Today in my basement studio I again experimented with the AudioKit L7 looper app, but this time I took a 17th century Passacaglia from the Rosary Sonata by H.I.F. Biber, and made it my own!
Tag: sonata
New Single Available
Now available on all your favorite platforms is the single, “La Partita Electronica”!
J.S. Bach gets groovy!
Based on an unaccompanied violin partita variation from the eighteenth century by Bach, layers of electronic elements breathe new life into this classic. Also appearing on this release is “Sonata Moderna (Remastered)” from 2010. “Sonata Moderna” is based on a piece from the seventeenth century (“Sonata sopra la Monica” by Biagio Marini). It was the May 2016 Akademia Winner for Best Ambient/Instrumental Song. Featuring two violins and cello with rock rhythm and chords, the past is united with the present in this driving work.
Enjoy this little amuse-bouche of mashed-up music! 🙂
#NewTuneThursday: Gypsy Wanderer
Welcome to #NewTuneThursday!
Today’s tune holds a special place in my heart. 🙂
“Gypsy Wanderer” is an original, 4-movement sonata for solo violin and piano.
[C]ompleted in April of 2013, the originating sketches for this four-movement work existed as early as 2008, and were a part of Wallin Huff’s first graduate lessons in composition, while studying under Dr. Mark Carlson. “Gypsy Wanderer” is a unique addition to Wallin Huff’s repertoire in that it is an early exploration of patterns, color, and formula.
The nature of the four movements can be described in affect as follows: I. Irreverently: dance-like and fluid; II. Grave: surreal and sublime; III. Con brio: diligent and determined; IV. Rapide: passionate yet controlled. The work is riveting and soulful in its earthy and irreverent, rhythmic and harmonic wanderings.
I have had the privilege of playing this sonata, in whole and in part, several times, and each time I play it I discover something new about it as a violinist. The unexpected dichotomy of approaching a piece (especially one of my later works) as a musician versus a composer continues to fascinate me. 🙂
I am immensely grateful to sisters Maria Wozniakiewicz and Karolina Rojahn for their excellent and pristine performance of this work on the Navona album, “Soul of the Machine.” And, of course, many thanks to Parma Recordings and all others who contributed to make this album possible!
Enjoy Maria’s and Karolina’s performance of “Gypsy Wanderer” below!
“Gypsy Wanderer” can be performed by anyone with advanced ability. Get the sheet music here! And stay tuned for our featured work next week…
Music TBT: “Gypsy Wanderer”
It’s time for my Music TBT, where I randomly choose a work from my repertoire and reminisce about its beginnings!
Today’s TBT Selection is…
Gypsy Wanderer
(Purchase the sheet music and official recording)
An original Sonata for Violin and Piano. Completed in April of 2013, the originating sketches for this four-movement work existed as early as 2008, and were a part of Wallin Huff’s first graduate lessons in composition, while studying under Dr. Mark Carlson. “Gypsy Wanderer” is a unique addition to Wallin Huff’s repertoire in that it is an early exploration of patterns, color, and formula. The nature of the four movements can be described in affect as follows: I. dance-like and fluid; II. surreal and sublime; III. diligent and determined; IV. passionate yet controlled. The work is riveting and soulful in its earthy and irreverent, rhythmic and harmonic wanderings.
I originally began work on this piece during my first semester of graduate studies, under the instruction of Dr. Mark Carlson. He taught me so many valuable techniques to open up my creativity! So, by the end of 2006, I had movement 2 of this sonata completed and movement 3 almost finished. For movement 1, I had several of the phrases sketched out, and movement 4 had only rough ideas of incomplete motives scrawled out on a page.
It sat that way for years as I finished my degree under another teacher. It wasn’t until I began teaching at The Master’s College in 2012 that I finally began looking again at this unfinished sonata of mine. I told myself, I have to finish this! It would be a crime not to! The problem was, I had written so many diverse other works in the meantime, of differing influences and sounds. I didn’t want this sonata to feel as though it was written 6 years apart, as if it was two different pieces entirely. So I spent a lot of time trying to understand my old sketches from my earlier frame of mind. I was able to merge these with all the newfound knowledge I had gained in the past 6 years to create something really colorful and unique.
Finally, in 2013 this four movement sonata was born! It holds a special place in my heart. I’ve had the opportunity to perform this (in completion and in parts) twice now. It is such a kick to play! It really keeps me on my toes, and every time I attempt it, it gets better and better…
I hope you enjoy this trippy, irreverent, angular, and passionate work, “Gypsy Wanderer”! 😀
Live Performance of Gypsy Wanderer
On May 1, Ken Mays (piano) and I got the opportunity to tackle the two hardest movements of my violin sonata, “Gypsy Wanderer” – Movement 1 “Irreverently” and Movement 4 “Rapide”!
It was a valiant effort, to be sure – and loads of fun! Enjoy these two videos from our performance below…
Purchase the sheet music or professional recording.
The Final Recording Session (for now)
Yesterday’s recording sessions were a fabulous success!
Counterpoint Invariable went like clockwork– the three talented ladies who played it nailed it nearly every single take, and they made the work come alive in ways I could only have hoped for!! (In fact, the producer of these two recordings had this to say of the violin trio: “I got totally lost in the 2nd movement of the trio for the simple reason it was so very lovely – really very special.”)
And, as I’ve mentioned, Gypsy Wanderer sounds thoroughly amazing! Passionate, on fire, beautiful… All the emotional moments in the work come alive and were captured for all to hear soon.
Keep your eyes out for news of the release of this album— you won’t want to miss the final product from all this work, seriously… It’ll be available really really soon, within only a few more months!!!!! ヽ(^o^)丿
On the Horizon
I have a couple of exciting things on the horizon….
- First, the FINAL RECORDING SESSION for my new album with PARMA is fast approaching! On December 28th, at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport,
This place is freaking beautiful!!!! MA, my two chamber works, Counterpoint Invariable for violin trio and Gypsy Wanderer for violin and piano, will be recorded by these marvelously talented ladies:
- On Gypsy Wanderer: sisters Maria Wozniakiewicz (violin) and Karolina Rojahn (piano).
- On Counterpoint Invariable: Klaudia Szlachta (violin 1), Julia Okrusko (violin 2 — Julia is the featured first violinist with the New England String Quartet and recorded the definitive recording of my quartet, “Anima Mechanicae: Soul of the Machine“!), and Maria Wozniakiewicz (violin 3).
- I’ve also had the opportunity to chat with the producer for this recording, Mason Daring (who wrote and recorded the score for the movie, “Music of the Heart,” among other things); I really enjoyed getting to know him and look forward to working with him on the 28th!
- And our engineer for the session will be the highly knowledgable and experienced Tom Stephenson.
- Second, I have been asked to compose a full album to go with, and in response to… a novel…! I’m really thrilled about this project! Psychiatrist Jorge Armenteros of Florida has written a creative novel entitled, The Book of I, about a French artist struggling with fragmented personality scenarios–with lots of symbolism and intrigue, from what I hear… I’ll be diving into Jorge’s manuscript very soon, and I’ve already got ideas floating around my brain for new compositions related to this project…
- Upon hearing several of my tracks and demos, Jorge was especially fond of my works Anima Mechanicae: Soul of the Machine, Counterpoint Invariable, Leviathan of the Ancient Deep, and Oppression— he has expressed a desire to hear new tracks along the lines of these, featuring strings and the solo violin. Needless to say, I was very pleased to hear that, because that’s right up my alley! Stay tuned for details as this intriguing creative project unfolds over the next few months!…
- And third… I got a pleasant surprise in my inbox the other day, when Simon Belshaw wrote me and said that he plans on including my string quartet “Anima Mechanicae: Soul of the Machine” in a modern music concert in the UK that he is in the process of curating. I’m not sure of any of the details at this point, but I am entirely thrilled and flattered that my little work aims to be performed there soon!
Videos from Seal Beach Duo Gig
Omg! I completely forgot to share our three videos from Mike’s and my Seal Beach gig! Included is the DEBUT of my recent work, “Gypsy Wanderer“! It’s a little rough around the edges, but not half-bad for the first official run — and Mike and I are hoping to perform this new Sonata again in January at University of Redlands!
For now, enjoy these videos from the performance!
A Sneak Peek at the Live “Gypsy Wanderer”…
Check it out! Pianist Mike Jung shows off the piano part from the finale of my work, “Gypsy Wanderer”! Told ya it ROCKS done LIVE!!!!
Come see us perform the whole work (along with the likes of Brahms and Suk) in Seal Beach, CA! Details here!
AND! Don’t forget — Gypsy Wanderer is going to be one of the featured works on my new PARMA album! Be sure to jump on board TODAY to be a part of making it happen! Be a part of something bigger than all of us and make your donation today! 
I’m inspired— and I’m gonna finish my Violin Sonata’s 4th and final movement!!! Hopefully today…. I think I’ve settled on a title: "Gypsy Wanderer"!!
There’s practically no title on gypsies that hasn’t been over-used, but at least this one isn’t related to any music right upfront, that I could find; just some artwork… I like it!!
But I like the music even more!!! I was thinking how oddly "traditional-style 12-tone" my techniques in the last movement are; and yet, the result is still really fun and crazy, totally accessible music… And a serious CHALLENGE for both the violinist and pianist, let me tell you!!!!
I’m just tickled the way it’s taking shape– it’s a really unique addition to my repertoire!! 😉
