Lots of big doin's around the Bishop Studio of late. Lots of not-so-pleasant personal stuff that has led to a small outpouring of really good, emotional music! When life gives you lemons, write a piece about lemonade, right?
This new choral piece will be submitted to another choral composition contest so keep your fingers, toes and noses crossed for me.
Not much else to say until I'm able to say it, so until then, stay safe out there!
Trying harder to be a little better every day,
Jeffrey
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
New Piece over at YouTube
I have a new piece up on the Jeffrey S. Bishop YouTube Channel. It's an SATB a cappella work based on an original poem. I want to thank the Shawnee Mission Northwest High School Chamber Singers for their work in preparing this work. And it turned out to be a bigger undertaking than we originally planned....
I wrote the original version of this work around a poem by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins. But, after several attempts to contact Mr. Collins via his agents, his publisher, and a PR firm, I gave up and wrote a poem that had a similar rhyme scheme (or at least similar syllabic form).
So, although I'm no poet laureate, the music is still very much fitting for the melancholy of the piece itself. I'm writing more and more choral work lately. And I'm loving it more and more, too! In fact, I'm enjoying it so much I've decided to audition for a local choir. I've not sung since college (well, at least outside of the shower, sitting in traffic, or under duress), so I'm taking lessons to get ready for my audition at the end of the month.
So, wish me luck! And surf on over to YouTube and check out the new piece.
Peace,
Jef
I wrote the original version of this work around a poem by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins. But, after several attempts to contact Mr. Collins via his agents, his publisher, and a PR firm, I gave up and wrote a poem that had a similar rhyme scheme (or at least similar syllabic form).
So, although I'm no poet laureate, the music is still very much fitting for the melancholy of the piece itself. I'm writing more and more choral work lately. And I'm loving it more and more, too! In fact, I'm enjoying it so much I've decided to audition for a local choir. I've not sung since college (well, at least outside of the shower, sitting in traffic, or under duress), so I'm taking lessons to get ready for my audition at the end of the month.
So, wish me luck! And surf on over to YouTube and check out the new piece.
Peace,
Jef
Monday, February 21, 2011
New Work on Its Way
Finished up my newest choral work, an SSAA a cappella work, this evening. It was written for the Joe Shepley Composition Contest sponsored by the Namaste Women's Choir in Los Angeles. The lyrics are from a Susan B. Anthony quote that I've come to love:
"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation....."
I'm not going to delve into the greater historical significance nor the political ramifications of the quote, but suffice to say, as a composer, I feel that it can be read several different ways. As I age, I find myself saying to my audience: "What does this mean to you? How does it make you feel? What's your reaction to it?" Rather than, as I did in my youth, screaming "HEY, LISTEN TO THIS! I HAVE SOMETHING OPINIONATED TO SAY!" It's kind of like poetry, in which the poet always speaks in first person: "me, me, me" gets really old after awhile. I want to interpret, too!
So "Anything or Nothing" goes into the mail tomorrow. I haven't sent a work to a contest in a long time, having grown complacent with my publishing schedule, but since I've not done a lot of choral work, I'm excited to get my work out to a new audience.
And, who knows, maybe they'll let me know how they feel about it....
Namaste, indeed.
Jef
"Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation....."
I'm not going to delve into the greater historical significance nor the political ramifications of the quote, but suffice to say, as a composer, I feel that it can be read several different ways. As I age, I find myself saying to my audience: "What does this mean to you? How does it make you feel? What's your reaction to it?" Rather than, as I did in my youth, screaming "HEY, LISTEN TO THIS! I HAVE SOMETHING OPINIONATED TO SAY!" It's kind of like poetry, in which the poet always speaks in first person: "me, me, me" gets really old after awhile. I want to interpret, too!
So "Anything or Nothing" goes into the mail tomorrow. I haven't sent a work to a contest in a long time, having grown complacent with my publishing schedule, but since I've not done a lot of choral work, I'm excited to get my work out to a new audience.
And, who knows, maybe they'll let me know how they feel about it....
Namaste, indeed.
Jef
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Off to Work....
Heading over to the coffee shop with my notebook and pencils to get a little work done. I downloaded a new piano app for my iPhone so I think I'll be able to get a lot more ideas down than I normally do.
I don't have "perfect pitch." In fact, I don't even have not-so-perfect pitch, so it can be very frustrating at times when I have ideas that I can't quite get down on paper exactly as I heard them in my head. Unfortunately, the creative part of my brain, the one that comes up with these amazing ideas doesn't seem to get along with the analytical part of my brain that needs to write it down. Makes for some amazingly funny scenes, I'm sure: "Look at the crazy man in the corner talking to himself, punching his phone like that! Stay away from him, kids!"
But artists are supposed to be a little bit crazy, right? Right?
Oh well, off to work.
Jef
I don't have "perfect pitch." In fact, I don't even have not-so-perfect pitch, so it can be very frustrating at times when I have ideas that I can't quite get down on paper exactly as I heard them in my head. Unfortunately, the creative part of my brain, the one that comes up with these amazing ideas doesn't seem to get along with the analytical part of my brain that needs to write it down. Makes for some amazingly funny scenes, I'm sure: "Look at the crazy man in the corner talking to himself, punching his phone like that! Stay away from him, kids!"
But artists are supposed to be a little bit crazy, right? Right?
Oh well, off to work.
Jef
Monday, February 14, 2011
Great Work Indeed
My high school orchestras will join our choirs in presenting our annual "Great Works" concert tomorrow evening, Tuesday, February 15th. In addition to a mass by DeLibes and Bach's Cantata No. 4, the choir will be premiering my newest choral work.
Tonight was the dress rehearsal, and I have to say that I was just blown away by the choir's performance. Normally I don't get too awfully worked up, but I shed a few tears tonight. THAT is why I write music: to reach that special place, deep down inside a person, that says "this music is here to make your life, however brief it may last, a little bit better, a little more hopeful."
Every now and then I have to be reminded how humbling it is to be a composer, to be a purveyor of time, emotion, and sound. I am the luckiest man alive, right now, right here.
Namaste,
Jef
Tonight was the dress rehearsal, and I have to say that I was just blown away by the choir's performance. Normally I don't get too awfully worked up, but I shed a few tears tonight. THAT is why I write music: to reach that special place, deep down inside a person, that says "this music is here to make your life, however brief it may last, a little bit better, a little more hopeful."
Every now and then I have to be reminded how humbling it is to be a composer, to be a purveyor of time, emotion, and sound. I am the luckiest man alive, right now, right here.
Namaste,
Jef
Friday, February 4, 2011
Western Kansas Orchestra Festival Commission
The Western Kansas Orchestra Festival has commissioned me to write a new piece to be premiered under my direction in November. Drawing from the western parts of Kansas (duh!), the festival features two high school orchestras, along with middle school ensembles.
I will be conducting the commissioned piece along with one of my old standards, "Declarations."
I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to write for the festival, as it has a reputation for having commissioned some really nice educational pieces. Matt Means, professor of violin at Fort Hays State University, and Michael Harbaugh, director of school orchestras in Beloit, are two amazing individuals whose tireless work has really made an impact on hundreds, if not thousands, of students' music educations. Because of them, I'm happy to be a part of this year's festival.
It's going to be a lot of fun!
Peace,
Jef
I will be conducting the commissioned piece along with one of my old standards, "Declarations."
I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to write for the festival, as it has a reputation for having commissioned some really nice educational pieces. Matt Means, professor of violin at Fort Hays State University, and Michael Harbaugh, director of school orchestras in Beloit, are two amazing individuals whose tireless work has really made an impact on hundreds, if not thousands, of students' music educations. Because of them, I'm happy to be a part of this year's festival.
It's going to be a lot of fun!
Peace,
Jef
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Snow Days - Slow Days
Getting a little "cabin fever" here in KC. Two more snow days and it's very, very cold outside!
I haven't seen this much snow in Kansas in the 18 years I've been here, and it's getting pretty close to the amounts of snow from my childhood in Iowa! Yikes!
But snow days make for slow days around the house. Gave me an opportunity to post another piece on my YouTube Channel. And it's probably my favorite string piece, well one of the top five at least, so please check it out. It's called "221B Baker Street."
You get extra credit if you figure out who's address that is!
Stay warm out there,
Jef
I haven't seen this much snow in Kansas in the 18 years I've been here, and it's getting pretty close to the amounts of snow from my childhood in Iowa! Yikes!
But snow days make for slow days around the house. Gave me an opportunity to post another piece on my YouTube Channel. And it's probably my favorite string piece, well one of the top five at least, so please check it out. It's called "221B Baker Street."
You get extra credit if you figure out who's address that is!
Stay warm out there,
Jef
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)