New Gizmos!
So, I’ve spent the better part of this weekend, revamping my FB presence, by creating my very own Facebook Artist Page! I know, it’s probably about time, haha! 
Some glorious things to explore on that page, include:
- My CD Baby FB Store
- My new STORE store… with everything from sheet music to CDs to T-shirts!
- My BandPage, connected to my Demo and other Tracks.
- And… A Brand New, EASY and fun app to raise money for my PARMA Recording project, via FundRazr!
I’ve been exploring ALL kinds of Crowdfunding platforms… learning as I go for this project… And I am really impressed and… REFRESHED…. with FundRazr! It’s simple, classy, and I can integrate it with my Facebook Page, and other social networks! I LOVE it — completely hassle-free!
Visit the link and consider helping us reach our $20,000 goal — every little bit helps! <3
DRHS Orchestra to debut Courage Triptych
On Sunday May 26th, the orchestra of the Diamond Ranch High School (where I’ve been privileged to work as the strings coach for the past 5 years or so) will be debuting my three-Image work, “Courage Triptych”! They’ve been working so hard on this! 
The performance will take place at the Fox Theater in Pomona — I have to get more details on time and tickets, etc! But, for now, enjoy this little sample that I snuck from the rehearsal this morning… I’m so proud of them!
Historical Precedence for Schmoozing?
Why all the hullabaloo? What historical precedence is there for a composer (specifically a woman composer) to seek out promoters for her music? Find out in this interview!
Also! The latter half of this video contains clips from the three compositions featured in this upcoming recording session that needs funding! Like what you hear? Which is your favorite?
Show your support if you feel this music should be preserved for generations to come!
I’m a MLP Fan
So one of my little violin students has made me an official member of her My Little Pony Club (and I get to be Silver Spoon!).
As part of my “homework” in joining her club, I needed to catch up on my viewing… Well, now I’m hooked! I grew up watching MLP in the 80′s, but Friendship is Magic is sooooo much better! Really fun and clever, great characters and interaction, even by adult standards! 
Here is a combined clip from one of my most favorite episodes (I’m almost through Season 1!): “Bridle Gossip.” I literally ROFL’d when this came on!
Crowdfunding Ahoy!
I know, I know… Lots going on with this project, fundraising for my Summer Recording Sessions with PARMA!
I’ve been doing a lot of research and trial-and-error-style investigation… I’m having a lot of fun with this!
I don’t wish for this to become overwhelming to you all by any means, but it is exciting to see this project gaining visibility in multiple networks! Thank you for being a part of making this all a reality for me by spreading the word!
As of this post, I’ve launched a RocketHub project for this fundraiser, as well as submitting to PledgeMusic. These sites have great tools and resources for self-promotion and for gathering a solid fan base! Choose your favorite and run with me using it!
THANK YOU again for bringing such enormous visibility to this project and making modern concert music known to future generations, preserving our rich musical heritage!
Last night I had the great privilege of playing as concertmaster for the Southern California Philharmonic during their pops concert, “Classical Music on the Silver Screen”! We performed a really diverse and lovely program, including Ride of the Valkyries, Orpheus in the Underworld, Somewhere in Time, and Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2…and much more . Here, I must brag: I nailed the gypsy-esque (and challenging!) solo cadenza near the beginning of the Hungarian Rhapsody!! Woohoo!!!
I snuck this quick shot before the show… Our green room was the French class at the Orange Lutheran High School, which connected to backstage of the performance center; as French was the language I learned throughout growing up in school, it took me back.
Support the Upcoming PARMA Sarah-Release!
BIG NEWS!
PARMA has sent me a proposal for the first stages of recording this summer, toward the release of a Selected Works of Sarah Wallin Huff album to be released in the very near future! So far, this recording will include my original works: Gypsy Wanderer, Counterpoint Invariable, Adoré, and the recently recorded Anima Mechanicae!
~~ I need your help to make this a reality! ~~
You can help in many ways:
- Donate ANY amount and choose from an extensive and exciting list of rewards, reserved specially for those who’ve Backed this project!
- Contribute via PayPal, check, or credit/debit card; we can even agree upon splitting up greater amounts into smaller payments, if you like.
- Purchase my original music from my Purchase page!
- Sponsor and help organize a fundraising event or concert at a local venue of you choice!
- Share this and spread the news (and the opportunity) to everyone you can think of.
Backers who supported me during the Anima Mechanicae project, I’ve included a special message for you at the following link as well.
Visit "SUPPORT Original Music" for All the Info!
First Day of the Future
Today I’m beginning the full-on usage of my new technological music operations!
I’m about to head out for a rehearsal with the Rosé Violin Trio to prepare for our big show this Saturday. First I want to mention how *immensely * helpful forScore has been in my preparations– you see, for one of the new pieces of music we’re tackling (Suite in G minor, Op. 71 for Two Violins and Piano by Maurice Moskowski) I’ve turned the final movement of the work into an explosion for THREE violins, where we’ll be tossing the original themes between all three of us. And forScore enabled me to take my amended parts and touch them up properly and send them off to the girls for review.
Needless to say, I’ve now got my parts for our entire Saturday show set up in order in a set list… And (here’s the exciting news) my new Bluetooth foot pedal-hands free-page turner arrived just in time! I got to try it out a bit today, and I’m SO pleased with the whole set up now!
I’m going full-on techie for my gigs now! Woo!!
Enjoy these photos and video I took of my new set-up…. Gotta run and practice now, but look for more later!
Textbooks Chosen for Fall
Fall 2013 at The Master’s College, I’m scheduled not only to continue teaching my private composition students and directing the Chamber Strings (I’m plotting to throw them into some Tchaikovsky and Beethoven next!), but I’ve also been given the task of teaching two upper level classes: Tonal Counterpoint and 20th Century Analysis. Yay!!!
I’m really looking forward to setting these classes up and working through them with my students in the Fall. I’ve finally finished choosing my textbooks to be placed in the bookstore for the students enrolled in the classes, and I’ve started looking them over (or will, when the few that are still on their way arrive); this will be very fun and enlightening for all of us!
For Tonal Counterpoint, I’ve chosen:
- Modal and Tonal Counterpoint: From Josquin to Stravinsky by Harold Owen
- Since this is going to be the only counterpoint class offered, I’m going to introduce thestudents to both modal and tonal counterpoint; I like giving historical perspective, so they can see where we’ve been and where we are right now, and why. This textbook looks great so far!
For 20th Century Analysis, I’ve ordered:
- Understanding Post-Tonal Music (and the accompanying Anthology), by Miguel Roig-Francoli
- Modern Music and After by Paul Griffiths
- I finally decided on these three books only yesterday, so I’m really looking forward to reading through them. From their descriptions and the reviews I’ve read, they seem to be the perfect textbook set for students of largely Common Practice Era
Tonal-Sensibilities, to help them gain a greater understanding and appreciation for modern music of the 20th century and its development and culture!
- I finally decided on these three books only yesterday, so I’m really looking forward to reading through them. From their descriptions and the reviews I’ve read, they seem to be the perfect textbook set for students of largely Common Practice Era
That “Anima Mechanicae” Project….
So, what’s going on with that PARMA release of “Anima Mechanicae” included on the modern string quartet album??
Here are some updates, from the people themselves!
As the Art Director here at PARMA I will be your primary contact during the design and manufacturing process for your upcoming release featuring “Anima Mechanicae: Soul of the Machine”. Jeff has shared the piece with me. I must say this is one of my favorite pieces we have worked with (shhh, don’t tell the others I said that). I’m a Sci-Fi fan so any piece about robots has my attention and when I listened I was taken back at how well you captured the mood and story. The arrangements are so interesting and the performance sounds fantastic. It is going to be great on the release.
Woot!!
The title of the release is selected by the team here and we consider the musical language first and then the concepts behind the pieces. Our titles and graphics on compilations tend to speak to the overall musical concept rather than any one piece. It is generally not effective for us to create too tight a visual connection to any one piece for reasons of fairness and equanimity for our composers.
We did some deep thinking about the best way to represent this collection of chamber and piano pieces and in the end I think we came up with a great title,”ALLUSIONS – Modern Chamber Works”. We selected this title for being a succinct and creative way set the tone for the release. By definition an allusion is a reference to, or a representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. Though the pieces all have varied inspirations, the expressive and interpretive nature of the musical language is common to all the pieces which makes this a fitting title that ties the program together very nicely.
This is also a unique title that returned almost no search results on the internet which is always a plus. The release will be easily searched and found on the internet.
Design of the cover art is beginning today and we will be presenting the results to you later this week. PARMA takes great pride in our packaging design and we consider the look of our releases a major aspect in creating interest in the album. Viewing album art is often the first contact a listener will have with a release so it is my job to maximize the curb appeal for the musical mansion you have created.
I’m really pleased to present you with the cover art we are developing for ALLUSIONS.
In efforts to push our designs to the next level I have developed many connections within the artist community. The more original art we can use in our designs the more unique and meaningful the covers will be and not to mention we are directly supporting artists and their works which is important to us.
One such artist is Clara Lieu a professor of art at RISD and an oboist herself. The image on this cover is one of her works that I felt spoke to the tone of the album. The concept of shadows works really well with the title as shadows allude to the objects that cast them. There was also a relation to the music though the moody, loneliness of the characters which connects to the small instrumentation and overall musical language. The type of the title is modern to signify that these are new works and is quite large for good legibility when the cover is reduced to thumbnail size by internet retailers…. — Brett Picknell, Art Director
And… Today I just got the news that:
I’m pleased to inform you that your album is on track for release on August 27th, 2013! On this date, ALLUSIONS will be available for purchase on Amazon, iTunes, and dozens of other retailers. With the release date tentatively established, we can begin our marketing and promotion process.
Hooray!!! Not too much longer now…
Update: Officially the title of the album will be:
Allusions: Evocative Chamber Works
…And “Anima Mechanicae” is the FIRST Track!! Whee!
The New England String Quartet sounds soooo good on my piece, and Andy Happel is a wonderful producer! It’s definitely the Definitive Version!
The Gig… Very awesome group of musicians to work with, everyone I met today! — I am truly lucky and privileged!
Support the Release of my Solo PARMA Album!
Sarah has been a violinist since 1989 and has enjoyed performing all styles in a variety of groups, recording projects, and solo and ensemble concerts throughout the world, as well as gaining success as a music instructor and concert composer.
