsewhere in the media about gay marriage.  Don't worry, I'm not using this as an opportunity to shove even more politics down your throat, but I do have some things I want to say about this seemingly endless debate.

First off, yes I am in support of gay marriage, but life will go on regardless what the courts decide.  That's one thing I didn't mind seeing on Facebook: people simply stating their opinions and beliefs so others know.  That is perfectly fine and no one is ever offended.  Even just the red "equality" signs all around were very simple and peaceful ways to express views.

What I didn't enjoy seeing was the fighting and arguing between sides.  No one party was more guilty than another, but they worked together to bring a horrible spirit and general anguish to everyone's Facebook page this week.  I'm certain not one person wanted to post a simple declaration of belief in the morning and come back later to see two of their "friends" battling over which opinion was "right".  In what world is this okay?

To those in support of gay marriage - Please stop viewing everything as an argument waiting to happen.  Just because others do not feel the same way doesn't mean they're trying to hurt you or are filled with hate.  Accept these differences and move on.  You are helping no one's case by lashing out every chance you get.

To those in support of traditional marriage - I appreciate your views and opinions and understand where they're coming from.  You have every right to feel the way you do.  You do not, however, have the right to post comments and scriptures on your wall intended to cut down or demean those who feel differently than you.  Do not declare to all of these individuals, many your own "friends", that they are led away by Satan because they're opinion is not the same.  Do you realise just how many people you hurt and drive away?  Did you not read the LDS Church's official response to this week?  They made their stance clear but tread on no one to make it so:

"As a church, our doctrinal position is clear: any sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong, and we define marriage as between a man and a woman. However, that should never, ever be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel.  His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down." - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints official statement

This weekend is Easter, a time we celebrate our Saviour and the amazing gifts he bestowed on us.  Even for those who are not Christians, Easter and spring still bring feelings of brotherly love and tranquility.  Have we not all done enough already to destroy that this week?  In one way or another, we are all brothers and sisters.  We share relationships with others to build each other up and feel loved and welcome, like a safe haven from a storm.  We have this world to share, but if all we want to do is bicker among ourselves how can we ever hope to get along day to day?  Christ did indeed teach love, respect, and tolerance.  Why is it we often neglect our own actions and not follow that simple, perfect example?

As an Easter gift, here is an arrangement I wrote of my favourite hymn, "In Humility, Our Saviour".  Let's remember what this time of year is supposed to be about and continue to practice love, tolerance, and kindness to all those around us.  Lift an individual, never tear them down.  Yay, Easter!

In Humility, Our Saviour

Work in Progress

This is the point where I'd usually share some interesting point of my life to tie it into what I'm planning on sharing with the world, but to be honest not much has really transpired.  My life is ever so interesting.

Anyway, I have another song that's fairly new.  Just as I was heading to bed a couple weeks ago a melody came in my head that I've tried really hard to remember.  I think I still have the majority of it there, but if you've ever been in that situation you know how annoying it can be when inspiration strikes as you're falling asleep.  I'm of the opinion that God does that just to make you frustrated that you were almost really awesome automatically and then takes it all away whilst you slumber.  Oh, well.

So, back to my story, I hurried and put together something on the piano and recorded it so I could remember it and get something solid I can have faster than what it would take to notate.  Long story short, here's a new piece for my musical that is still a work in progress, but this gives the general idea.  When inspiration strikes at my bedside again, maybe I'll finish lyrics for it.  Ha ha!  In the meantime, enjoy and let me know what you think! (But no comments about the playing - I was improvising and kept second-guessing what the next chord was supposed to be. :))

Call Me (Preview)

ACDA and Choir Nerd-dom

This week I've been lucky enough to attend the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Dallas, Texas, and I have had a blast!  It's the best place to be for all those who consider themselves choir nerds.  There were many composers there to meet and talk with and I can't even begin to explain the mountain of free sheet music I acquired through the week.  I know half the people reading this could probably care less, but free sheet music is the best thing ever!

Composer John Rutter

First I got to see John Rutter and hear him discuss a little of his newer pieces.  For anyone who is performing a John Rutter piece in their choir, be it a college, high school, or church ensemble, all you need to know is that he often compares his soprano lines to a Julie Andrews musical.  Frequently he told the sopranos in this reading session "That's very polite, sopranos, but it needs a little more Julie Andrews," and would proceed to do a little dance.  It was great!

I also watched a documentary on composer Morten Lauridsen and since have come to feel that he is one of the great treasures of American choral music.  He is such a humble and simple man who loves to live among beauty and write that into his music.  If you've never heard him before, now would be the time to YouTube him, particularly his pieces "O Magnum Mysterium" and "Sure on this Shining Night".

A really amazing chandelier at the Dallas Opera house!

There were also more concerts than I've ever been able to attend before from amazing groups all over the country.  We were able to see these in the Meyerson Symphony Center and the Winspear Opera House in the Arts District of Dallas.  The Winspear has the most amazing chandelier that lights up, changes colour, and can retract into the ceiling.  I took so many pictures of that chandelier I can hardly believe it myself, but the space was just so breathtaking!

My friend Mandie and I with composer Ola Gjeilo

One of my favourite moments was when my friend Mandie and I were volunteering backstage during concert rehearsals at the Winspear Opera House.  Pretty soon the guy in charge of the building came backstage and asked us if we saw Ola Gjeilo ("Yay-lo") playing piano on stage.  We're singing one of his pieces in choir right now and so Mandie and I ran to the stage and asked, rather awkwardly, to shake his hand.  Later, when he came back for the actual performance, we kind of stalked him out and waited at the door for him to show up.  He was very nice and really humble so he didn't call us too creepy for waiting by the door!

My creeper shot of composer Eric Whitacre

Oh, we also got to see and sing for Eric Whitacre (he's really arrogant, but that's okay) and perform the amazing Benjamin Britten War Requiem for thousands of attendees.  I'm really lucky because most choir nerds are fortunate to perform that piece once in their lives and I've done it twice!  It was such an amazing and spiritual experience.  I am so glad I got to participate and soak the whole environment in as well as make a few new really fantastic friends.  I left so inspired and ready to hit the ground running with my conducting career and well as some good ideas for new songs.

Best week EVER!

Meyerson Symphony Hall

The Dallas Winspear Opera House

My Point is . . .

I'm sure a lot of people have looked at the title of my blog and wondered "What the heck is 'musique fierte?'"  It's a little snooty of me, but it's French for "Music Pride" - I chose French mainly because I decided that any English title sounded a bit mundane for music purposes.  :)

I chose "music pride" for two main reasons.  First: as I've mentioned before I've always wanted to write a musical.  I've attempted two other times, actually.  The first one was to be called "Nichola & Garredd" and I was writing it with a friend; that's the show the Overture I posted came from.  It never made it very far, but my second attempt fell apart even sooner since I hardly had any songs written before I gave up on it.  It was meant to be a story of a bunch of young single adults living and learning in Logan.  Clearly that worked.  It went by the wayside when I felt impressed to write something else, something I'm trying to work on now.

Which leads me to reason number two: this other musical is meant to address something I feel all music could, should, and more often than not does do and that is heal.  I think just about any music can be a source of healing for a person, but especially when it's written to that specific intent.

Today, since it's my birthday (yay!), I wanted to post something different.  These are "lyrics", for lack of a better term, for what I would like to be the opening number of the new show I'm working on.  I have no idea what the music will sound like, but these words put into words how I feel about life sometimes.

"Life is always full of surprises.
That's a common fact, but if there's one thing we need to learn about those surprises, it's that they can completely ruin our plans.
You know those plans, right?
You've had them since you were little.
Your parents have, too.
In school, they had you call those plans "Dreams".
They taught classes on Dreams.
They always started with the same questions.
'What do you want to be when you grow up?'
'Where do you want to go to school?'
'What do you want to study?'
'What do you want to find in a girl or boy?'
'Want'
It's always about 'want'.
They teach you that Wants and Dreams are the same.
Life has something else to say about that.
Life says that Dreams need to meet Reality.
Funny thing, Reality.
It's very unforgiving.
Before too long, Dreams find themselves in tatters on the floor.
Your dreams, usually.
But sometimes your parents' dreams, too.
That's when Pain rears its ugly head.
But I've found there's one thing - the only thing, really - that can ban Pain from Life and reshape Dreams, and that's
Pride.
Not pious, not ego-driven.
Just sustaining, courage-breathing, self- and God-accepting
Pride."

You, whomever is reading this, may have different ideas, but these thoughts get me through my day sometimes.  I want my music to have this sort of effect on people so that more people can find that "Pride" for themselves and realise that life is good and they can make it.  I guess that's kind of my whole point to this blog.  I'm not doing it for selfish reasons, that's not why I want my music out there, I want to make a difference in even a few lives and then it's all worth it.

Surprise! . . .or Not so Much

I had a completely different idea in mind for this post until last night.  Now it's story time!

Last night we had the opportunity to sing an Anglican Evensong here in Logan which was really cool.  Afterwards I had a recital to go to then plans for dinner with a few friends.  When I arrived at my friends house they actually were throwing me a surprise party - though not so much a surprise.  I had kind of figured it out a week before that they were going to throw me a party either last night or tonight so I wasn't completely surprised by it all.  I felt a little bad because I know my friend had put a lot of thought and effort into the party, but she didn't hide things as well as she should have.  Besides, I'm kind of nosy and a little too observant sometimes.  It made my night, regardless!

I also finished this song last night.  The first half I wrote probably around 2 years ago and never finished it so I decided to try and finish it last night.  It's nowhere near perfect, but you can let me know what you think.  It may or may not be the last one for a while since there has been a computer error on my old computer and all my old songs may be lost (yeah, I'm a little freaked out about that).

So you all know, I really appreciate everyone who has been listening and giving feedback. Though I don't like to share it, music has little point if no one hears it.  I love the world! :)

Prelude in F Major