Bryan-Kirk Reinhardt

Nothing of particular to note in the last couple of weeks.  Life distractions dictate where to place focus.

Getting close to sending out the string work; and, after listening to the mock up over the last few weeks it’s becoming clearer what it is and what it’s trying to communicate.  It can take a long time to understand a work of art.  Even if you wrote it there is always something to learn about not only its being, but yourself in relationship to it.  And so, I believe I’ve found a new sense of maturity within to communicate and talk about.  But not tonight.

I thought recently that I’m going to have to design a matrix that lends an explain about the aesthetics of what I am trying to do, or maybe what it is trying to do with me as it’s guide.

Performed just a little research this week on materials – specifically, looking over a compositional design I had created a while back and contemplating how an architecture might embrace it.  Also, did a survey on what I have in the electronic kits I own…looking for some prototypes of sonic materials that I think may be relevant for this new work.  I’m still undecided on what instruments I should work with here, and very undecided about electronics – whether they should be passive or active, where, or if at all.  So, there are still a number of critical choices that I need to make before I commit to it with heart.  I keep bouncing around with the instrumentals – first thought it was just a piano or two keyboard like instruments (such as a vibraphone).  Now thinking a piano quintet might do it.  I still am pursuing the neutrality of a group of instruments rather than the perfunctory of going down a soloist path again.

The materials though seem to be workable.  Rhythmically, I’m unsure on something more closed or more open or both.

No creative passage this week into productivity, as I’ve been distracted by other life pressures that left very limited time at the music.  And though I didn’t create that much, philosophically I’ve come to the conclusion from what I did get into the sequencer and my notes that I should abandon the violin and piano work for the time being – placing it back in the ice box for another time. Read the rest of this entry »

Back tracking this week on finding an approach to the violin and piano work.  I’m not at all satisfied on using any of the materials I’ve been researching and analyzing.  I like them for a while, but then find them too constraining or uninteresting. It seems to me there are two distinct approaches I can take to moving through this – a somewhat open system that bridges constructionist methods with a lyrical and free style…or to go totally native and just jazz it.   Read the rest of this entry »

Not a production success this week, but still some significant planning resolved for the remainder of the year and into next year.

I’ve elected to create two different renderings of the materials that I had focused to use for that additional string work.  The first derivation will be for two pianos and electronics.  The second for chamber orchestra and electronics.  There is also a new idea for a sextet with electronics which I will attempt as an experiment.  All three follow the modernist aesthetic of a reduced personal touch, and all three are sonic in nature. Read the rest of this entry »

Heavy concentration this week on the pre-composition for my next work.  The smallest details, but the angst of time.  Make a small decision then think about it for 2 hours, or just stare at the screen contemplating in a trance not deciding.  Worse, I pace back and forth, and then erase what I just wrote down.  Either way, they say the eraser is the most used tool of the composer.  The majority of decisions are subjective, trying to imagine the bare potential before committing. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: Pareto8020

Slower week in creativity.  Worked on some adjustments to the score, but not too many drastic changes.  Still unsettled about the transition from II to III but will have to live with it for now until I can try some things in a reading.

Well, its a different kind of work artistically, but I am satisfied with it.  And as a bonus it could be played by a smaller group or even by players less experienced technically.  So, I will let it settle for a while, send it out, do the paper work etc. Read the rest of this entry »

photo credit: snjr22

Good composedly week.  Experimentation paid off and I added a new section between II and III.  It aligns perfectly with the artistic premise and is just contrasting enough to the other parts.  The time point alterations gave good bite.  It becomes the heart of the work, and it balances things off nicely in an arch form.  The total running time comes to 23 minutes.  Quite a demand for a string work. Read the rest of this entry »