Artist Blog
Writings by new and established artists
Featured This Month
Patricia Brennan: MAGIC SQUARE – Composition by numbers
Patricia Brennan discusses her work "Magic Square" and her approach to composition by numbers.
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Frank Carlberg: Some Harmonic Strategies In (Jazz) Composition
Frank Carlberg discusses techniques he uses to open up harmonic possibilities for new works with a particular focus on triads, tetrachods, and other harmonic devices.
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David Caffey: The Jazz Soli: The Arranger’s Solo
David Caffey frames some techniques he uses in soli writing along with giving examples and explaining his decision making process and the origin for the techniques he uses.
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The Archive
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Omar Thomas: SIXTEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING: The Realization of “Griot Songs”
Omar Thomas reflects on the process he took in making his latest Big Band album talking logistics, advice, and the process itself.
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John Hollenbeck: Composing a Better World
John Hollenbeck explores how the decisions during the composition process change the composer themselves and why that is important today.
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Greg Ward: Growth Through Collaboration
Greg Ward discusses various project that grew out of collaboration with other disciplines, the process, the impact, and how it continues to impact him.
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Tracy Yang: What It Takes to Lead a Big Band and Record an Album
The process of recording a big band and everything that comes after – Tracy Yang discusses the process of her album “OR” from writing…
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Bruno Råberg: Composing for a Ten-Piece Band – tone sets, counterpoint, motivic development, form and more
Bruno Råberg talks about translating tone sets, how he orchestrated for a 10-tet, and balance in composing with tone sets through his analysis of…
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Sarah Jerrom: Writing For 4 Voices – The Magpie Suite
Sarah Jerrom analyzes her work talking about instrumentation, orchestration, lyric writing, and the process of combining 17 instruments with 4 voices.
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Ryan Truesdell: Creative growth through self-imposed challenges
Ryan Truesdell reflects on some words from Jim McNeely, his current project, and advice for composers – should you write for big band?
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Neal Kirkwood: Composing With The Mind’s Eye – Translating Image Into Sound
Composer and Pianist Neal Kirkwood dissects his work “Paddy Harmon’s Dreamland Ballroom” looking at imagery and his technical approach to the piece.
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Vanessa Perica: My First Dive into the Symphonic World
Vanessa Perica reflects on adapting material from her big band album for her first symphonic commission.