I have always loved music composition and arrangement. With ample time during the COVID lockdowns, I wrote and arranged music to play at home. Friends who heard my music encouraged me to release it. To that end, and by what was being achieved in the world of digital audio workstations, I became a midi programmer.
My compositions consist primarily of solo piano works, keyboard accompaniments from a figured bass and arrangements of music from varied genres. Many of the tunes I compose or arrange focus on providing a backdrop for meditation and relaxation.
Join me on this musical journey. As my creativity dictates, I will add more content.
Listen, relax, and enjoy!
Compositions & Arrangements
Photo by Jeremy Hynes on Unsplash
Hummingbird’s Flight
An original tune influenced by the composer’s interactions with two resident hummingbirds. The melody rises and falls, mimicking the flight paths of these beautiful creatures as they move between their nests and the nourishing nectar in the bright red feeders.
Photo by David M. Bowen
I Bid You Farewell
From J.S. Bach’s BWV 95 Cantata, this soprano aria is based on a 1613 Teschner hymn tune; the first word of the hymn is “valet”, meaning “fare thee well.” In this arrangement, the tune is slower in tempo, played by a brass horn section an octave lower, and supported by a piano accompaniment composed from a figured bass. The English horn soars above the tune in a cathedral-like setting, representing the composer’s adieu to his long-time companion, JJ.
Song of Angels by William Adolphe Bouguereau
Ave Maria
A beautiful tune by composer and organist Francois Verhelst (1853-1934), arranged cinematically for piano, cello and orchestral strings, including novel harmonies and original supporting melodies.
Photo by David M. Bowen
Island Sunset
After a particularly challenging day, I noticed a narrow opening between the gloomy clouds and the horizon…will there be a glorious ending? A descending scale…a soaring melody…I am enticed to capture the essence of the before, during, and after. Before the sun retreats below Whidbey Island, it bathes the Puget Sound with sheets of light. As it descends, its rays are filtered into dark blues, deep purples, and intense reds. After the sun dips below the horizon, I am rewarded with calmness and a cool breeze. This song wrote itself.
Island Sunset
After a particularly challenging day, I noticed a narrow opening between the gloomy clouds and the horizon…will there be a glorious ending? A descending scale…a soaring melody…I am enticed to capture the essence of the before, during, and after. Before the sun retreats below Whidbey Island, it bathes the Puget Sound with sheets of light. As it descends, its rays are filtered into dark blues, deep purples, and intense reds. After the sun dips below the horizon, I am rewarded with calmness and a cool breeze. This song wrote itself.
Mouse in the Cupboard
This is my piano duet composition of a beloved traditional jig from the Emerald Isle of Ireland. The tune goes by other names, including Merry Old Woman and Wallop the Potlid, among many others. It is a staple in Irish music circles, has a lively feel and is a favorite of fiddlers worldwide.
I married the upbeat rhythm of the original tune with influences of Gospel and Jazz. The tempo varies throughout the composition, reflecting the combination of the quiet hiding and feverish scurrying of the happy mouse in the cupboard after it is discovered by the Merry Old Woman.
About
I was born into a musical family. At a very young age, I would sit at the piano and play the tunes that I heard other family members playing or singing. The number of tunes I heard increased when I attended preschool. When my lower legs were casted after several surgeries as a child, it provided me ample time to explore these tunes and tap into the creative side of making music. Despite the challenges, I looked forward to and enjoyed playing the piano before and after school. It didn’t take long to realize that music would be my best friend for life.
I started piano lessons at age 5, guitar, clarinet, and saxophone lessons in Junior high school, and cello and violin lessons after undergraduate and graduate studies. In those early days at the piano, I was excited to play music but had difficulty reading music. Rather than push on, I reverted to playing by ear and composing my own songs. My piano teacher nurtured my improvisational side while stressing the importance of learning to read music. I realized its benefits when I was invited to sight-read music along with my friends. Although reading music has its rewards, I find the greatest joy improvising.
During high school, piano lessons continued, and there were opportunities to learn about other facets of music at competitions, summer music camps, and workshops. After completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in Piano with an emphasis on Music Theory and Composition, I completed a graduate degree in Organ with a focus on improvisation. Each step of my journey deepened and broadened my appreciation of music.
After retiring from a rewarding career in music performance, my main focus is composition. My compositions are inspired by a lifetime of musical experiences of all kinds, from performing to attending performances, from solo works to large orchestral works with choir, and from intimate settings to large performance halls. I am enamored by beautiful melodies from classical to modern composers and am excited to arrange them to reflect my individuality. I continue to play violin and viola in string ensembles and community orchestras and play fiddle in several regional fiddle groups.