The full recording of my “live electric” rendition of Wabi-Sabi is finished!
As you can see from the video of the first movement, “Emergence”, I was able to record all four string parts with my 6-string electric violin. This is definitely a fun piece to play–challenging, emotional, harmonious… 😀
Look for it to be included on an upcoming album release, but for now, enjoy this early sneak peek of the full recording below!
Available now on your favorite streaming platform…
Presenting a fun video of the debut performance of movement 1 from “Wabi-Sabi (for string quartet)”!
As we’ve still been in quarantine mode at the start of spring, I thought I’d overlay myself playing all the quartet parts using my 6-string electric violin. And, of course, I wanted to show off my fiddle’s colorful lights at the start of the video. 😉
Enjoy!
“Wabi-sabi acknowledges that just as it is important to know when to make choices, it is also important to know when not to make choices: to let things be.” (Leonard Koren in “Wabi- Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers”.)
The aesthetic and metaphysical ideals that Japanese wabi-sabi encapsulates include simplicity, naturalness, and an acceptance of reality. This musical work seeks to illustrate the overall nature of wabi-sabi. At both the beginning of movement 1 and the ending of movement 3, notes are thought of as specks of Potentiality that are randomly evolving from or devolving to Nothingness. Movement 2, at the center point of this universal journey, expresses a concerted effort of diverse elements to create structure and meaning.
The single for “Crystallization (A Winter Passacaglia)” is now out on your favorite streaming platforms!
A wintery piano solo, inspired to be written during the 2020 holiday season. Dedicated to my dear friend, Michael Jung, who’s always willing to try anything I throw at him.
This upcoming album is in still in its conceptual stage, but my thinking is to include recordings of the following works:
I have to admit that it’s a weird feeling, thinking about recording live musicians again, after this long year of distancing. I’d gotten so used to the idea of relying on myself and my computer for everything! But, while I do wonder if I will know “how to people” again soon enough (lol), I am looking forward to working with my friends and colleagues, making music in person again. And I think this project is a great way to get myself into the groove again. <3
Now publicly available on Bandcamp are the recordings of “Crystallization” for solo piano and “Ayre of Grievances” for violin, viola, and flute! Enjoy!
Enjoy listening to this brand new compilation album of new chamber works, including my haunting tarot-quintet, “The Oracle“!
LOCK & KEY VOL II is the second presentation of five composers drawing from the well of inspiration – in highly heterogeneous ways and from a plethora of sources, yet all united by a common theme: the profound depths of the human experience. The pieces all revel exuberantly: in the natural beauty of Iceland, the nostalgia evoked by a distantly familiar melody, the random augury of a deck of tarot cards, late 19th Century anthems adapted for woodwind quintet, or the kinetic energy of musical gestures. Confidently asserting that all facets and walks of life can be a source of music if you listen closely enough, LOCK & KEY VOL II features brand-new chamber works by Sarah Wallin-Huff, Herbert Deutsch, Kenneth Kuhn, Carol Barnett, and Philippe Kocher.
Album Catalog Page
Now up in my sheet music store are new transcriptions of a couple of my original solo works.
Check out “Forgotten Melody” and “Fever Pitch“–both now available for either solo violin or viola!
This brand new internship for the CPP music department has been in the works this past Fall, and today we celebrate the debut episode!!!
The Music Couches in the Cal Poly Pomona music department are a legendary feature, and have been for many decades. It is a “sacred space” where students and faculty can enjoy each other’s company between classes, and talk about music, life, career… and everything in between! With this podcast, we strive to replicate that feeling during the pandemic lockdown.
I have the pleasure of acting as the episode producer/editor and faculty advisor for this project, as well as writing the podcast theme music.
New episodes will be available every two weeks. Enjoy!
I have recently been introduced to the Japanese art aesthetic, wabi sabi, and I’m in love with the idea!
Some thoughts on the idea include:
In celebration of this ideal, I’ve created some new merch I hope you enjoy! One listing is created for customizable apparel, and the other for everything else. 🙂
One more thing to look forward to… I’ve decided to take this idea and shape my newest string quartet sketches around it. Look for a new string quartet work to be revealed soon!
I am thrilled to announce that the 2019 short film I had the pleasure of creating the music for is now up for viewing on YouTube!
The original soundtrack is also available for streaming everywhere on the album “Tonal Eclipse”.
The other Tequila Mockingbird Productions film I’ve gotten to work on, “Shady Oaks Takedown” (soundtrack available here), is also available for viewing, as well as all of the production company’s other films. Enjoy!
