Mira Costa H.S. in sunny Southern California.
I met with the Mira Costa Wind Ensemble again today as they read my latest finished work: an arrangement of “Greensleeves”.
I love the immediacy of being a resident composer. I just finished Greensleeves less than two weeks ago and I’m already hearing it played by a live ensemble. The aural feedback is invaluable.
For example, I now know I need to add a few more articulation markings here and there.
And I’m learning to appreciate once again how damn hard it is to play an instrument. When you listen to professional recordings all the time (not to mention the computer-perfect MIDI playback on Sibelius), you begin taking musical skill for granted.
For example, I learned today that it’s pretty damn hard to play a high “G” on a piccolo with any sort of control. It was a bit more shrill than I expected. So I’m taking the whole line down an octave. I’m sure it would have been fine with a professional ensemble. But hey… it would be nice if bands other than the Dallas Winds could approach my music!
As a composer, I suppose I’m always a bit self-conscious about my music. Like the girl who doesn’t realize how beautiful she is.
For example, I’m constantly fretting about whether the stuff I write is too cheesy, or re-hashed, or too repetitive, or not interesting enough. So I’m always surprised and relieved when I get good feedback. The conductor, Joel Carlson, told me, “I like how you’ve harmonically reinterpreted the melody. I’d like to program this for next fall.”
Hopefully, other conductors will feel the same way. I need a couple of good “money pieces” so I can focus on composing full time. I’ve got a TON of ideas I want to get down on paper!
