Ok, it is Update Time.
First: Unsafe Bull (that’s me) has joined the RPM Challenge. That is right, I’m going to make 10 tracks or 35 minutes of music this month. Woot. So far I’ve kind of started almost two pieces. Tomorrow will make a difference, trust me! You will hear results as they happen.
Second: I’m going on tour! Ensemble Ilusis is traversing Louisiana and beyond. I’ll be pounding out my Miniatures for piano and tape, spinning Blue Jaunte for fixed audio, and Richard Schwartz from SELU will be playing Calling for tenor sax and drone. If you are at LSU, McNeese, U of Southern Miss, or SELU next week, come check us out. Mention this posting and I’ll give you a score and CD to something. I’ll probably give you free stuff anyway. Scores and recordings of my pieces being done are where you’d expect.
Third: New recordings online! The long awaited additions of my solo marimba pieces Songs My Radio Taught Me are now up. Andrew Spencer played these at his recent recital and the recording just made its way into my hot little hands. These pieces are tougher than I intended but sound great. Check them out on the page where I keep such things.
January 28, 2010
I have stuff to report, but more importantly:
Find out more right here.
January 19, 2010
If you haven’t heard about it already, Glenn Weyant has put together a charity recording project to raise money for Haiti. Lots of people have contributed a track so I’m sure you’ll find some music that you like on it. 100% of the money raised from the sales are going to Food For the Poor, which is an excellent organization. Check out the recording, give what you can, and thank you!
I feel fortunate that I could give a track to the disc. Very often I feel like what I do, writing music, doesn’t really matter. In the grand scheme of things, who cares if there is yet another composer in the world and maybe I should pack it in and go work for a food bank or something that actually helps people. Glenn’s project has shown me how I can do what I love to do and still bring some benefit to the greater world. It is an idea I’m going to explore more.
January 6, 2010
Happy New Year to all of you. Lots of stuff on the horizon for 2010! Here is the short list:
February: Ensemble Ilusis tour of Louisiana (includes performances of Miniatures for piano and tape, Calling for tenor sax and tape, and works by Jeremy Sagala and Phillip Schuessler). And Blue Jaunte will be done at the UNC Chat Digital Arts festival.
March: EMM Invitational at Lewis University (still working out what is going to be played there)
April: Carnival Daring-Do will be shown at the SEAMUS National Conference at St. Cloud State
In the mix are two CD releases (Mancala Variations and Blue Jaunte) due out soon. Also look for a total revamping of my Works page. Unsafe Bull is going to break free and get its own URL and such soon.
December 4, 2009
I can see snow on the ground from my office window. And I definitely spun my tires on the way in today. Je dig.
Newest of new piece is up today. Peregrine Falcon is a 5 minute piece that B. Artis Smith will choreograph for a concert in the near future. Smith’s choreography is based on bird personalities. I was given a list of various birds (and their personalities) and picked the falcon. The piece was a lot of fun to put together and I can’t wait to see what choreography goes with it!
November 24, 2009
New piece wrapped up today. For Robert Voisey’s 40th birthday, I wrote an invention based on his name. I don’t remember how I exactly got his name into notes so I’ll let the theorists bash that one out.
Score here, virtual recording here.
November 12, 2009
Just found out this evening that I got Honorable Mention at the Areon Flutes International Composition Competition. That is pretty slick. Winners were Joel Hoffman, Keith Fitch, and Robert Stine.
The others who were mentioned with honor are Adrienne Albert and Lansing McLoskey. I know Lansing and I’m happy to be in the ranks with him. That is a good sign.
October 29, 2009
It was Birthday Week, now it is Video Day!
Carnival Daring-Do, the video collaboration I did with Carla Poindexter, is now up on Vimeo. I’ve also updated the links for it on my Works page.
Carnival Daring-Do from Jay Batzner on Vimeo.
Remember that snippet about Fear Cage by Kirk Gay for which I provided an aural soundscape? Well, pretend you did for a moment. Now bask in a video of Kirk Gay and Jonathan Cooper performing the piece.