Current Inspiration

This piece gives me chills. I just wish it was longer and didn't end so abruptly. I give you: Two Steps From Hell, "Protectors of the Earth" from their album, "Invincible."   http://youtu.be/ASj81daun5Q   I downloaded the MP3 version from Amazon, in case anyone's wondering. I still don't know if this current WIP is going …

Festival of Carols

The annual tradition of the Festival of Carols begins tomorrow on Portland's classical station, KQAC. They play the most beautiful Christmas music composed through the ages, so many pieces and arrangements that you've likely never heard. It's four days of non-stop glorious music so if, like me, you've had all  you can stand of "Rockin' …

The Grass Where He Stood

Since I have the great luxury this year of having President's Day off (I can't remember the last time I had it off, maybe not since school?)  I thought I'd post a small tribute to Honest Abe, although that's a little disingenuous. Mostly I'm obsessed with the piece of music that plays over the images, …

Counterpoint

Perhaps a counterpoint to my last post, this is soothing, rather than distressing. I woke to this on the radio the other day. Music at that hour, when I'm not yet fully awake, has a profound effect on me. I am unable to move, even to roll over and check the time, lest I miss …

Bread of Angels

I thought I had shared this awhile back, but I can't find it searching through old posts. This is a piece I heard on one of the music stations I listen to while writing. It's by Stanton Lanier, and it's called Bread of Angels. This guy used to be a chemist, and then a financial …

Shining Night – A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen

http://youtu.be/j_9kmZeXx5U   You guys know I love this man's music, I've posted it here before, and I'm thrilled they've done a documentary about him now, while he's still with us. This is just a trailer for it. Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen' celebrates the life and music of the artist whom musicologist …

Henryk Mikołaj Górecki

I woke up to this music on the radio this morning, and almost could not tear myself away to start getting ready for work. I've never heard anything like it. It's by a composer I had never heard of before, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki. He was a Polish composer of contemporary classical music, who sadly passed …