Chamber CD - Day 10

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
12:05 PM

Okay, I woke up this morning and still felt the pangs of panic. So I decided that it was necessary for me to write today, to trust that I knew enough, just write freely and have fun.

I started off by playing through my Schumann. Carnival is one fun suite to play. I wanted to start off with something inspiring and uplifting and that did the trick.

Then I began writing and it was good. I am in so much better spirits now that I got some notes behind me. I wrote a few ideas, pacing around my studio, jotting them down then checking them on the piano. I got about 10 ideas or so this morning and now the next step is to let them sit for a bit.

The piece listing I have worked on last week worked wonderfully in focusing my music - I looked at the list, chose a piece I wanted to write, and then I just set to work. This morning I worked on a sorrowful, Lachrymose type of a piece, based on the Greek myth of Pirene, and a fast drumline-inspired piece.

Now for the next few says I plan to just come up with ideas without judging them as I write. Just play, experiment, let go. I will let them sit for a while then come back to them and see which ones are good, which ones will “grow” into pieces. I have come to call this first creative phase as “Planting Seeds.” Pretty cool.

I also did some listening to Bang on a Can and Alarm Will Sound, two contemporary ensembles that perform contemporary composers. I just wanted to see what I liked and, just as importantly, what I didn’t like about this music and presentation. I think I need to need what I don’t like as I continue to define my musical personality.

And I am also wondering if I should set deadlines for myself... can one write in a truly creative way under deadlines? Would I even meet these deadlines? I don’t want this project to last forever, I got so much more to do!