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.
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2/07/2007
Notes and rhythms
They aren't working. They just Aren't Working.
It is as if my dissertation was the last piece I could write that had actual pitch and rhythmic accuracy. In the four pieces I've written/am writing since I just can't seem to make these things match up. I keep thinking it terms of shape, gestures, dynamics, all of the things that I REALLY hear when I listen to music. So when I sit down to write something, I have a hard time figuring out what to write down.
And everything is slowing down. It is as if I can't write fast music anymore. Everything has so much space to it and yet I feel like more space needs to go in. I can't seem to get to the beginning of the piece. Everything I write is about 1 minute past the start, even when I purposely try to write the beginning.
I'm having some difficulties with my electroacoustic music, too. Those problems seem easier to fix. I'm getting some great sounds together, like this one, which isn't perfect yet but is pretty darned cool. Thanks to user "hyo" at Freesound for having so many balloon samples.
Anyhow, the solution to the pitch and rhythm problem seems to be one of avoidance. I just need to figure out the basic information that the performers need and not sweat everything else. It is sort of uncomfortable territory for me, I used to be a chronic over-notater. But all that stuff now doesn't seem as important to me. My music is somewhere other than that, you know?
posted by Jay C. Batzner
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