Original composition from 2021.

Performed May 5, 2023 at the Cal Poly Pomona Recital Hall by:
Orion Hodge, flute
Christian Solis Alvarado, bass clarinet
Leonard Woo, violin
Nik Ramsey, cello
Lowell Johnson, piano
Matthew Welch, percussion

Thoughts of What Once Was

Fifths and Canons: two long standing elements in music. In over and out I try to put a different aural perspective onto both of these structures. Using canons, I overlay different collections of fifths to create the melodies and harmonies that pervade this short work. Before you know it, the piece is over and out.

For Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombon, Tuba, Perc, Piano, Violn, and Elec. Bass
Commissioned by Common Sense Composers' Collective;
Premiered June 1994 - Hartford, CT

OVER AND OUT

PATH was written in the Summer of 2007 as part of the Common Sense Composers’ Collective/Robin Cox Ensemble. The title comes from the way the opening music sets a meditative atmosphere but soon takes a different path into an energetic rush of a single line of cascading notes that take one to another poit on the path of the opening material. The process is the basis for the structure of the piece, creating a sort of pot-minimalist ‘Rondo’, a form in which you have the similar or same material return again and again juxtaposed against contrasting material in between – onn could describe it as an A B A C A D etc. form.

On a more personal level, the music reflects the mood I was in that summer. We all start down paths in life that are, for one reason or another, abruptly alterted, forcing us to take a different direction than intended. My summer was a lot like that, with deadlines, plans with my four year old, and having the summer go much faster and frenzied than I has planned! But, things did get on track, and I appreciate now the surprises the season sent me. Nevertheless, I am planning a path of laziness and rejeuvination for next summer. We’ll just have to see what path my plans actually take.

Thanks goes to Marty, Robin, Maggie, Eric L. and Eric M. For their expert musicianship and adventurous spirit in helping this piece come to life with their invaluable input. A special thanks goes to Robin, not only for his playing, but for his selflessness and vision in donating all his time and energy and skills into helping such a great undertaking of performing 8 new premieres in one show! Finlly I wish to express my undying gratitude to my husband, Dan Becker, and daughter, Eleanor, whose patience and love got me through both writing this piece and the crazy summer!

For Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Percussion
Commissioned by the Robin Cox Ensemble and Common Sense Composers' Collective;
Premiered November 2007 - Santa Barbara, CA

Approx. Duration: 7'

RCE/CS concert 2007

PATH

Skulker

Written by Sean Dillman in memory of late great jazz guitarist Vic Juris
Performed with the Kite Quartet: featuring Ken Thomson, Peter Hess, Ed Rosenberg, and Alex Hamlin
Produced by Sean Dillman
Mastered by Paul Joseph
Special thanks to Mike Early, and the late Diane Moser

For VJ

Leah Michael Whalen (they/them) is a composer, artist, and multi-instrumentalist who strives to expand past conventional music solutions and boundaries concerning how we emotionally engage with music. Inspired by cross-domain art forms, supernatural cognizance, and the connection between individuals, they often confront profoundly personal and challenging issues resulting in a surreal and reflective aesthetic. Guided by intuition and tactile sensations, Leah Michael’s music contains complex polyphonic structuring, sonic imagination, and unpredictable texturing, producing a unique and potent voice.

Unreleased recordings and alternate takes by Sean Dillman, including his college band Reckless Abandon. Sean plays guitar, mandolin, and bass for Garlic Scapegoat: he has also played with The Lost Pilots, Cold Coffee, and the Rochester Mandolin Orchestra. Check them all out, right here on SoundCloud.

New tracks tagged #mixedensemble