Ecstatic Waters, edited mp3

I've just posted an edited mp3 of UT's performance of Ecstatic Waters at CBDNA. The biggest difference is the electronics - the recording didn't capture the electronic tracks very well because of the mic placement. I've layered in the original electronics, so they're much more present and clear - this is a better representation of how it sounded in the hall. If you downloaded the original mp3, I recommend you throw it out and download this one - it sounds much better!

It's the last link in the dark green box on this page.

Ecstatic Aftermath

Last Friday night's performance of Ecstatic Waters by UT at CBDNA was fantastic. I haven't written anything before now because 1) I'm exhausted, and 2) I don't really know what to say, beyond that it was fantastic, and part of an amazing week of music. Verena's transcription of Corigliano's Mr. Tambourine Man was stunning, in no small part because of soprano Hila Plitmann. The Michigan State University concert the next evening was equally impressive - piece after piece of really great and thrilling music. Asphalt Cocktail rocked even harder than I thought it would (and I expected plenty of rockin' to begin with). John made me envious (again) with his ability to lay down a complex yet satisfying groove with concert percussion and band. I *must* get me some of that. Carter Pann showed us in Concerto Logicthat he's ridiculously talented with the piano chops, and oh yeah, he also writes some decent music (!). Ricardo Lorenz, on faculty at Michigan State, burst onto the scene with his masterful first work for band, El Muro. Finally, Bolcom's new Symphony was impressive. I still feel a little ambivalent about some of the structural choices (the seemingly disparate clash of different musical moods and material didn't quite rub me the right way), but it was still a hell of a piece.

There was much more to the week, but I'm exhausted, and am in no mood to attempt real reviews of the music - not my job or my area of expertise. I'm eternally indebted to Jerry Junkin and the UT Wind Ensemble for playing the hell out of Ecstatic Waters. I'm a little sad that the piece's run at UT has come to an end, but I look forward to all the planned performances around the US next year! Mostly, though, I'm itching to get back to composing - haven't written a note since I finished Axis Mundi last Fall. Speaking of which, the recording is coming...today!

Ecstatic in Austin

Tonight's the night: Jerry Junkin and the University of Texas WInd Ensemble will perform Ecstatic Waters as part of the national CBDNA conference. If you're coming to the concert, get there early (having a ticket is no guarantee of admission). If you're not in the area, but want to listen online, it will be streamed live here:

University of Texas Austin Wind Ensemble, March 27th, 2009.

CBDNA begins... (plus the radio show download)

Familiar faces are swooping into town from everywhere, as the national CBDNA conference gets underway here in Austin. It's nice to go to one of these big conventions...and still be at home. In fact, I've lived in or near the city of each of the past three national conventions - New York in 2005, Ann Arbor in 2007 (I lived down the road in Bowling Green), and now Austin in 2009. If this continues, that'd mean I'll be in Seattle in 2011, but that doesn't look likely at this point.

Last night the first wave of the Japanese contingent arrived, in full party mode. I treated them to some snacks at Moonshine Grill, and introduced them to Shiner Bock and Shiner 100. They seemed to approve. :)

More this week, I'm sure - my big concert is Friday night with Jerry Junkin and the Univ. of Texas Wind Ensemble. Family and friends from all over are coming in for the group's performance of Ecstatic Waters, as well as the world premiere of V's new wind band transcription of John Corigliano's Mr. Tambourine Man on the very same concert. Hila Plitmann (that'd be Grammy-Award-Winning-Vocalist-Hila-Plitmann) is here to sing the premiere, and she sounded unbelievable in rehearsal today. It's going to be a hell of a night. In fact, the whole week has some of the most exciting programs I've ever seen - premieres and pieces by many of my friends and contemporaries, as well as William Bolcom's new symphony on Saturday night. All the gory details here.

I also hear JM has a brand new camera, so expect many pictures from this corner of the web. I'm just eager to finish off the week with an Asphalt Cocktail.

Lastly, here's the radio interview I did last week: Knowing the Score, with Dan Welcher. It's a 68Mb download, FYI. One small misleading bit (that I neglected to tell Dan - it's my fault, not his) - I'd just returned from Japan when we did the interview, but not for a performance of Ecstatic Waters, as Dan mentioned, but for the premiere of a brand new work, Axis Mundi, which, if you're one of the two people who read this blog, you will already know. Enjoy!

Back from Baylor

Bob Reynolds and the Baylor Wind Ensemble gave a really fine performance of the piece last night. There were a few odd moments in the opening of the piece (there usually are - the vast silent spaces and exposed single notes seem to make the players nervous, unfortunately), and the elderly audience member's mechanized breathing machine added an interesting element to the work (it wasn't really that bad - just had to mention it for the David Lynch quality it adds to the narrative).

Regardless, the energy and presence of the group was deeply satisfying, and Maestro Reynolds did a masterful job of unleashing the full ensemble throughout the tutti section of the work. It was great to hear him do the work live, and I wish I could be at the Carnegie and Tanglewood performances! Big thanks to the group and to their director, Eric Wilson, and congratulations to them on their selection to play at CBDNA next year in Austin - I look forward to hearing you all next March!

Now, I'm procrastinating on the windtronica piece until the UT New Music Ensemble concert tonight with John Adams... (at least I've managed to resist firing up MarioKart Wii!!).