"Raven" was comisioned by Nikki Trail a junior music major
at the University of North Carolina Greensboro on the occasion of her junior
recital. Commision is probably too strong of a word, no money exchanged hands,
she simply volunteered to come back and help out with band camp. Little does she
know I would have written it for her for free, that is unless she reads this
post. In any case her recital has a theme that is centered around birds. Nikki
wanted a piece around six minutes in length entitled "Raven" She wanted it to be
dark and mysterious which wasn't a problem for
me (*See most things I've written).
I started out with a story in mind. The Raven would realize that is was an ugly bird that was unloved and unwanted. For a fleeting moment the Raven imagines that it might be beautiful and admired like the eagle. In the end it would realize that it would never be beautiful. When I wrote the piece I started with that idea in mind but in the end I left out the "beautiful" part and just stayed dark.
I started out at the piano, unusual for me, and I sketched out a few ideas that I was excited about. Once I got to the computer though it just didn't work the same. I don't think anything I wrote at the piano actually made it to the final product. I feel liked I failed a little. I tried to be an old-school composer working with the paper and pencil, it just didn't work for me.At least not in this instance.
I started out at the piano, unusual for me, and I sketched out a few ideas that I was excited about. Once I got to the computer though it just didn't work the same. I don't think anything I wrote at the piano actually made it to the final product. I feel liked I failed a little. I tried to be an old-school composer working with the paper and pencil, it just didn't work for me.At least not in this instance.
At the same time I was working on a choral piece and working at the piano was very helpful in establishing the melody line and harmonic progression. I guess for instrumental music I think differently.
In any case the piece is done and Nikki has it and seems to be pleased. She's making some notes and at some point I'll do some revisions and if all goes well we'll bring it to life next year.
The Music of Jonathan S. Miller
The Music of Jonathan S. Miller
