Monday, December 20, 2010

Symphony No. 1, Movement 1

Finished the first movement of my Symphony no. 1 last night.  Still tweaking formatting and trying to figure out how to divide it up so I can post it to MySpace and Facebook so y'all can listen to it!  I'll keep you in the loop, as we all now how technically savvy I am.

I should have it loaded by 2012.

More as the drama unfolds,

Jef

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Big Boy Symphony

So I'm known as an "educational" composer. Means I write good music for student musicians and that it's pedagogically sound. I'm cool with that, as I'm good at it.

But, sometimes a composer has to write what he/she WANTS to write. A piece that will build craft while giving satisfaction to the innate need to create.  I've just started such a piece, my first symphony. OK, I've written three symphonies already, but this is the first one written in what I would guess some historian a hundred years from now will term "his mature style," meaning that it's written for professional level performance.  And it's totally different than what I usually write.

It's fun writing for yourself every now and then, but don't worry, I won't let all this atonality and aleatory go to my head.  I'll be writing a grade 1 string orchestra piece before you know it....

Stay warm out there! It's -10 here in KC with this nasty arctic wind!

Jef

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Kickin' the Bells

School concert tonight! Whoo-hoo!

Always fun to create new music with my students. Tonight's concert will feature two brand-new works written especially for their respective ensembles: VGM (Violas Get Melody) was written for our elementary honors strings, aka "Extreme Strings," while "Kickin' the Bells" (my take on the ubiquitous Ukrainian Bell Carol) will be premiered by our Chamber Orchestra.

Lots of other great music happening as well, with all four high school orchestras joining the Extreme Strings tonight.

So, I guess I better go get ready so I can head back up to school for the fun!

More later,

Jef

Thursday, December 2, 2010

New Composer Weight Loss Secret Revealed:

Food poisoning!

Yeah, gross, I know.  After I got back from Iowa last Sunday I ate some wonderful leftovers that turned out to be not-so-wonderful.  Ended up with 24 hours of sheer torture.  Never want to do that again!

Even my Critters knew I was in trouble: the dog and cat never left my side the entire time I was home sick. Cool kids!

But I had to get back to school this week, as we have District Honors Orchestra (of which I'm in charge), a guest clinician (my good friend Brian Cole from Moorhead, MN, who's doing the honors orchestra gig), and a concert next Tuesday! Not a great time to miss much school!

Which doesn't leave much time for composing. But that's alright. I'm putting the finishing touches on the Franklin Middle School commission, so it'll be ready right around the holidays, and my slate is pretty open right now.  Anybody need a new piece?

I'm thinking "Concerto GROSS-oh: in E Coli No. 2" would be appropriate!

Try harder to be a little bit better,

Jef

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jig....

Back from Iowa to the Composer Cave.

The Mom Unit and I did some retail therapy on Black Friday at a nearby antique mart and found some cool wall treatments (a clock and three cool quotes in rather nice frames). I'm a geek for quotes, so it was cool to find nice "art" that I actually enjoy reading as well!

The dog, cat, and Amy have joined me in the Cave as I'm putting the finishing touches on it.  New end tables mean more space for books. And, as any librophile will tell you, books will expand to fill the amount of space you have available (kind of like cats and dogs).

So if you'll excuse me, I've got to get my inner-Martha Stewart on....

Jef

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Short Week

Two days of school this week. And then a nice long break.

I'll be putting finishing touches on a new commission for Franklin Middle School in Wheaton, Illinois. They're big fans of "Orange Jam" so I've written them a sequel of sorts called "Pink Highlights."  Cool story behind the name (besides keeping with my "color" music): their director keeps a pink highlighter in the front of the room and when a student misses a part too many times they're required to mark it with the highlighter. It is affectionately known as "the pink highlighter of shame." Classic! Now THAT'S a cool idea!

Hmm, let's see, other Turkey Day events? Oh, yeah: FOOD! And lots of it!  I'll be heading home to Iowa while my in-laws descend on KC.  My folks and I will eat some good food, do a little shopping, and mostly just enjoy each others' company as I've not been home in several months.  I'll take the Viola and the Kindle and a sketchpad in case anything should happen to strike me while I'm up there.  It's been known to happen. Some of my best ideas were born in Atlantic, Iowa.

I've got a good idea going for a new choral piece that we'll perform on our annual "Great Works" concert in February.  Since we have so many girls enrolled in choir at my school, I'm writing a piece for SATB choir with orchestra AND antiphonal treble voices.  I'm thinking of doing some cool things with stereo effects (the girls spread out around the auditorium during the performance or whatnot).  We'll see...

So, if you don't see any postings, don't be too worried about me. I'm probably just suffering from post-tryptophan coma.  I'll wake up soon enough and will be back after it!

If you're traveling, be safe out there!  And, while you're at it, count your blessings.  It's a great time of year to take inventory of all that for which we're thankful.  And you, loyal readers, are counted among mine.

Peace,

Jef

Friday, November 19, 2010

Betsy's Home!

Got my viola back from the shop today!  So, even though she's only worth a fraction of the Beckmann viola I was playing earlier this week, it's still great to have Betsy home!  She sounds great and the new chin rest is MUCH more comfortable, especially for the amount of time I've been putting in lately.  I think I've practiced more this week than I have since college! Wow!

And that's funny. I get just as much of an adrenaline high from practicing as I do exercising (too bad it doesn't burn as many calories), and there's something remarkable about getting lost in a piece, even if it's just an etude or technical exercise.  Music touches us in ways no other thing can, and I guess that's why those of us who make a living at it can't live without it.

So, welcome Betsy home with me:

The Viola Known as Betsy

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to practice just a little more.....

Jef

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

NEWS FLASH!

This just in:

If you practice, you get better!

Remember you heard it here first, folks!

Jef

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Practice, Practice, Practice....

In addition to composing, I do try to get some practice in on my instruments just to remind me how bad I really am at playing them! Ugh!

Although, I have to admit, even though I may not be the solo artist that I'd love to be, I do enjoy practicing. What? Enjoy PRACTICING? I know, I know....don't shoot! It's true.

Tonight was especially enjoyable. I took my viola in to Beckmann Violin Shop (a FANTASTIC luthier here in KC) to get a new bridge cut for her (that's right - HER - my viola's name is Betsy, thank you very much), and Ken (Mr. Beckmann, owner of the aforementioned shop) let me borrow one of the instruments he recently made. WOW! How cool is that? To be able to play an instrument crafted by one of the world's best living instrument makers?  Now THAT'S pretty freakin' cool!

Now, did I do that fine instrument justice? Probably not. But it sure was fun just to practice on it!

So, if you'll excuse me, I've got some work to do....

Jef

Sunday, November 14, 2010

The Secret Life of Composers....

So, you want to know what composers do with all the money they get off of commissions?

Maserati?  No.
Lamborghini?  No.
Yacht?  No.

Couch?  Why....yes!


I renovated my studio this summer, and with a little extra cash from a commission this fall, I finally completed it with this faux leather couch. "Faux" because this particular material is supposed to be dog claw resistant.  We'll see about that. Ms. Dog's claws are not the average run of the mill puppy's, that's for sure!

Now, for some wall treatments.  When I'm home over Thanksgiving, I think my mom and I will be doing some Retail Therapy!

OK, back to the keyboard.  Gotta pay for those paintings somehow!

Jef


Goddard: Blast and Bust(ed) & Dark Helmet's Evil Twin?

Had a great time this weekend doing a couple gigs near Wichita, KS!

On Thursday evening, I had the opportunity to conduct the Goddard High School Orchestras in a performance of "Declarations" and also managed to talk their director, Ms. Marla Weber, into letting me conduct one of my favorite pieces , "Incantations" by Richard Meyer.  The kids played great and it was an awful lot of fun to have a "photo op and autograph session" post-concert.  It was a major bummer, however, that we didn't get a chance to have a clinic the next day!  It seems that a water main broke near the high school that night so we couldn't get into the building!

So, Goddard folks, I owe you one!  I'm also hoping they'll consider a commission for their orchestra - those kids can play! And the string program in town is only 10 years old! Very impressive, indeed.

On Saturday I conducted the Pioneer League Junior High Honors Orchestra in Haysville, KS.  Good group. Well-prepared, too. We ended up doing all five pieces of the "to be selected from" list, so that was cool.  Best line from the gig, though, was from a little dude in the violin section. As they were walking into the performance, and he didn't realize I was standing right behind him, he said to his friend, "No, really. He looks just like Dark Helmet from 'Space Balls!'" I wondered who he was talking about then it dawned on me: he was talking about ME! Hilarious! And, if memory serves me correctly, I think he's right: Rick Moranis had those big nerdy glasses like mine, and let's face it, I'm short!

Dark Helmet
Dork Composer

So, for all of you who know me and have thought over the years that I was in fact some kind of evil overlord, it turns out to be true: but I'm not a Sith Lord, I'm a Dork Lord!

Gotta love what comes out of the mouths of adolescents....

Jef

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Ahhhhh, Chamber Music....

A nice bit of Chamber Music this evening from my orchestras at school. The top two orchestras performed their chamber ensemble pieces tonight. Best night of music-making all year, in my humble opinion.  Every kid has to step up and be THE section.  Oh, what responsibility! And OH, what TERROR!

I'm really proud of them, though. I forget who said it first, but playing chamber music is like standing naked in front of a pre-med class: those no hiding anything!

I'm off to guest conduct a couple orchestras this weekend.  First to Goddard, KS, where they're performing "Declarations" and then the Pioneer League Middle School Honor Orchestra over in Haysville (both are just outside of Wichita).  I'll also get a chance to sit in on the Wichita Symphony's dress rehearsal with new music director Daniel Hege, so that'll be very cool.

Lots of music making this week.  Hope you're able to do the same!

Best,

Jef

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Welcome to My World....

I've been getting a lot of random emails lately asking for my birth date. Now, normal people would totally freak out, figuring that some Nigerian Prince was looking to deposit a few million in my bank account should I only give him a "little information."

Not me! I'm always flattered by the request for more information. And then I'm embarrassed.  I should be better about getting my information out to my adoring public (which until recently I thought counted my dog, my mom, and a creepy little man that follows me around at bike races).  But I digress...

So, this little corner of the Weird Wide Web is the "official" site of Jeffrey S. Bishop: composer, conductor, teacher, and all-around nice guy (okay, maybe not so nice, but I'm generally considered to "not be too bad" by most students I've had the fortune to conduct).

Poke around. Click on the links below to reach my publisher's pages and listen to my stuff and take a look at scores.  I'm still trying to figure out how to upload my unpublished stuff (I'm thinking YouTube videos, but that would require me having the technically savvy of an average 12-year-old and I'm just not that talented electronically), so until then, we'll have to make do with what limited pixel-pushing I can manage.

And, should you have any questions or comments, leave a note and I'll respond as quickly as I'm able.

Until then,

Jef