MontBlog

As of this moment, I am done with “Dark Energy.”  I actually finished the piece on Saturday 3/13, but I have been editing, tightening, fixing, and adjusting the piece the last week.  Today I just sent off the parts!  So now for some nuts and bolts:

• the piece comes out to just a little bit under 10:00.  The commission was for a piece 8:00-12:00 long.
• it is a grade 5, and calls for piano, water gong, crystal glasses, and a “vacuum effect” that I will explain in a later blog.
• there was a conscious decision to score more on the lighter side than I am used to.  I studied some Copland, Gillingham, Mackey, Ravel, and Stravinsky scores to see “how they did that”.
• unlike most, if not all, of my wind band works, the percussion is not as intense, and the mallet parts are a bit on the easier side as well.

So what’s the piece about?  Well… I will just copy and paste the information from the HubbleSite that inspired the piece:

Just about 14 billion years ago, the universe flickered into existence in an event known as the Big Bang.  As the universe expanded, it became vastly larger and dramatically cooler.  Atoms formed, then molecules.  Gravity drew the matter into greater and greater clumps, eventually bringing into existence the stars, planets, and galaxies so familiar to us today.  Because the universe’s mass was so close together, gravity began slowing the universe down.

But in the background the entire time was this other, mysterious, repulsive force — the force scientists would come to attribute to “dark energy.”

Scientists have found this unexplained force is changing our universe, forcing galaxies farther and farther apart, stretching the very fabric of space faster and faster.  If unchecked, this mystery force could be the death of the universe, tearing even its atoms apart.

With dark energy, as the universe expands ever faster, all of gravity’s work will be undone. Clusters of galaxies will disband and separate. Then galaxies themselves will be torn apart. The solar system, stars, planets, and even molecules and atoms could be shredded by the ever-faster expansion. The universe that was born in a violent expansion could end with an even more violent expansion called the Big Rip.

Pretty heavy stuff, huh?!?!

“Dark Energy” is my interpretation of the Big Bang, the creation of the galaxies, and the Big Rip.

• A Section: the piece opens with crystal glasses signifying the emptiness of space.  The elements grow and then become closer and more dense.  More motion is created until we finally have a climax; the Big Bang!
• B Section: the universe is being created. Planets are created as explosions and collisions take place throughout.
• C Section: stars, planets, and galaxies are formed.  The beauty and awe of the universe if before us.  Motion starts to slow down… only to speed up again.
• D Section: the expansion of the universe, once thought complete, continues as the motion accelerates.  As the hurried pace continues, the solar system begins to tear apart.  After a final serene moment, the universe can take no more as the piece culminates in a the Big Rip leaving only the serenity of space.

Sound interesting?  Then take a look and listen!!

midi realization

pdf score (printing disabled)

It’s been a busy few days as I have finished about 7 minutes of the piece!  I never really reached a good stopping point at a good point in the night.  Usually I end up at about 12:00 and to me, there’s another 4-5 hours of composing time!  But tonight I reached the end of the C section and I just so happen to be exhausted, so why not call it a night after a quick blog!

As you will see in the score, I have completed three major sections: the A section is the slow build and growth; the B section is when the piece begins the motion and oscillation; the C section is the “slower” section that doesn’t really slow down as it still has motion underneath; It’s just more in a halftime and the rhythms underneath have changed to longer subdivisions.  Again, if you’ve read the story you’ll have a pretty good idea of what these sections represent.

I won’t be posting a midi until I have finished the piece.  I want to make sure I am happy with the work before I “unleash it unto this world.”  True, it’s rarely every going to be truly ready, but I suppose I can put it off as long as possible.

But you have the scores to look at… and ear training is supposed to train you to hear what you see!!!

DARK ENERGY 3/11/10

As those who blog know, it sure is hard to make the time to actually blog.  The other issue is making sure you have material to blog about!  Sure, I could talk about walking along Town Lake, thinking about where my piece is going… but that wouldn’t make a good blog.  So I waited  until I had something substantial to blog about.

I am calling it quits “early” tonight, 2:31 am, as I have reached a major stopping point in the piece.  I have fully orchestrated the first part of the piece; the intro or A section, if you will.  Tomorrow I will begin orchestrating the B section and will probably take a few days to get to the C section.

The A section comes out to about 3:22 depending on how the fermatas and rubatos are taken.  I will go into detail after the piece is finished regarding what this first part is about.  But if you’ve read the theories of Dark Energy, then you have a pretty good idea.

I’m posting the first 12 pages of the score for fun.  This isn’t the “final” draft as I will make sure to go over it and check for errors, collisions, etc.

Enjoy!

DARK ENERGY (3/6/10)

I know there are many different ways of composing.  Some people prefer sequencing, others prefer composing right onto the computer (FinaleMusic anyone?), and there are still some that compose and orchestrate on 11X17 sheets of staff paper; no notation software!  As for me, I sketch and write out everything on staff paper first, and then orchestrate on the computer once I’ve reached a good chunk of music.  I use Finale 2009 (2010 is a horrible upgrade) and input using the cursor keys and numbers using speedy entry.  While I do have a keyboard capable of midi interface and allowing me to input that way, I find that I am actually faster using the QWERTY keyboard.  Probably a product of me not having a midi (capable) keyboard for so long.

So far, I have about five sheets of staff paper with notes, sketches, melodies, progressions, prose (that’s text!), and LOTS of chicken scratch!  I hear famous composers sell their sketches.  Me… I’d be worried people would think I was crazy based on what I sketched out!

Right now I have what I will call the Intro and the first climax all sketched out.  If you read the previous entry, you can probably guess what that first climax is supposed to represent.  As for the intro… let’s just call it the “calm before the storm.” 

Enough dilly-dallying… time for more writing!