hand2ear.com

I have added a page of sample recordings of some of my recent handbell compositions. Most of these are computer-generated, but one (A Serious Call) is a performance by my adult handbell choir.

This murky piece is a strict canon at the octave in four voices. A slightly different version for orchestra exists (2 clarinets, horn, trombone, tuba, bells, strings).

I was imagining Siegfried's Rhine journey underwater; perhaps he is being escorted by Captain Nemo.

Two new pieces: 'Secret Flower' and 'what granite islands', both relatively short and somewhat similar. However, the latter piece strikes me as being very odd in tone; it sounds comical sometimes, almost sheepish or embarassed, but also sort of solemn and ritualistic. Sounds stranger to me every time I listen.

I'm trying to keep my run of Friday compositions going - Twitter friend JC Combs invites composers to send improvisations every week, and it's my feeling that things composed this quickly are in effect improvisations.

My piece 'The Sepulchre at Sunrise' got its premiere yesterday at my church, and it went quite well.

Thanks to Sam Hoyland, trumpet, Sarah Vandewalle, flute, and Rebecca Bay and the youth handbell ensemble.

The recording should be up soon at holytrinitymusic.com, complete with crowd noise and babies.

I had a new piece premiered last Sunday, called 'The Sepulchre at Sunrise'; it combined several kinds of improvisation and non-coordinated playing with basically diatonic material. It was meditative and reverent but also seemed full of anticipation, like the opening of an Indian classical piece (before the tablas begin).

My thanks to the youth handbell choir at Holy Trinity Methodist Church in Danvers, as well as trumpet soloist Sam Hoyland and flautist Sarah Vandewalle.

This is the first time I have worked with a sophisticated content-management system, in this case Drupal.

Please be patient while I figure out how to make a web site that works well.

Years ago I saw a Cambodian dance troup and heard a live gamelan for the first time; it was quite unforgettable. Recently I've been listening to a recording of Lou Harrison's gamelan music, and it ocurred to me that I have my own gamelan-like ensemble - my handbell choirs.

So I wrote a gamelan-like piece for the senior bell choir of seven ringers. I think it works very well; they almost have it learned in two rehearsals, and they seem to like it.