Essays

Gazing at Composition: A Hypothetical Model for Understanding the Act of Composition

(Originally posted on October 21, 1999)The act of composition is often perceived, both by compos...
Book Reviews

Review: “Listen to Classical Music!” by Kyo Mitsutoshi

(Original posted on April 9, 2002)This is a refreshing book that offers bold explanations in a s...
Book Reviews

Review: ‘The Spirituality of Music’ by Peter Bastian

(Original posted on April 9, 2002)This is a book on music that spiritually portrays the mysterio...
Book Reviews

Review: ‘The Law of Rhythm’ by Mickey Earnshaw

(Original posted on April 10, 2002)When you think of rhythm as a "succession of pulses" that div...
Book Reviews

Review: “17 Perspectives on Music History” by Wakio Tamura and Fumio Narumi

(Originally posted on April 10, 2002)This book can be described as an ambitious attempt to re-ex...
Book Reviews

Review: ‘Listening Out Loud: Becoming a Composer’ by Elizabeth Swados

(Original posted on April 9, 2002)This is a book that can be called an anthem for aspiring compo...
Essays

Going on a Field Trip with the Song I’m Composing

(Originally posted on April 17, 2007)The weather was beautiful today, so I saved the song I'm wo...
Essays

Trying Out the Jew’s Harp

(Originally posted on July 8, 2006)Encouraged by my recent experience with a "Kalimba Assembly K...
Book Reviews

Review: “Orchestral Technique” by Gordon Jacob

(Original posted on January 23, 2009)It is astonishing that the essence of orchestration is cont...
Essays

Excellent Websites for Beginners to Learn Orchestration

For those who want to use authentic orchestral sounds with software instruments but don't know t...