Zodiac Festival & Validation
This was the second year I was accepted into the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival as a composer fellow. It was a tremendous trip. I learned so much about myself, my music, and what can be accomplished in various communal endeavors.
I learned a lot more about composition and how it may or may not affect emotions. You can read about that here. I made new friends, and as a result have the honor and privilege to be writing some music for beautiful people, who are immensely talented. (more…)
2015 -My Year in Music
At the beginning of 2015, I moved to New York City to pursue music and live with two of my best friends. I discovered so much great music that has made a distinct impact on how I create and listen.
Here are my 2015 favorites.
2014 – A Bigger Palette – Year in Music
Once again, for the end of 2014, I’d like to make note of some of my favorite music that will leave a very important mark in my life.
The following, in no particular order, are musicians/albums/songs/pieces from 2014 that I would encourage others to try out.
L’Hendrickson – “L” is for “Love”…or “Hendrickson”
Music and how it connects us with people and memories is always fascinating. I’m never bored talking about it.
I had the lovely experience of attending a great friend’s wedding this past weekend in Indiana. I have a story that this post will revolve around, but first a bit about the lovely couple. L’Adam Lance L’Hendrickson is talented musician I met in college in a hodgepodge of guitar playing for overly flashy songs that never once made it onto my iTunes playlist.
Immediately I knew he was talented, but more so I knew that we’d get along just fine. Through many a beer and fewer whiskey nights, we talked music, theories, made fun of the townspeople that insulated our time in college, and generally provoked many a mild hootenany.
Album Review: Ryan Brewer’s “Trails”
Certainty.
If I had to pick one word to describe Ryan Brewer‘s music on his album Trails it would be “certainty.”
It is that all at once he is so certain about what he has to say and how he is going to say it, while simultaneously expressing bouts of uncertainty. If you are reading this, I hope my review will encourage you to try his music out–it moves you intellectually, emotionally, and physically. The following are my thoughts on what I am certain is a collection of fantastic music.
Summary Overview:
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2013 – Late to the Game, So Much Great Music – Year in Music
This is always fun. Here are my 12 favorite artists/album/songs/pieces of music that have helped define 2013 for me.
Another year in Texas, the first full one, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve found I’m good at other things, my interests have changed dramatically, and I bought a violin. I cannot play it well. So, that.
1. Gabriel Kahane makes my list every year. Or every day. Everything, really. I had devoured his Craiglistlieder song cycle, February House musical, and his second album Where Are the Arms, among other gems along the way. I only THIS year listened to his FIRST self-titled album, from 2008. **head.desk.** (more…)
Medicinal Music
Prescription #1.
My dear beautiful, beautiful, concrete, fragile, little girl, a strong woman and best friend, sadly lost her father. Richard “Dick” Geisler,
64, Logansport, IN, passed away Monday, Dec. 23, 2013. I remember first meeting him and the rest of Christy’s family in 2009. He was charming and loved music, and very vividly loved his children. His memory was not as strong as when he was younger, but he still had energy to play the guitar and crack a few jokes. (more…)
What Does Music Mean to You? – Art Campaign
I want to finally share what is in my art collection — and why you should support the arts.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to financially afford this sort of thing, so I have been commissioning works of art.
The following are 4 commissioned pieces of art from artists I knew. The premise was that the artists would make whatever they wanted as long as they were responding to the question, “What does music mean to me?” (more…)
What Music Changed You?
I’d like to make this post an interactive one. I’ll explain the music that made a significant change in my life, and I’d like to hear yours. Comment below this post, or even in an e-mail (musicjoeyoung@gmail.com).
What Music Changed You?
I have two major answers to the question: one band changed entirely what I consider “good” music to be, and another composer saved me. (more…)
Luckier and Better For It, After All I Have a Job, Right?
I have a job. This job pays well. There are fleeting moments where I am proud of my job. I work with some folk, some of whom are tremendous musicians, that have been real close friends. They’re affable and mostly intelligent fellows, who always want what we all want: happiness.
I have a job. This job is “technically” in the field to which I intend(ed) to belong: music. Defining one’s self by one’s occupation can be motivating & narcissistic or motivating & centripetal. I suppose I lean to the latter.
I have a job. This job drives me properly bonkers. I concentrate daily to keep my resting heart rate down. I thought I signed up for one thing, and I got another. I have equal complaints and praises for what I do. (more…)
2012 – Everything’s the Same Size in Texas – Year in Music
I did this last year: make a list of 12 songs for each month that really encompassed a part of the year for me. I’m treating this, again, like a journal for myself, but if anyone reads this and has thoughts, please share them.
January was the last month of 2012 that I was in Indiana. Once February hit, I moved to Texas. Here are the songs that had the most impact on me, may it be cerebral or otherwise. (more…)
The Transitional
Over the past 4 or 5 months I’ve observed some of my closest friends go through the ending of relationships. Besides having a “deep” moment by the aid of alcohol (and those are always delightful) there’s no better way to see how someone truly operates than amidst a breakup, specifically one where “love” was involved. (more…)
A Circus, a Phil, and an Apple
A Circus in Winter – in the Big Apple
I was fortunate enough to have spent this past week in New York City, performing for the “Circus in Winter” musical. I have been a part of the Circus team for the past year and a half.
I was excited to see two of my best friends Ben Clark (the composer for Circus) and Nick Rapley (the percussionist extraordinaire) but was not prepared for how many more emotions I would have towards the musical than before. (more…)
Texas, an album, & a finished? string quintet
I have arrived to Texas. And it has only been GREAT so far. Here’s what I’ve accomplished:
1. Spent necessary, great time with a necessary, great person.
2. Recorded some new things and as a result have the final lineup for my forthcoming full-length album. (Planning stages)
3. Designed the booklet for aforementioned album.
4. OFFICIALLY FINISHED my string quartet, “A Man’s Will to a Woman.” The music, lyrics, and edits are ALL FINISHED. Nope. That’s not true. (more…)
And we even sang the athem
I usually use this blog to update on compositional ideas, which I intend to do here in the coming sentences. But I have to use this to mark down some emotions too, this time.
But first the musical ideas:
1) I’m going to start recording very soon with a good friend who is a great musician and very technically savvy. I have some new songs I’m really proud of. Musically they’re what I want them to be, and lyrically, I’m at a stage of honesty I prefer to be at. I hope others find my lyrics to be intuitive and not without story. (more…)
A Man’s Will to a Woman – now 4 movements!
So since I’ve finished the string quintet, A Man’s Will to a Woman, (guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass), I have had the continued urgency to make it longer. I wanted it to be longer because I just wanted more music happening, I had more ideas that related, and I felt there were still more thoughts I had to get out lyrically. The piece is now about 36 minutes long, as opposed to its former roughly 25-minute length.
The final movement I had originally was definitely how I wanted to exit the quintet, so that is still the final movement, just movement no. 4 now! (more…)
New Projects! New Ideas!
I have many new projects.
1. I am still in the process of arranging a bunch of Radiohead songs for brass quintet. I’d like to get to playing them soon.
2. I am setting “The Three Billy Goats Gruff to Music.” That’s right–the Norwegian children’s story. I am trying to make it detailed enough so that it’s not too musically-childish, but not so cutesie that it only appeals to kids, thus making it too easy to play (and that’s never fun…). Kids stories are the most fun to set to music because the stories are so animated they lend themselves to fill-in-the-blank music writing. (more…)
Trumpet and the Chicago Experience
Yesterday, from Michigan City, IN, I traveled by train to Chicago with friend and coworker SSG Mark Koenig. The train was an awesome quick ride (1.5hr?) and we arrived around 4pm or so. Our first stop was to Andy’s Jazz Club to see the Chicago Jazz Orchestra. It was then, seeing a larger jazz band live, that I was reminded I really do like jazz. Usually I am only comfortable, musically, with small trios or quartets. They.were.awesome. Their sound was wicked and they were all in sync with each other. I should also mention that I almost got in free because I was carrying my trumpet with me. The lady said, “Oh you’re a band member then? Come on in!” Alas, we paid. (more…)
A Man’s Will to a Woman – COMPLETE!! **nope, still not true**
I am happy to say that A Man’s Will to a Woman is complete! **nope still not true** Per the changes I mentioned before, I did in fact change the mandolin to a viola, and banjo to cello. Obviously I had to re-write a lot of stuff, but I think this gives this my own unique sound and I really love what I have. I am proud of it. (more…)
Living as a musician
Many good things happening musically. I have the 3rd movement to my piece almost done!! **mad applause!** **chaotic uproar!** **fireworks and confetti and other hootenany-esque parading!!** **overuse of celebratory italics!!**
BUT–I am definitely re-thinking the instrumentation. THAT is a major change, I am aware. (more…)
At least there’s Radiohead…
This entry is more of an outward rant for myself. And it’s about my third movement. First off I should say, minus the fine tuning and editing I have to do I am happy with what I have for movement 1 & 2. I think there is sufficient honesty in them, and musically I like them–that’s not to say what I have will be the final product. I’m sure I will think of stuff to add or reorganize without jeopardizing my original ideas. (more…)
Second movement: Complete…?
So I’ve completed the second movement of A Man’s Will to a Woman. There is, what I think is lovely, a serial section with a serial improvisatory (abandonment of serialism?) section in the dead middle of everything. I am almost done with the lyrics. So I suppose I should say I am 90% done the second movement. (more…)
Music should move you intellectually & physically 