A bigger project

As the title suggests, I'm starting work on a bigger project. For the second half of the semester, I'll be working on a wind ensemble piece. Dr. S lent me a rather hefty pile of scores so I can study them this week (Spring Break!), and hopefully that will give me a better idea of what to do as I begin my own experiment with wind ensemble music. It's great to have such an encouraging instructor, but he also said that because the medium of "wind ensemble" is a relatively new one, so there's maybe some extra room for creativity. It's easier to do things that haven't been done before.

All the while, I'm wondering whether I'm beginning to stray from the path. I've acknowledged already that I prefer the voice because it is the most natural, organic, and portable of all the instruments, and I'm still very interested in composing choral music. Despite less-natural nature of manufactured instruments, I'm still compelled to write for an instrumental medium. If, God willing, I end up being published, there's a chance that I'd be able to reach more people with my message if I write for multiple media.

I don't doubt that many composers are strong environmentalists, but I couldn't name any. I may just be ignorant, but I believe that composers can and should pay more attention to the environment. David Maslanka has a strong appreciation for nature, and I really his music. I'm not certain that I want to emulate him (we'll see: I haven't looked through his scores yet), but I based on the sound and based on some of his own comments on his music, I feel that his music is rooted in a very organic reality. That's something that I find very attractive in music.