A revision I have made today, of my atonal piano composition "The Imp". You can download a copy of the score from my ScoreExchange page here: https://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/the-imp-667446.html                      Thanks for your interest. 🙂

The Imp [2018, revised 2025]

I am a British composer, who has studied composition privately with British composer Peter Nickol https://www.impulse-music.co.uk/peternickol/ (although I am largely self-taught). I have also studied piano (privately) with concert pianist Ekaterina Shetliffe. 
My music contains elements of impressionism, and musical modernism; I have also explored 12-tone composition. Recently, my focus has been on learning quartal harmony!

Composers who have influenced me include Schumann, Chopin, Schoenberg, and Ligeti; however my formative musical inspiration is the music of Debussy.

*My music and poetry is copyrighted.*

Eric Schultheiss stands at the vanguard of contemporary composition, forging a unique path that bridges the rhythmic drive of global percussion with the infinite possibilities of digital sound. As a composer, percussionist, and educator, Schultheiss is acclaimed for his hybrid electro-acoustic works—pieces that fuse the organic pulse of drums with orchestral richness and the sonic innovation of modern electronics.

Rooted in a Southern California upbringing steeped in progressive rock, classical discipline, and the improvisational freedom of jazz, Schultheiss draws on a vast tapestry of influences. His music channels the off-kilter accents of Stewart Copeland, the lyrical intensity of Neil Peart, the storytelling depth of Peter Gabriel and Sting, and the progressive artistry of Genesis, Dream Theater, and Spock’s Beard. This synthesis results in compositions that are as intellectually rigorous as they are emotionally evocative.

Currently, as Head of Percussion Studies and Electro-Acoustic Composition at the Middle Tennessee Conservatory of Music, Schultheiss is an outspoken advocate for the DAW as a true instrument. In his hands, digital workstations become canvases for sonic experimentation, allowing for real-time orchestration, microscopic precision, and the layering of polyrhythms and timbres that would be impossible with traditional notation alone. He champions technology not as a shortcut, but as an authentic extension of the composer’s voice.

Signature works such as Lights Twinkle—a Christmas percussion-ensemble piece blending Japanese Taiko, harp, and haiku-inspired vocal textures—showcase his ability to unite tradition with innovation. Airidea’s Journal explores the dialogue between structure and freedom through dance-driven percussion and atmospheric synths, while As You Sleep and Terminal Memory reveal Schultheiss’ penchant for ambient soundscapes, introspective melodies, and cross-media collaborations. His compositions have been commissioned for film, dance, and multimedia productions, performed by leading ensembles, and praised for their intricate interplay of rhythm and resonance.

As an educator, Schultheiss is dedicated to shaping musicians who are not only technically skilled but also creatively fluent in both acoustic and digital modalities. At the Middle Tennessee Conservatory, he mentors young composers in hybrid techniques, polyrhythmic structures, and DAW-based workflows, encouraging them to embrace technology as a creative partner. His influence extends beyond the classroom, as he helps students gain visibility in the digital era and equips them to thrive in an evolving musical landscape.

Through his relentless curiosity, innovative spirit, and commitment to artistic growth, Eric Schultheiss is redefining what it means to be a composer in the 21st century. His work is a testament to the power of bridging tradition and technology, and to the limitless frontiers that await those willing to explore them.

Composer, lyricist, published poet, sound artist, improviser, recording artist.

Also known as @ajkaufmann.

"no uchū" is a small online boutique, where you can buy unique items associated with me and support me directly. European Union only, sorry.

https://nouchu.wordpress.com/

"Live where your heart can be given and your life starts to unfold." – Tommy Hall.

#experimental #improvisation #nowave #stoner #psych #kraut #noiserock #punk #folklore.

Adam Majdecki-Janicki (1985) has been writing poetry, lyrics, composing, playing, and recording since 1998. His most important achievements to date include his debut poetry collection “Siva in Rags” (Kendra Steiner Editions, USA, 2008), the vinyl and CD “Second Hand Man” (Mimics Cool, Poland, 2011), the CD-R and vinyl “Stoned Gypsy Wanderer” (Kendra Steiner Editions, USA, 2014 / Ramble Records, Australia, 2021), the experimental/ambient album “Eimi” (Snow in Water Records, France, 2020), the vinyl album of his group Säure Adler (Ramble Records, Australia, 2021), and countless other physical and digital releases worldwide.

“They Call Him Sunlight, They Call Him the Eagle”

Adam Majdecki-Janicki (1985) has been writing poetry, lyrics, composing, playing, and recording since 1998. His most important achievements to date include his debut poetry collection “Siva in Rags” (Kendra Steiner Editions, USA, 2008), the vinyl and CD “Second Hand Man” (Mimics Cool, Poland, 2011), the CD-R and vinyl “Stoned Gypsy Wanderer” (Kendra Steiner Editions, USA, 2014 / Ramble Records, Australia, 2021), the experimental/ambient album “Eimi” (Snow in Water Records, France, 2020), the vinyl album of his group Säure Adler (Ramble Records, Australia, 2021), and countless other physical and digital releases worldwide.

The Imp [2018, revised 2025]

Mark Dowding