Jay C. Batzner is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida where he teaches theory, composition, and technology courses as well as coordinates the composition program. He holds degrees in composition and/or theory from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, the University of Louisville, and the University of Kansas.
Jay's music is primarily focused around instrumental chamber works as well as electroacoustic composition. His music has been recorded on the Capstone, Vox Novus, and Beauport Classical labels and is published by Unsafe Bull Music.
Jay is a sci-fi geek, an amateur banjoist, a home brewer, and juggler.
I'm someone who turned to composition because of a problem performing. I was a pianist but early in my college career (almost 6 weeks in) I developed tendonitis. It was my own fault, really. I shouldn't have been a piano major in the first place. I had good training but never took it seriously. I was able to progress well through my lessons without much effort. I knew that college would be different and started to take the instrument more seriously my senior year of high school.
It is amazing the stuff they never tell you. Like practice grand pianos have lead weights in the keys. I went from practicing about an hour a day on a light-action spinet at home to practicing 6-8 hours a day on a weighted grand. It tore my fingers up. I also had posture problems which nobody noticed (I never saw myself while playing). So, in an attempt to make up for 12 years of slackerhood, I tried to become superperformer and irreparably damaged my arms.
I was in hard splints for a month and started playing again. Since I never addressed the posture problems or the lack of ability issue, I ended up in splints again about 2 months later. So there I was, unable to perform but still wanting to study music. I found the nearest computer lab, taught myself Music Prose (this was in 1992) and started composing. I was much happier.
I miss performing. There is an energy rush that I would get whenever I was doing it. I've done some performing since and I really do love to do it. My abilities, however, will never let me do it to much of a level. I'm okay with that, I guess. I can redirect the energy into teaching, composing, etc. I get the same charge out of listening to my music that I once got from performing. I hope it never goes away.
This is one of the fundmental reasons that I'm podcasting. It bridges the gap of performing and composing (since the pieces are all electroacoustic, there is no performer but me). I have an outlet for my real personality. I don't use it much in real life, but for some reason when I'm "performing" in some way it comes out. I miss that, too.
Anyhow, in case you missed it, here is The Collected's latest podcast episode: Aspic Glaze by Brent Miller. The Unsafe Bull will be up in a few days.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
Otherwise, life in the Batz lane is moving quickly. The pLAy Ensemble is giving the premiere of my new piece this weekend, actually I think it might be today. Cool. So any of you that are worried that I'm getting too many performances on the East Coast and not enough on the West Coast can rest easy. There is enough of me to go around.
I have two main projects ahead of me this summer (compositionally-wise-speaking). One is a piece for voice and tape, the other for harp and tape/electronics. I've been wanting to write for harp and electronics for a long time and now I think I'm getting my chance. I love harp. I played it for a semester to learn more about it and I wish I still played it. I love writing for it but I always end up in places that have a paucity of harpists. I have found an opportunity for a harp/electronics piece and I'm jumping on it like a rabid weasel.
Sorry, I've been reading The Stand and I read about the rabid weasels the other night.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
5/21/2007
You know what you need?
Another podcast.
No, this isn't more of my electroacoustic shenanigans. Instead, you can now tune in to all of the members of The Collected. Each week you can bask in the glow of a piece by one of our members.
Check out our website and happenings right here.posted by Jay C. Batzner
5/17/2007
Here we go again
My wife had shoulder surgery a week ago and life has been crazy. Really, really crazy.
That doesn't mean you don't get your weekly dose of the Unsafe Bull, though.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
5/09/2007
The week so far...
Lots of bad mojo floating around me this week. I figured it was best to get the new podcast episode early just in case...
For those of you in the NYC area, just a reminder than The Collected is having two concerts featuring Scott Marosek on piano. He's opening the concert with a piece of mine. Pretty cool. There are even 2 world premieres on the program: one by Brent Miller and one by Chapman Welch. The Welch piece uses kick drum. Say no more.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
Oh, and in case you missed it, it is Podcast Day.posted by Jay C. Batzner
5/02/2007
Blatant Self Promotion
Well, it has been a hard week of rejections but I'm moving on. I know I've said before that I'm almost immune to rejection, but that isn't totally true (shocked gasp). I was really looking forward to something, thought I had a legitimate shot at it, and was rejected. For obvious reasons, I might add. I'm a little fish in a nonexistent pond. Big Time things just aren't going to happen to me. I'm okay with that, I guess.
Anyhow, cool things ARE happening and I am putting my energies towards them. For those of you in the NYC area (unlike me) there is a concert coming up that may be of interest to some:
The pianist Scott Marosek is giving two concerts with this program: Toccata by Jay C. Batzner (that's me!) Fantasy and Song by Jon Christopher Nelson Boundary Conditions by Brent Miller (WORLD PREMIERE) A new work for piano and kick drum by Chapman Welch Sonata No. 2 by Alfred Schnittke Assorted songs by Olivier Messiaen with soprano Abla Hamza
Saturday May 12, 2007, 8 P.M, $10 Broadway Presbyterian Church 114th Street and Broadway New York, NY 10025
The Toccata of mine is my first "keeper" piece from 1994. Short, barbaric, and fun. I still dig it, which is a good sign. Brent Miller is a real cool composer, too, and I bet you've never heard of him. You should. He is cool in all the ways that I am not. He is the guy that introduced me to David Lynch movies. Say no more.
Anyhow, come if you can. If you can't, don't feel too bad. I won't be there, either...
posted by Jay C. Batzner
