Gustav Mahler is probably the most important composer that "hooked me" to classical music appreciation.  I feel this composer somehow is very capable of deeply connecting with fans with his musical language and orchestration, even a century after he died.  I came across some great recordings of his symphonies in high school and it only made too much sense to honor him by playing his music at my recital.  Today his lyrics and philosophical intentions don't fully resound with me today but it is hard to deny the enduring allure of his sounds.

This is an example of the Post-Romantic era style which is much more natural for a tuba transcription, and the musical feelings written down by Mahler are still strong despite the transposition of this score away from the original keys.  Like Bruckner's grandiose style, it is fun to play to my instrument's strengths while also being able to express more complicated emotions.

Here is the live performance from my Senior Recital at Bates Recital Hall at the University of Texas at Austin in the Spring of 2009.


English Paraphrases of the Wayfarer Song Texts:

1. My Sweetheart's Wedding Day

My sweetheart's wedding day is a sad day for me!
I go into my dark little room and weep for my dear sweetheart.

Little blue flower! Do not fade!
Little sweet bird! You sing on the green heath
Oh! how beautiful is the world!

Do not sing! Do not bloom!
Spring has gone, all the singing is over.
In the evening when I go to sleep, I think of my sorrow!


2. This Morning in the Fields

This morning I went through the fields,
Dew still clung to the grass,
The gay finch said to me
How is it Good morning! How goes it
Isn't it a beautiful world
How I love the world!

The bluebell by the field with its little bells,
has also gayly, sprightly, rung out its morning greeting
Isn't it a beautiful world
A beautiful thing!
How I love the world!

The world began to sparkle in the sunshine!
Everything gained sound and color!
In the sunshine!
Flower & bird, large and small!
Good Day!
Isn't it a beautiful world
Isn't it Isn't it

Now won't my happiness begin too
No! No!
That which I seek can nevermore blossom for me!

3. I Have a Burning Knife

I have a burning knife in my breast,
Oh woe! Oh woe!
It cuts so deep into every joy & bliss,
So deep! So deep!

Oh, what an evil guest this is.
It never gives peace, never allows rest.
Not by day, not even in sleep!
Oh woe! Oh woe!

When I look into the sky, I see two blue eyes.
When I walk in the fields, I see her blond hair.
Oh woe! Oh woe!

When I awake from dreaming, I hear her silver laughter.
Oh woe! Oh woe!

I wish that I lay on the black bier,
And could nevermore open my eyes!	


4. My Sweetheart's Blue Eyes

My sweetheart's two blue eyes
have sent me away into the wide world.
I had to leave my most beloved place.
Oh blue eyes why did you ever gaze at me
Now I am forever in pain and sorrow.

I've gone out into the silent night.
No one bid me farewell.
My only comrades were love and sorrow.

A linden tree stands by the road.
Under it, for the first time I rested in sleep.
It snowed blossoms over me.
Then I forgot how life can hurt.
Everything was well again.
Everything....... Love and sorrow,
world, and dream.

Gustav Mahler - Songs Of A Wayfarer

Hey guys! So I've been trying to get more into voice acting recently, and made a demo of some character voices!

Video Game Demo Reel

Concertino For Flute And Band - Cecile Chaminade (Soloist Eliza Starkey)

III. Presto Giocoso - Poulenc Sonata For Flute And Piano

Bomberman64 - Rainbow Palace - Re-imagined

This writing of this track started with me wanting to emulate the music of Mega Man Battle Network. I wanted to have similar composition, while using the majority of the stock sounds you would hear on a GBA console. I ended up making something that reminded me of the "Network Themes" of the series. This is the music that you hear any time you are online in the game. So, I decided to make this a tribute song to those themes by sneaking in some melodic references to each network theme in the series. If you know the series well, maybe you can pick them all out. Also, that would explain why this may not be so well-organized.

I plan to continue working on this track. Some things I need to accomplish before it's done:

1) Re-arrange the song itself. There isn't a satisfying "flow" to this song. I want to maybe cut or add some things to remedy that.
2) Incorporating more custom sounds. Most of the stuff I use in this track is custom made by either me, or from a MMBN soundfont that I used for some of the sounds. I spent much of today emulating some MMBN sounds.
3) Remixing. This is a rough mix btw. I need to fix the low pass filter so that it doesn't crackle, and also I need to mix the song, rather than lazily throwing a compression preset on it. I was eager show my progress.

Anywho. Hope you enjoy! Just know that I still have a lot of work ahead of me with finishing this. I haven't heard this in my speakers, by the way. Just my headphones. I wouldn't be surprised if the bass is way to over-powering.

Netscapes (Test Mix) [WIP] - New -

Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Space Race

The 13th Struggle (from "Kingdom Hearts II") (Arranged by Ear)

This SoundCloud has the audio files of my recordings, including some from my student days.  Check the links below for newer videos!

Gustav Mahler - Songs Of A Wayfarer

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