on projects…
| i am taking some time here to reflect on some of the things that have been going on in my practice and some things i am looking forward to - firstly, i have a few compositions that i am working towards premiering - i really don’t consider myself to be a composer, i haven’t and probably will never study composition seriously, but i do find it fun - i have little ideas that i want to get out on paper and onto instruments - sometimes i find this very cathartic and invigorating for short bursts of time, other times i find it incredibly stressful - knowing myself i don’t fully commit to projects where there is no foreseeable benefit, and creating a loop track of a kalimba isn’t really going to benefit me while rent continues to go up in one of the most expensive cities in canada - nevertheless, i have been trying to push through with some of these compositions, and i will write more detailed descriptions of them if and when they release - some ideas are simple and performing them doesn’t really interest me for the sake of time - other ideas are quite good and evocative to me, and executing them are more of a challenge but they have momentum, keeping that pace is what is difficult - i get wild bursts of energy and creativity that just dump onto the page or into the practice room, afterwards i’m left with half-molded clay and an ever-fleeting muse that i can’t seem to properly recall - hopefully i will soon be able to justify the opportunity costs of these things, and properly finance these bits of creativity - until then, however, i may be left staring at the canvas dropping small bits of paint at a time |
| this isn’t supposed to be a moody post, so i will continue with what is good — lots of things - for one, i have recently booked a nice tour back home stopping in at my alma maters (alma matri?…) my current faculty position at Lane Community College, and various high schools, churches, and other colleges on the way - i’m really excited to have this opportunity to take a program with me and perform it for multiple nights, talking with students and audiences the whole time - that in and of itself is exciting, and invigorating - it will be fine training for another big program i will be initiating after - that coupled with auditions, teaching lessons, and the inevitable but hopefully related day job, are providing me with a good balance of artistic satisfaction and, well, money |
| lastly, i have two commissioning projects i am incredibly excited for - one is nearly complete in terms of gathering support; that is for a solo vibraphone piece by menelaos peistikos - his music has really impacted me - it strikes me as a true giants voice looking to be heard, but has yet to be - i don’t say this lightly either, i see a great deal of potential in him as a percussion composer, and a composer in general, and i am so happy to have found him early in his career - our consortium has nearly all of the members together and after hearing some sketches and his words on the piece, i am incredibly excited about this collaboration - my other commissioning project is with alexis c lamb in collaboration with the vancouver tap dance society - i’m not yet ready to speak on these details, but it has the opportunity to be a really cool touring project - speaking of tours so much, i may have another announcement in the coming days, i will write on that soon |