My Music Highlights of 2014

2014 has been a strong year for me in pursuing my goals as an emerging composer.

In March, I had the privilege of having one of my works-in-progress read by the professional string group from Moscow, Chamber Orchestra Kremlin. This was a tremendous experience, and I was much impressed by their playing skill. They inspired me to want to write more for orchestra.

In the spring I finished my first year as a graduate student in the Masters program at WOU, and continued working on new pieces, including a short work for guitar and winds called Cranes.

On Dec. 3, my first complete piece for full orchestra, Citations Musicales, was performed by the Western Oregon Symphony. It is a suite of three movements based on piano works by French composer Erik Satie. Working with the symphony was another excellent experience for me as a composer.

I did not perform much this year, but had the honor of singing in the Western Hemisphere Voices backing choir for influential songwriter Allen Toussaint’s show with Western Hemisphere Orchestra on Dec. 6.

I also sang this year with Vox Capitolio, a new choir being organized by a friend from WOU. We performed a program of Christmas classics at several local venues, finishing off with a well-received performance at the Zoo Lights in Portland on Dec. 23.

All in all, this has been a pretty great year for my music, and I look forward to 2015 when I will be completing my Master’s degree, putting on a recital of more of my latest works, and producing a recording project. I will continue to put my music forward for performance opportunities as I further hone my craft. So stay tuned for further developments from me, and I wish you all a happy and successful 2015!

And thanks for all the likes and shares! I appreciate knowing people are interested in what is going on with me and my music! Happy New Year!

Father's Days

Father's Days

We used to come here --

my family, aunts and uncles,

cousins, two grandpas, often,

and grandmas, too --

to this park of five acres,

oaks and grass, thick growth

of guarded green between a small bridge

and a bend in the little muddy creek

it bears the road across.

A wooden sign remembers for others

how a pioneer woman's family gave

this parcel, set apart anciently

from the old homestead of Trail folk.

I've heard it is here my mother's mother's

family used to gather in the 50s and 60s,

big family reunions of cousins, uncles,

aunts, grand-ones, babies, too,

coming to this park because

their family had lived in these parts once as well.

When I was a kid we'd gather here

each Father's Day in the sun of June,

western Oregon, amid farmers' fields,

grassy places and empty dirt tilled

just off the highway.

I used to love the way Grandma cooked chicken,

and sometimes baked a bunt.

I remember fruit and salads, too.

It was the only time I ever

ate those salty chicken-flavor crackers.

All of us would eat food spread over

the picnic bench nearest the park entrance,

a big enough space for us kids.

No table here now, I can't find

even a spot of raw gravel where it

must have been dragged away from: only grass

in late afternoon sun

shines callow here.

Someone used to string up a high net across

this dip in the grassy glade, and we'd

play at badminton, batting the plastic-feathered

little odd white bird thing back and forth,

overhead, sun in our eyes, on long narrow rackets.

Such free fun we enjoyed.

Or we'd throw a frisbee far across

between us on the open air, dry gopher-pitted spread.

Often we'd miss the mark or the wind

wheeled the discus high up onto tree branches,

clung there for our comic exertions.

Far across that mere five acres we trod later on,

led through the rough wilderness to see other kids

splashing on the muddy shore hidden and

shaded by the tumbled trunks and sticking

plant life -- burrs and weeds and blackberry mazes.

I don't know why we never brought

swim trunks, never waded in with the

older kids, little kids, sometimes a dog.

I might have been a little afraid of it all.

The minnows fish the cool flow now, over

rusted banks marked by fresh foot- and paw-prints.

I spot the hole some kids dug at

just today, their aimless play

schemed and forgotten.

The still July sun shimmers the shallow,

spread out with subtle forever movements.

Minnows and mud, I take some pictures;

peacefulness greets me openly,

memories rustle the trees and dirt banks.

The old oak stands where we used to climb --

the one I'd remembered, plus the second I'd forgotten,

still gnarled, still growing fat.

Perusing the quiet scene of so many years' past

pleasant days, the whole place feels so small now,

and so quiet.

(7/30/2010)

(See more photos on flickr.)

Two Minus One

Two Minus One

I lived by myself in a big house with

many rooms. I'd choose each night which

big bed to sleep in, and I spent

much time in my kitchen.

Friends and neighbors came to visit, and

we had Christmas in my front room with

a big green tree, all the gifts, and

stockings by the fire.

I stirred in my slumbers, then,

and as I woke the dream veil parted:

I saw how this could soon be my life,

is my life now, and felt a comfort.

In my house I have many rooms. Some

I choose to spend my time in, while

others I leave aside with the door open,

as I may need them later.

In my dream it was only me in this

big house. In my dream I could wander

as I may, exploring, finding the space

I needed in order to be myself.

And as each night I found a new bed,

pulled up fresh covers and opened up

the window to the night air,

I was not lonely in my house.

(6/4/2009)

Happy All Hallows E'en

Happy Easter 2008

I feel blessed to have a loving family to spend my Easter holiday with today. We gathered in Salem -- me, Leo, my sister, brother, their partners, my niece, and parents. We shared a delicious meal. We visited and played showed off new toys (my new iPod, my Dad's new iMac). We talked about life and family and art and being together. I played a little recital of an adagio from a Handel sonata and a couple of church hymns appropriate for the day.

Happy Easter, everyone.

Bunny Baby

Oh dear, my poor sister has a mutant child. I knew she never should have gotten mixed up with that guy she married...! ;-P