Working on a Deadline

I've been working on a string quartet of dances - it will eventually have 4 movements. I finished the fandango, and now I'm working on the waltz in hopes of finishing it before the Alexander String Quartet (pictured on the right) comes to LC to do a residency at the beginning of March. They have been visiting LC for several years doing master classes with string players and reading student string compositions.

This will be the first year I've had something for a quartet - I had been waiting to finish other composition assignments, so I would have the time to devote to a multi-movement work.

Working with a deadline is somewhat new to me...I've always had my own goals as when to finish most of my compositions, but never an externally influenced one.


I've been studying composition with George Skipworth this semester. It is really fun (and sometimes amusing)! Last lesson he had me re-play 10 measures of a transition in the waltz because he liked it so much.

George also gives me exercises to do at the end of my lesson - usually a seed that I have to build from, I have 5ish min, and then we look at it. It is interesting how it pushes your creative juices! I regularly get an assignment for the next week: I have to compose 4ish measures of something. One week it was trumpet + accompaniment (he loved that one...I think I'm going to work on that more once I finish my quartet), one week was a rhythm cell, this week the second line of a poem for SATB (I did the first line during the lesson).

Better get to work! I have less than 2 weeks to finish the waltz! (and it's not the only thing I need to do!! other homework needs to be done too!)

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ASQ will have a performance at LC on March 4th.

Waking up to Simple Gifts

Snowbuds ~ chrissy

Music is the perfect way to start the morning.

A song or piece helps set the mood for the day - whether clam, energetic, mellow, upbeat, motivating, anything!

The other morning I awoke to a recording of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring from the Seattle Music Orchestra (1997).  Uplifting melodies and harmony, the chirping of birds - like waking up in a forest, not my dorm room, thoughts of nature filling my head as I lay there a while longer.  Although classes had not started yet, I had somewhere to be - the building excitement of the piece helped urge me out of bed and prepare for the day.  And what a day it turned out to be!