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Works for Dance
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Instrumentation
My solo vocal scores
(unless otherwise noted)
are scored for a specific voice part and piano accompaniment. The Blake Songs can be sung by either a male or female singer.
Please see the individual descriptions of each piece to determine the specific ensemble needs of each work.
A Word about Piano Accompaniments
Although it is typical to accompany the voice with piano, I believe that this pairing is one of expediency and practicality, and not one of ideal musicianship. The voice's beautiful qualities are usually not enhanced or supported by the piano, which tends to be spiky and percussive.
Although most of the works here are for piano and voice, and they work quite well, I myself prefer other more suitable accompaniments for voices. If there is something here that you wish me to orchestrate for a small ensemble of your choice rather than the piano, I will happily oblige. Please contact me for for specific details and pricing.
Road Tested
All of my solo vocal works have been 'road tested' - that is, they've been rehearsed and successfully
performed by both amateur and professional musicians in church and concert settings.
Any bugs in either composition or music engraving have been worked out and corrected. You can purchase and perform my scores without fear of something going wrong on my end and wasting valuable rehearsal time on yours.
Personalized Arrangements
I can re-arrange or tweak any of the works listed here to suit your specific ensemble needs -
please contact me for details. Although I prefer to keep the works in their original key, I understand that vocalists' lives can be made immeasurably easier by moving the key gently up or down. I can change the key of any arrangement for an additional $5.00 per score.
I am also available for commissions or specific
composing or arranging needs.
I work quickly and efficiently
and can guarantee a work
of high quality for a very
reasonable price.
A Note About My Scores
Purchasing the work allows the buyer to copy as many parts as are needed for their specific ensemble.
Buyers are kindly asked not to lend, sell or otherwise distribute my scores outside of the specific ensemble for which they were purchased. Please refer interested parties to my website.
Performances
When you perform one of my works, I would be delighted to know how it was received - by both the audience and the musicians. This will help me both improve and document my compositions.
Programs, press releases, critical reviews and recordings are all sincerely valued and appreciated.
Recordings
Audio (unless otherwise noted)
is for reference only and will give your musicians an opportunity
to hear the composition.
My audios are typically created using
Wallander Note Performer 2.0 - 3.0
and Sibelius 7.5 - 8.5
If you need anything...
If you have a question about anything, please drop me an email and I'll do my best to provide you
with an answer as quickly as
I am able.
Thank you for being here.
I appreciate your interest
and hope to work with you.
David
Music for Dancing
$ 100.00 (USD)
Music for Dancing is a ballet piece about the process of composition - dance and music. In the first section, you can hear the composer and the choreographer experimenting with different motifs and ideas - they're spun out - stacked, removed - all to create the frenzy of trying to get those lightning strikes down on paper. The short middle section represents a few stilted efforts to get the piece off the ground, while the last section shows what happens when all aspects - movement and music - combine to create new beauty. Many of the musical motifs are taken from Stravinsky's earth shattering ballet Le Sacre du Printemps.
Scored for Piano, Violin and Bb Clarinet
This work was performed live at eastern University in 2011.
Although originally conceived as a dance piece, this work has been performed successfully several times on chamber music programs.
Price includes conductor's score and single copies of all parts. Parts may be copied to meet specific ensemble needs.
Score purchase is not transferable between ensembles. Scores may not be shared, copied, lent or used by any other person or persons except the purchaser and his or her ensemble.
That Most Pleasant Tyrant of the Emotions
$ 75.00 (USD)
"Ohh - your wife's a dancer and you're a pianist and composer - you must collaborate all the time..."
Alas, would that be true....but it has happened, and this is one of our most intimate and mischievous collaborations. The pianist is onstage for the performance, and as the piece progresses, he realizes that his music controls the dancer - what to do with this new found power? The title refers to a quote by martin Luther describing the composer Josquin de Prez, referring to his ability to move and influence his audience, even against their wishes...
Price includes piano score and dance notes.
Score purchase is not transferable between ensembles. Scores may not be shared, copied, lent or used by any other person or persons except the purchaser and his or her ensemble.
MUSIC FOR BALLET
$ 100.00 (USD)
MUSIC FOR BALLET is a collaboration between my wife Dr. Janine Bryant and myself. We attempted to create beautiful works of music that would not just mimic the rhythms, tempos and steps needed for ballet class, but to go deeper: to write music that would be inspired by the specific movements and thereby inspire the dancers to perform these movements more precisely and with more grace, power and beauty.
Scored for piano (harpsichord) and string quartet, each exercise has been crafted and honed to be used in ballet class. and string
Price includes vocal score with piano accompaniment and "C" instrument score. Copies may be made for the singer and the instrumentalist.
Score purchase is not transferable between ensembles. Scores may not be shared, copied, lent or used by any other person or persons except the purchaser and his or her ensemble.