Open Works

I composed this work in January of 2013 for the Mars Hill College Saxophone Quartet. The MHC Sax Quartet premiered it April 20, 2013 during the Mars Hill New Music Festival. 
The hall was in complete darkness. Each performer began playing in a different corner of the concert hall surrounding the audience.  Slowly each performer began moving to the front of the hall. When they played the last chord the lights quickly filled the hall.

Quartet for El Anatsui was inspired by the artwork of the Ghanaian artist, El Anatsui. He creates wonderful sheets of metal, wood and cloth that are hung on walls or stand alone on the floor. Each time one of his sculptures are presented at a museum they are presented differently. Which inspired me to write this piece which can be played differently at every performance.

Mars Hill College Saxophone Quartet
Alan Theisen - Alto
Andrew Jenkins - Alto
Dalton Woody - Tenor
Bradley Smith - Baritone

Quartet For El Anatsui (Open Piece No. 3)

Open Piece no 5 for organ was composed for Carson Cooman. 

This work is the latest in my Open Series in which the duration of the work is indeterminate and also the piece can be performed by any grouping of instruments. This work can be performed by organ solo, organ plus other instruments or a chamber ensemble.

Learn more about the performer/composer Carson Cooman here: http://carsoncooman.com/

Open Piece No. 5 For Organ

The CMU NME performed my Open Piece No 4 on 7 December 2014. 
The piece is composed for solo violin (or viola or cello) and an ensemble of open instrumentation.

They did a fine job. The ensemble is a student run group  of very sensitive musicians and i'm lucky to have had them perform two of my works over the past few years.

CMU New Music Ensemble members:
Evan	Boegehold,	conductor/trumpet
Nathan	Brown,	trombone
Evan	Harris,	tenor	saxophone
Kai	Johnson,	percussion
Kosta	Kapellas,	double	bass
Aurther	Kimmons,	tuba
Stephen	Lounsbrough,	violin
Frank	Nawrot,	guitar
Rachael	Rule,	piano
Jenna	Veldboom,	alto	saxophone

Open Piece No. 4 "Birthday Music for Carolyn O'Brien" for violin and ensemble

Central Michigan University New Music Ensemble performed my Open Piece No 6 for solo bassoon and open instrumentation ensemble on 12 December 2015. 

I've been very fortunate to have this ensemble premiere three of my works. They are extremely talented and sensitive musicians. 

CMU Ensemble Members:
Storm Benjamin, percussion
Matthew Henry, saxophone
Bradley Johnson, bassoon
Nathan Kistler, voice
Nicholas LaForge, percussion
Frank Nawrot, guitar
Rachael Rule, piano


Open Piece 6 for solo bassoon and open instrumentation ensemble

I composed this piece in the summer of 2012. I had heard a few open instrumentation works by different composers and I felt i should give it at try.

Open Piece No. 1 was premiered by the Central Michigan University New Music Ensemble December 9, 2012 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 

I will post the names of each performer when I receive them.  They did a fine job.  

CMU New Music Ensemble:

Mike Romaniak - Electronics
Kevin Keith - Piano
Jennifer Blackwell - Soprano Saxophone
Jenna Veldboom - Alto Saxophone
Nathan Brown - Trombone
Melissa Bialecki - Cello
Kevin Wilson - Double Bass
David Abraham - Percussion
Steve Bott - Percussion

Open Piece No. 1 for any instruments performed by the CMU New Music Ensemble

I am a composer of new music or contemporary classical music whatever name you like or whichever carries the least amount of baggage in your mind. I don't care which term you use but please take a moment to listen to my works.

I currently reside in Gateswood, Alabama with my wife , Cheryl, and our son, Asa. 

I love chamber music. I write lots of it. In fact that is the only music I have written so far. Mainly it's because I've known so many great performers and I've had the opportunity to compose for them.

If you want any scores or have any questions just let me know. 
Hopefully soon I will have more recent works on the site.

Open Piece No. 4 "Birthday Music for Carolyn O'Brien" for violin and ensemble

Everette Minchew