Pam Marshall's notes about composing music, teaching, improvising, music software, nature


Author: PamelaM

  • Playing Ethel Smyth’s Mass

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    Yesterday (Sunday Nov 23, 2008), I played first horn in the orchestra for the New England premiere of Ethel Smyth’s Mass in D. It’s a mammoth work, filled with beautiful moments and unique textures. The Sounds of Stow Festival Chorus, conducted by Barbara Jones, programmed it for their Fall 2008 concert. Barbara isn’t shy about…

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  • First Monthly Improv Workshop for Classical Musicians

    Last week, I finally started my series of improv workshops for classical musicians. I’ve been thinking about doing this ever since I went to John Clark’s horn improv workshops in Heath, MA last July. My workshopshttp://www.hmmusic.com/index.html are open to anyone who is interested in classical free improv. We try various styles: modal & melodic, aleatoric,…

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  • Playing a Virtual Orchestra

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    Although I seem to write mostly music notated on paper for live performers, I’ve always been interested in computer tools for composing and sound design. I started my recording business a few years ago because I wanted to put my audio tools to more use. Last year, I decided to invest in the sophisticated sampled…

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  • After the concert

    The concert for The Future of Life went beautifully. The chorus sounded great, the trombonist was superb. The rest of the program sounded fine too. I was moved by the text and I was pleased with the way the music, the sung and spoken words, and trombone declarations came together. Audience members, who were moved…

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  • The Future of Life almost ready for premiere

    On Wednesday, we had the next-to-final rehearsal of The Future of Life and I met the trombone player. I had hoped to work with him during my composing phase, but I never made contact. However, he is spot-on with his interpretations. The chorus had progressed a whole lot since the week before. Some of the…

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