Program Notes: Clockwork Ballerina was written in honor of my love for ballet and dance. I attempted to compose themes that one could imagine being blended with choreography and stage design. While exploring what the piece was going to be about, I wrote this short poem, which birthed the main character and title for the work:

Bruised & bloody toes
A dancer out of work 
Ballerina angel
Twirling like clockwork 
Puppeteered by the universe 
Pulling her strings 
Crystalline movements 
Under a bright half moon 
She will dance once again.

This piece was commissioned by the Manitowoc Marine Band and is dedicated to the band in recognition of their 125th anniversary.

Cover: Noah David Eckstein

Video Design: James Zahorik

Copyright © 2024 by Noah David Eckstein. All Rights Reserved.

Clockwork Ballerina (MIDI Version)

Drawing influence from many different genres, Noah David Eckstein’s music can be compared to a messy art palette, with colors mixing into a vibrant, unrestricted amalgamation. He has worked with several filmmakers and producers, composing scores for films and television shows. He also composed music for a video game he created with two friends, which was entered into a competition through the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) regional competition, and ultimately qualified for the state and national competitions.
Noah’s more recent work includes working alongside Ball State University filmmakers to create the film "The Union Literary Institute: A Multicultural School Remembered", in which he composed, performed, and produced the film’s score. Other recent works include "Balancing Light & Dark" and "Electric Fluidity", his first full works for symphony orchestra and wind band, respectively. "Balancing Light & Dark" won the “Best Undergraduate Research & Creativity” award from UWO’s Office of Student Research & Creative Activity for the intense research that went into writing the piece. It was also selected as a winner of the 2021 UW Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra Concerto Composition and was performed and recorded by the orchestra in May 2021. "Electric Fluidity" was performed by the Ball State Wind Ensemble in May 2022.
Noah holds a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in Composition and a minor in Music Industry from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He also earned a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in Composition from Ball State University and held a full-time assistantship at Ball State, teaching Music Theory and Aural Skills to undergraduate students.

Contact: ndecksteinmusic@gmail.com