Rain Splattering On Windows
An early summer musical update
Hi Friends,
Summer is upon us! I’m writing this during an afternoon thunderstorm (hence the title). ⛈ Do you celebrate the solstice in any particular way? Here at home in Baltimore, we will be present for the sunset and write down on slips of paper anything we’d like to release from our lives and/or brains, to toss in the fire pit. 🔥
A thank you to those of you who continue to check in—I am feeling so much better! My energy has (mostly) returned. I’m still on the “No Rushing” train (maybe forever?), but I’ve been exercising harder and am able to listen more intentionally to music. For Father’s Day, N. and I both wished our “Heavenly Dads” Happy Father’s Day out loud, and played several of their favorite Kingston Trio songs.
Earlier this year, I started making “graphic score” postcards, and it's so much fun! The image at the top of this newsletter is one of them.
I’ve switched newsletter platforms (bye-bye, clunky Mailchimp) and am very happy with this new situation so far. It’s easy to use and has friendly, responsive customer service. Going forward, I hope to send one of these every month or two, and play a bit with form and content.
(If this feels like too much for your inbox, I will be zero percent offended if you unsubscribe. You can do that at the bottom of this message.)
With this change came the opportunity to give this newsletter a proper name. Welcome to “Sounds Like…”. The title of each email references sound(s) I heard while writing it. It will continue with news and updates about my creative life, recommendations, fun surprises, and more. I’m glad you’re here! 💖
NEW SHEET MUSIC ONLINE STORE
I’ve been busy creating a proper online store for my notated music, and it’s finally up and running!
You can buy scores and performance materials and download them immediately! 🪄
Although there are still compositions to add, a decent selection is now available. If there's something you’d like to perform that isn’t there yet, please let me know.
Big kudos to composer Benjamin Muir for making beautiful color covers for many of these works!
RECENT & UPCOMING
Last month I worked with RUCKUS to record Sleeping Weather (Reimagined). I’m excited to share it with you when it’s ready!
I attended BOTH my high school and college reunions this spring! Fun fact: I took a gap year in college, which pushed my graduation back by a year, so all reunions are now squished to the same years forever! That is a lot of nostalgia. But I got to meet flutist Carl Gutowski, who performed Fade beautifully at Vassar, and see one of my first composition teachers, the brilliant and hilarious Richard Wilson.
I was a guest on the Crushing Classical podcast with host Jennet Ingle.
Jennet also performed my oboe & fixed electronics piece, Lantana, at the International Double Reed Society Conference.
Sarah Hetrick will be performing the alto saxophone and piano version of Time Unfolding on June 23rd at the University of Oklahoma.
INTERESTING / FUN
📚 Reading
Resonant Paths by The Honourable Elizabeth A. Baker is a helpful introduction for those exploring electroacoustic music performance and improvisatory practices.
I like this essay by Mason Currey on John Cage’s approach to discipline. This bit in particular:
Making art—it’s not about you! Or shouldn’t be. Instead, it’s about giving yourself to a project, and then giving the project to others.
On a lighter note: My college pal, Hollywood screenwriter T.D. Donnelly’s The Year of the Rabbit is a spy thriller that grabbed me by the scruff in the first two pages and never let go. 🕵🏼♀️
👂🏼 Listening
I have been a super fan of Pamela Z since I first heard her perform in 1990. It was a huge treat to hear her at the Boulanger Initiative Woco Fest. She and her work are always inspiring! 💡
Annea Lockwood’s newest album, featuring On Fractured Ground, made from recordings of the Peace Lines in Belfast, Ireland, and Skin Resonance, a collaboration with percussionist Vanessa Tomlinson, is spinning regularly on my turntable.
🎥 Watching
We watched the entirety of the Netflix show Travelers (I'm a sucker for time travel themed anything) and became unusually attached to the characters.
Also loved The Residence! Uzo Aduba is (as usual) amazing.
😜 General Silliness
The Zombie Test is a super fun writing tip! 🧟
If you can add "by zombies" after the verb in a sentence and it still makes grammatical sense, it's passive voice. Rebecca Johnson, deputy director of the Marine Corps War College, devised it.
Passive voice (can add "by zombies"):
The music was composed… (by zombies) ✅
The nest was built… (by zombies) ✅
May be met (by zombies) with merriment and curiosity ✅
Active voice (cannot add "by zombies"):
She composed the music… (by zombies) ❌
They built the nest… (by zombies) ❌
May you meet each task with merriment and curiosity (by zombies) ❌