Michael Allen
Palette
I'll admit that I'm a movie music nerd and a fan of the usual suspects (Williams, Horner, Howard, Zimmer, etc.). Some others on the less...
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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...
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Michael Allen
- Mar 14, 2019
Good writers write...always
I retired from a 30+ year professional playing career 10 months ago to the day. Retire is a funny word because I hardly feel retired....
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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...
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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.
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Michael Allen
- Jul 28, 2018
Get your head out of the score
Conductors who can't lift their head out of the score are a pet peeve. It usually means they don't trust their own understanding of the...
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Michael Allen
- Mar 21, 2018
Trumpets - a primer
I've played on the same mouthpiece since I was in high school - my teacher handed me an old Conn Helleberg style mouthpiece when I was...
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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.
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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
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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...
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