David Chisholm - Composition Process Diary

David Chisholm

David Chisholm 's The muster-book of the dynamic systems collective was a composition written for ACOF 2004.

 

...Not really sure who is holding the whip though since every spare second at present I am attached to the computer and truly having so much fun...

Composition Diary - August 2004

I'm a naughty boy. On Chaos Time still.

A week late with this blog and I missed my teleconference altogether as it fell in the middle of my holiday to Kangaroo Valley which I can tell you all is very beautiful. Thank goodness for the faith of others in me.

Not being an intentional truant, I must say that I am really starting to have a lot of FUN with this piece. I'm currently meeting with Brenton each week and I am truly learning a lot, extending my colouring techniques and, with Brenton's support and guidance really balancing the orchestra on paper. I hate Sibelius 1.4 and am craving Sibelius 3 but that is a Midi playback issue that is clearly addressed by their flashy new marketing. I just need to save some money. And then I need a G4 Mac etc...

I have poured much of my work into the perfecting of the DOYNE FARMER section of the work that sits just under 2 minutes. This is important I think, because as he was the spokesman for the Dynamical Systems Collective I have chosen his portrait to contain the language of the broader work. A hub from which everything else spirals out and into.

So with just over two weeks to go I have a lot to accomplish. I'm pretty confident I will pull it together and I have created timetable and I am on target. It has been suggested I am best when kept on a tight leash. Not really sure who is holding the whip though since every spare second at present I am attached to the computer and truly having so much fun. Whip and leash aside. I work well to deadlines. Well over currently but about to rectified. And after all someone has to play the truant.

I set myself the task of reinventing my compositional language at the beginning of the year ­ and I'm sure anyone who heard my work last year The Illusion of the end (after Jean Baudrillard) will really hear an (appropriate) quantum leap in my writing. I have "flipped" genre very successfully I think.

I have learnt very simple stuff too ­ as simple as laying out a score with empty staves and not presenting a pocket style score. At the other extent, tI have adopted some fine detail. Brenton¹s suggestion to a support and exposed vibraphone middle C with and solo violin and viola pizzicato of the same pitch and an harmonic on double Bass at same ptich is just exactly the sort of learning a technique I need and want.

But look I have much to do. I'm very excited and unlike my usuals rant, I actually want to wrap up quickly so I can get back to it.

Until next time bloggers.