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Light The Way: Song Cycle For Baritone Voice And Piano (Honors), Brian Baxter, Joshua Ziemann
Light The Way: Song Cycle For Baritone Voice And Piano (Honors), Brian Baxter, Joshua Ziemann
Compositions
Light the Way is based on seven distinct poems written by Joshua Ziemann. I was compelled to write a song cycle based on Ziemann's texts after reading through his poetry and seeing great possibilities for musical settings. The poems that I chose to set are not concretely related to one another; however they are related on an abtract level. The texts in many respects, represent a sense of searching for purpose and meaning in life and our environment. I chose the title, Light the Way, in order to reflect this sentiment.
After The Fact (Honors), Brian Baxter
After The Fact (Honors), Brian Baxter
Compositions
Composer's Note: After the Fact has no specific extra-musical program however as I was writing the piece I was inspired by many thoughts on the age-old question of "what if?" By this I mean what would people do differently if they had known in the first place the outcome of a certain situation. While writing this piece I was specifically paying close attention to the news about the war and tensions that were taking place over in Iraq and the Middle East. In many ways this piece is a reflection on this war and all of the conflict taking place …
Vermont (Honors), Brian Baxter
Vermont (Honors), Brian Baxter
Compositions
Vermont was inspired by the great amount of time that I have spent in the state of Vermont visiting with my family. The state of Vermont has always been a very important part of my life and to an extent I consider it my second home. The initial theme played by the first cello is of great importance throughout the piece and is a chant that comes from the Catholic mass. This theme is reminiscent of the old, small town New England churches that I have attended with my family as well as a representation of the importance of Catholicism …
People Movement (Honors), Brian Baxter
People Movement (Honors), Brian Baxter
Compositions
People Movement was written for the second session of the 2006 Interlochen Composer Institute. The piece derives its motives and rhythms from the sounds of public and private transportation in Chicago, IL. The opening repeating motive in the bassoon which serves as a rhythmic base for the work represents a group of motorcycle riders revving their motorcycles while sitting idle in a parking lot." The rhythm of the motorcycles was fascinating to me and it had in fact originally interested me while on a trip to Minnesota when I was in downtown St. Paul. All of the other material in …
Passing Tour (Honors), Brian Baxter
Passing Tour (Honors), Brian Baxter
Compositions
In the overarching development of my compositional voice, Passing Tour has proven to be a pivotal piece. Written in 2004 during my first year as an undergraduate music student, it pulled my musical knowledge from before college and combined it with my new heightened passion and higher understanding of music to create a piece that would become a jumping off point for my compositional style as an undergraduate student. The piece itself was composed with the memory of family road trips ingrained in my head from my childhood. This piece is meant to evoke the type of introspective thoughts that …
String Quartet (Honors), Luke Gullickson
String Quartet (Honors), Luke Gullickson
Compositions
I began my String Quartet in the summer of 2006 with the opening section, which flashes in a sort of montage between passages from the first three movements. The piece then grew into four ostensibly disparate movements that are linked through many references that are built into the musical structure.
Symphony For Strings And Percussion (Honors), Eric Malmquist
Symphony For Strings And Percussion (Honors), Eric Malmquist
Compositions
No abstract provided.
Kyrie (Honors), Brian Baxter
Kyrie (Honors), Brian Baxter
Compositions
Kyrie was written in a three part form reminiscent at the actual form of its namesake in the Catholic mass, however it has no programmatic basis. The number three is a primary organizational mechanism for this piece. Kyrie is based on the Eb dorian mode and contains a number of motives reminiscent of Gregorian chant.
Fanfare For The Black Cat (Honors), Brian Baxter
Fanfare For The Black Cat (Honors), Brian Baxter
Compositions
Fanfare for the Black cat is a short comical work for brass quintet. It was inspired by a black cat that followed me home one night as I was walking through a park. As I reached my house, the cat vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. The piece is based on two motives which are spun out through the entire piece and intended to create a mysterious ambience.