top of page
Recent Posts
Archive
Tags
Michael Allen
Apr 3, 2019
Atmosphere
In early 1914, Holst heard a performance of Schoenberg’s Five Pieces for Orchestra. This seminal experience along with a suggestion from...
93 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Mar 14, 2019
Good writers write...always
I retired from a 30+ year professional playing career in May 2018. Retire is a funny word because I hardly feel retired. Since before...
48 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Mar 14, 2019
One on a part follow up
I'm working on a large brass ensemble transcription (gasp) of highlights from a Puccini opera. I always immensely enjoyed playing...
40 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Sep 23, 2018
Another possible approach
I might have tried to transcribe something as awesome as the first movement of Mahler's 5th Symphony decades ago - I might have even...
86 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Jul 29, 2018
Color Separation
A single yellow bloom will really pop in a bush of red ones, even though they are all roses.
78 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Mar 18, 2018
Texture 1 - Writing for the whole ensemble
A while back, I wrote an entry called 4 Dimensional Texture where I identified 4 basic ways to group instruments in a large ensemble.
14 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Mar 9, 2018
Breaking my own rules
I usually have three or four arranging projects on the front burners and many more unfinished projects in my "work in progress" file....
24 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Dec 5, 2017
Texture 2 - Writing for families
However, in my brass ensemble writing, I'll write passages for a grouping of trumpets when the music calls for it, and/or as a contrast
23 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Dec 3, 2017
Texture 4 - writing chamber music
Recently, I've undertaken some large engraving projects - I'm making clean versions of the Tchaikovsky ballets. This may seem a little...
23 views0 comments
Michael Allen
Nov 9, 2017
Bass Doubling
I wrote something yesterday that was confusing even to me when I read it again today. Mea culpa. The offending sentence was: Wright notes...
38 views0 comments
bottom of page