Biography

Dangerously Overeducated

Last Christmas I received a black sweatshirt with the above title emblazoned across the front: Dangerously Overeducated. I wear it proudly, and try to live up to the title as best I can.

Two years ago, my brother gave me my doctoral hood for Christmas. Most Ph.D.s don't bother to buy all the academic regalia unless they're actually IN academia and are required to don such rigamarole 2-3 times a year. But since I started singing in an Episcopal Cathedral choir, we are "allowed" to wear the academic hood for Evensong services and other special occasions.

Then I woke this morning with an epiphany - of sorts: I don't want to talk about music. I just want to make the music. I don't want to analyze it to instruct - I just want to know: how does it work? and maybe why? (Do you suppose the nuclear physicist feels this way?) He doesn't want to actually USE that bomb, he just wants to know how it works - for the pure esoteric joy of knowing? And if hypothesis become thesis becomes theory becomes revelation - all the better?

I wanted to compose a choral fanfare: the text (by Alice Corbin) began: "After the roar! After the fierce modern music!" I composed an 8-part arpeggiated vocal exclamation to fit the text - and the first time the chorus sang it, it was wonderful: dissonant, tense and alarmingly explosive, and I blurted, "Oh, my God! What have I done?"

THAT's what I mean about the Genius Life:
"Go home; write more music."

Blog rss

Surviving the test of time August 29, 2008
You can never know what will last or how it will change people's lives -
http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=94899
Comments (4) | Read more »
Noodling August 18, 2008
It's the musician's equivalent of doodling...
Comments (3) | Read more »
In the Desert July 31, 2008
Dear, dear Singers - July 19, 2008
( in which I talk to the singers about our recent recording session.)
Comments (0) | Read more »
True Confessions July 2, 2008
First of all - let me say how much I value the comments and encouragement I've found here in this forum, particularly as I attempt to do these recording sessions. I've got a great bunch of choral musicians, I've got a shoestring budget, and I've got the technology.
Comments (1) | Read more »
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Music rss

Title Genre Released Plays
Deck the Hall Holiday Nov 25, 2008 35
Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming A Cappella Nov 22, 2008 44
General Midi Suite - March Classical Nov 11, 2008 55
General Midi Suite - Taps Classical Nov 10, 2008 80
The Ashgrove A Cappella Oct 18, 2008 91
General Midi Suite - Reveille Classical Oct 9, 2008 122
I'll Sing On A Cappella Sep 24, 2008 95
Us Two Childrens Sep 22, 2008 116
Densities Classical Sep 16, 2008 90
The Falcon A Cappella Aug 29, 2008 113
Lullaby - take 2 A Cappella Aug 10, 2008 171
Be Thou My Vision Collab A Cappella Aug 8, 2008 157
Greensleeves A Cappella Aug 4, 2008 162
My Dancing Day Redux A Cappella Aug 3, 2008 144
Red Earth Interlude Classical Aug 1, 2008 150
Explorers Classical Jul 28, 2008 117
In The Moon of Wintertime A Cappella Jul 19, 2008 183
The Water Is Wide A Cappella Jul 14, 2008 147
Long Road Home Folk Jul 13, 2008 144
General MIDI Suite - Charge Classical Jul 13, 2008 137
In the Desert A Cappella Jul 11, 2008 142
Tango Lacrimoso Classical Jul 9, 2008 111
Fantasy on Wildwood Flower Classical Jul 5, 2008 114
Lullaby A Cappella Jul 2, 2008 145
Los Pollitos A Cappella Jul 1, 2008 499
Epiphanies II - Out of the Void Classical Jun 22, 2008 150
Bach Little Prelude in F Classical Jun 21, 2008 146
ComeThou Fount A Cappella Jun 21, 2008 180
The Child of My Imagination A Cappella Jun 18, 2008 153
In Sweet Joy Folk Jun 15, 2008 128
Let Evening Come A Cappella Jun 8, 2008 172
Red Earth A Cappella Jun 4, 2008 190
Scherzo Classical Jun 1, 2008 172
Tolling Bells Ambient May 30, 2008 132
Tarantella Electronica May 29, 2008 146
The Avowal A Cappella May 29, 2008 200
My Dancing Day A Cappella May 27, 2008 286

Favorites

Title Artist Genre Plays
Workaholic dirigent Other 251
Take Time To Be Holy Mystified A Cappella 191
Resonant Grace byHeart Inspirational 68
He's A Good Chap dirigent A Cappella 248
La faena MishaThaler Electronica 278
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (solo piano) mbehar Jazz 313
Maria durch ein Dornwald ging dirigent A Cappella 391
Run Run Bunny Bunny Go GumboStu Childrens 158
Blossom in the Night byHeart Classical 91
Bonzorno dirigent Inspirational 226
"The Morning Trumpet" byHeart Classical 112
Zoomorphisms - Elephant's Graveyard soulima Classical 247
The Paradox Lovers Justin_Case Other 372
Men (Remastered) dirigent A Cappella 375
Hoje tem Capoeira MishaThaler Other 312
Cedar Strip Canoe DennyCicak Folk 127
Joie De Vivre Overture (Version 2) soulima Classical 172
Sugar and Coffee dirigent A Cappella 456
The Bells of Sackets Harbor DennyCicak Folk 128
Joie De Vivre Overture (Version 1) soulima Classical 163
Bed Farts soulima Classical 265
Dream Cleaning byHeart Other 132
My Lord, What a Morning byHeart Inspirational 151
The Seven Deadly Sins - Sloth dirigent [+1] Inspirational 731
Mountains and Rivers Justin_Case Other 240
Beloved, a capella version, 3 voices bama A Cappella 231
Pachelbel's Canon (Canon in D Major) soulima Classical 1304
Stop War - Have Mercy dirigent Inspirational 304
Sea Chantey for Brass Ensemble byHeart Classical 173
IMPROV #4 : Blues Babyee.......!!!! OMNICELL Blues 147
IMPROVISATION #1 CLASSICAL .... " Autumn Squares" OMNICELL Classical 121
Intermezzo for Orchestra soulima Classical 412
Nubian song MishaThaler Other 333
Zoomorphisms - Tsetse Fly soulima Classical 186
It's Alright Danny2006 Country 182
Salon Music - Movement Two - Final soulima Classical 190
Crucifixus dirigent A Cappella 489
Stop War - Child Soldiers dirigent Inspirational 399
The Track Of Time (with new 1st movement) feenixx Other 422
Amazing Love (You are my king C Tomlin) ddball Spiritual/Gospel 344
the battle of wits zippi Other 126
Evening-Song dirigent Classical 1176
Guitar Concerto, mov3 davidsmith99 Classical 148
O Padre Nostro dirigent Classical 936
Microsonics soulima Classical 297
La Nuit dirigent [+1] Electronica 436
Festive Overture soulima Classical 553
In these Delightful, Pleasant Groves dirigent Inspirational 545
Critical Mass: Shepard's Nocturne feenixx Other 434
Joseph And The Devils feenixx Inspirational 383
Advent dirigent A Cappella 631
ANTARES---Composition for Strings OMNICELL Classical 438
peace colalucaenzo Inspirational 773
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