Herbie Hancock Lang Lang – Rhapsody in Blue – Classical Brits 2009In addition to my composition projects currently under way, I’ve started creating a double piano arrangement of Gershwin’s famous ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, partly inspired by the performance of the work by Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang at the 2009 Classical Brit Awards. I find that arranging music is a very useful experience, particularly in inspiring my own compositions. I’ll hopefully have the score online with this arrangement very soon. In the mean time, here’s that Hancock/Lang performance!

What about 570? Inspired by Michael Zhang’s post on his PetaPixel Blog I bring you a $35 million camera used to map galaxies. Yes, galaxies.

…or High Dynamic Range photography is a technique that uses several low-dynamic range images merged together to create a single image that better reflects the whole tonal and lighting range. The result is a 32-bit image which does not look that special as current technology, especially computer monitors, do not support the contrast ratio necessary. However, when this image is converted from 32-bit to 8-bit (which will allow you to save from RAW to jpeg) and then tweaked (tone mapping etc.) you end up with stunning pictures with a huge amount of detail. Basically! I’ve not personally done any of this before, however it is certainly something I will be looking at in the near future. Here is a great website for HDR photography, including a useful tutorial. For now though, here is an example of HDR photography by my friend, Carl Topham, of Chester Cathedral.

As promised, here are a couple more shots of Liverpool. These were taken on my last outing of 2009 with the “Chester/Bebington/Oxton Photography Club” (Twitter: @designer023 @charliedncn).

In the post ‘Bedtime Reading’ I introduced my most useful photography book. In this post, the book in question is my first point of reference when researching a composition project. ‘The Technique of the Modern Orchestra: A Manual of Practical Instrumentation’ was recommended to me by Kenneth Hesketh (Professor in Composition and Orchestration at the Royal College of Music).

In a word, this book is amazing. Written by French composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor, the book addresses each orchestral instrument with a level of detail that could not be possibly demonstrated in one post. As a feeble example, there is a section listing every tremolo and shake on the Clarinet, complete with notes on fingering, tone, suitable register, the list is endless.

Although written in 1906, it is still relevant to today’s composer, especially as a reference material when composing for unfamiliar instruments. The book offers the contemporary composer the foundation and starting point for an informed, prepared composition. I purchased the hardback edition which was quite expensive, however there is now (as of May 2009) a paperback edition available here for a mere £13.31. As a primer on orchestral instruments, it is a solid investment.

This time far more breath-taking and with a bit more kit than my Nikon D60. Image courtesy of NASA.

Ironically, this is exactly the process that majority of my current composition projects are undergoing. As a music teacher in a large secondary school, personal compositions materialise in the form of a series of sketches. Some are eventually (and I mean, eventually) compiled, others are not. I’m slowly chipping away at two projects at the moment. The first is (as mentioned the post ‘Shameless Plug…’) is a work for solo Trumpet with Piano accompaniment for professional trumpet player, Matt Roberts. The second project which I am finding quite challenging is for Polyphonica, a professional Recorder trio.

Like most primary pupils in the early 1990’s, I was subjected to the Descant Recorder. Having shown some form of musical aptitude, private tuition followed. After gaining my Grade 5 on Descant aged fifteen, my Recorder playing days abruptly ended as I discovered the Organ.

I would say the instrument’s perceived reputation as a squeaky, slobbery, primary school play-thing is quite a difficult barrier for listeners and may also dissuade some composers from having any association with the instrument at all. I can’t visualise there being a huge contemporary Recorder music scene, however I imagine there are performers, like Polyphonica, who are eager to expand their repetoire with new music. That is my goal for this project. Can the infantile image of the Recorder family held by many be challenged? Discuss!

Praise be to the Great British Nation. One sign of a snowflake and the country descends into chaos. The first week back after Christmas and I find myself back at home, but what to do? Time to get the camera out. The one thing about snow that intrigues me is the way a few inches can completely change the environment around you. All of a sudden, the mundane and familiar becomes brand new and interesting. Here is the pick of the set from today…

…for another blog. My good friend Matt Roberts, Trumpet player, teacher, blogger, videographer and all round good egg. We’ve known each other seven years now after meeting in the compulsory first year chorus at Birmingham Conservatoire. After discovering we had similar interests, we proceeded to systematically destroy (and I use ‘destroy’ in a completely negative sense) any tenor line thrown our way in a highly comedic way.

That aside, a truly rewarding collaborative relationship developed that is alive and kicking today. Throughout our time at the Conservatoire, we worked on a number of projects leading up to our fourth year, which culminated in ‘Sound Ideas’; a charity concert in aid of The Martyn Donaldson Music Trust that showcased the talent of the Conservatoire. Matt entrusted me to arrange, rehearse and conduct the fifty-six piece orchestra specially formed for the event. A highlight of my Conservatoire years, the concert was a great success and was warmly received. Subsequently, I have had the honour to work with Matt on a range of solo pieces in a range of different styles.

The Sound Ideas Orchestra

Our latest project is the composition and recording of a new work for Trumpet and Piano accompaniment. Not to divulge too much information at this point, I have begun my preliminary sketches and considered developing some extended techniques used in a previous composition performed by Matt, ‘Split Calm’ (2007). Watch this space for more information.

Here comes the shameless plug. Matt operates his own blog here. It is the home of the (in)famous ‘EuroBusk’ series, as well as numerous posts regarding Matt’s life as a professional musician. If you’re wondering what this ‘EuroBusk’ is, let me just say: Four men. The Flash. Busking and Europe! Enjoy!

As mentioned in my previous post, I am fairly new to photography. That said, I’ve picked up a lot of tips and techniques along the way over the last year. While I have developed a general overview of exposure, aperture and shutter speed (and how these can be creatively manipulated), I have never truly understood them. At least not until a friend (Twitter: @charliedncn) recommended Bryan Peterson’s ‘Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera’.

Aside from being an absolute bargain (available here for £10.31), Peterson presents a clear guide to creating both technically and creatively perfect exposures. This book is in full colour with over a hundred examples, backed up with the aperture, shutter speed and metering for each photograph. I have bought a few related books, however ‘Understanding Exposure’ has been the one that has made everything to click into place. If you are serious about improving your technique, you need this book.