This was recorded live at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh for the Live Music Now Scotland Series. Performed by the New Antonine Brass Quintet.

Tin Soldiers

Solo piano piece performed by Ivan Varchenko

2394, 18 Mg

Written for alto saxophone and electronics. Performed live by Dean Garrity at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's 2022 PLUG Festival.

Ghost Of George Dyer (Live)

Performed by the Red Note Ensemble at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's 2022 PLUG Festival. Written for: Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano, and Percussion

2394, 36 mg

Imhotep

A collaborative composition by 3 masters students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Jazz vocalist - Dawn Coulshed, MMus composer - Isidor ten Hooven, and MMus composer - Michael Maftean

The 78

Working in collaboration with the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive, Microteaching Techniques was written for the festival of broadcasting, and includes archival material from “College With a Difference,” a film from 1970 that showcases technological advancements in teaching at Dundee College. This piece mixes warm, fuzzy, and lo-fi synth sounds with a jazz/rock/funk style double bass that gives this work a charming juxtaposition and keeps the listener on their toes. Previously composed and recorded works, including a vocal trio and piano act as additional source material giving the piece additional acoustic warmth and depth.

Microteaching Techniques

The Fledgling was written as a concert closer for the RCS Flute Department's Mondays atOne concert on 13 March. It was inspired by the sounds of video games and electronic music of the 1970's, and is a work that continues to drive forward with determination. It is about those moments in our lives that we are aching to grow but unsure of how to take the next step. Falling down is inevitable, and part of the journey. Just like fledglings learn to fly, our willingness to experience life is what makes life worth living. -MM

The Fledgling

No Disassemble! is a short orchestral work written specifically for student orchestra. The music has an overarching sense of activity and organic growth with patterns that are ever- developing which propel the piece forward. There are also "surprise" events that take place to keep the listener engaged. I took a pointillistic approach towards articulation that would provide the opportunity for interesting colors and timbres to pop out at certain times of the piece. There is also an obsessive feeling element to the music that is always pushing forward while also looking back to the main ostinato as a type of director of the music. -MM

No Disassemble!

A rum go is Cockney slang for a strange or peculiar incident or occurrence. This piece is inspired by how sounds and music themes change in video game music when there are changes in the environment. An example would be how the sounds of an underwater level are dramatically different than say, a shop in a village where you barter goods. A Rum Go is a big, bold piece of music that dynamically moves between different sound worlds. This was written for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's 2023 PLUG festival. -MM

A Rum Go

Guitar & Vocals performed by Jared Rozeboom

Tar Pit Ritual is a fixed media piece that was created only using audio files. I gave the performer written instructions on what type of vocals and guitar sounds I was looking for which he then recorded and sent back to me. Using these recordings I created a soundscape that strives for a sound that is both ancient and present while also looking towards a future that is lost. In addition to the death metal vocals and guitars, there is an additional sound source that comes from a brass quintet of mine that I manipulated and stretched out. This source does not necessarily belong to the sound world you are introduced to, but gives it an uneasy juxtaposition that floods the listener with overtones and harmonies and provides a texture that looks to a future that will never come to pass. I am interested in creating music like this to be used in film, television and video games, but also believe that it is a standalone piece of music accessible to many audiences. My love of death metal shines through and I see many metalheads appreciating this while contemporary music listeners will also be enthralled with the overall form and story that unfolds through the music. This soundscape is inspired by Black Metal and Nordic culture as well as Scottish earthworks such as the Pollock Ring Work.

Tar Pit Ritual

Casa De Nebuni

Jealous Disco (Premix)

Masters student composer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This page is a combination of music that I composed as My Wooden Leg, as well as music from my studies at MSU Denver and now at the RCS.

Music of Michael Maftean

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