Composition
Study Pieces (composition exercises)
David Anderson: Russian Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra (2014)
As a final class project and early composition exercise during high school, I studied the musical style of romantic and 20th-century Russian composers and wrote a “concerto”-style work for piano and orchestra that paid homage to the development of Russian classical piano virtuosos. This 11-minute sketch combines, juxtaposes, and caricatures the style of early composers (Glinka), “The Mighty Five” (Balakirev, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin), Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Prokofiev. Written as a timeline, the work mimics early romantic, late romantic, and 20th century idioms in order.
Extracted piano part to the Russian Rhapsody.
More information and a detailed form analysis (with specific references to each section) was completed on the work, and can be found here: Russian Rhapsody Methodology and Form Analysis
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David Anderson: Etude for Piano in B-flat Minor (2012)
Study piece written in the virtuoso late romantic piano “etude” style. Written for a school project in 2012. Borrows elements from Liszt, Chopin, and the Parisian schools of virtuosity in the 19th century.
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David Anderson: Prelude on “AUSTIN” for Trombone and Piano (2014)
Written as a gift for my high school band director. Short piece based on musical cryptography–the melody and theme is derived from the letters “AUSTIN.” Various rhythmic, stylistic, and modal patterns are used in this “20th-century modern” homage piece for trombone and piano.
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David Anderson: Solitude, on the poetry of Emily Dickinson (for baritone and piano) (2015)
Short piece for voice (baritone) and piano, setting the poem Solitude by Emily Dickinson to music. Borrowed elements of Ives, Messiaen, and other French composers. Written as a composition exercise for class.
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David Anderson: Dodecaphonic Duo for Flute and Oboe (2015)
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Short duet for flute and oboe, written using serialist, 12-tone technique (dodecaphony). The initial tone row is presented in various transposition, inversion, retrograde, and retrograde-inversion. Written as a composition exercise for class.
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David Anderson: Old Hundredth for Symphonic Band (2015)
Simple concert band setting of the famous hymn tune, “Old Hundredth” (from the Pseaumes Octante Trois de David (1551)). “Grade 4.” Written as a composition exercise for class.
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David Anderson: Duet for Shakuhachi and Flute (2012)
When I first purchased a shakuhachi, I sketched out a short duet to be played with a Western flute. The notes are comfortably playable for a beginner shakuhachi student, and can be performed with a friend on Western flute. These may also be read as a duet for two shakuhachis or two Western flutes.
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Serious Works (recent compositions)
A Sea Sketch for Saxophone Quartet (2019)
Sonata for Saxophone and Piano (2019)
Music for Wind Ensemble
(coming soon!)
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Koto: Improvisations Volume 1 (recorded improvisation/composition)
In Fall 2018, I began to learn Japanese folk instruments and recorded a solo album of Koto music (available on Spotify, Youtube, and Soundcloud). I wanted to explore the great potential for cross-cultural integration of Eastern and Western aesthetics. I am currently developing and publishing a curriculum/pedagogy/notation system to learn Japanese folk instruments under a Western system, and composing “new music” to fit this genre of chamber music. I hope it will broaden our musical communication and connection across cultures.
Future plans: concertante, chamber music with winds (both Western and Eastern instruments), solo etudes/compositions
Electronic Composition (synthesized through software)
Completed for MUSI 354: Electronic Composition (Dr. Jesse Guessford)
Synthesized using Reason by Propellerhead
Arrangements
Saxophone
Olivier Messiaen: Vocalise-Etude for Voice and Piano (1935) (arranged for Alto Saxophone)
Arrangement (in the original key) of Olivier Messiaen’s Vocalise-Etude for solo Alto Saxophone. Messiaen uses his modes of limited transposition and altered/extended chords to create an otherworldly atmosphere in this etude on singing technique. Original piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UHXI-DiTPk
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Ensemble
W.A. Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G minor – I. Allegro con brio (arr. Saxophone Sextet, SAATTB)
Arrangement of the 1st movement of Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G minor for 6 saxophones–soprano, 2 altos, 2 tenors, and 1 baritone. Score and parts are included. An alternate alto part replacing the soprano part is available upon request (as well as alternates for the tenor parts for an alto-only ensemble). Performance found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CgFY_kj5ck
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Koto
By transcribing recordings and creating scores of Koto music in Western notation, I hoped to assist in study, preservation, performance, and future composition using Japanese folk instruments, as well as integration to Western instruments. Additional scores, parts, and transcriptions can be easily extracted upon request. These scores are for viewing and study purposes only, and should not be distributed or performed without permission from each musician’s publisher and copyright.
David Anderson, engraving and transcription
Henry Cowell – Koto Concerto No. 2 (1965)
This is a modern engraved score of Henry Cowell’s CONCERTO II for Koto and Orchestra, in the Form of a Symphony. I discovered a published copy of the original handwritten score at my library and found no recordings or modern engravings of the work. Looking to rediscover this unique work involving the Koto through a Cowell’s Western classical lens, I meticulously input a re-engraving of the handwritten score’s notation in exact form for study purposes. This piece was apparently only performed once at its premiere.
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En Duo: Falling Leaves (for Shakuhachi and Koto) (2007)
This is an ear transcription of En Duo’s composition and recording of Falling Leaves (for shakuhachi and koto) from their album, Moonviewing (2007). Also transcribed for flute and clarinet.
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Michio Miyagi: The Sea in Spring (for Flute and Koto) (1929)
Classic piece for shakuhachi (or Western flute) and Koto, composed by Michio Miyagi in 1929 and transcribed by ear from online recordings. Beautiful legato Japanese melodies and fast, articulate folk dances. Also playable on piano. Key can be changed for each shakuhachi’s tuning upon request. Transcribed from this album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7b6O02gYEs
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Yatsuhashi Kengyō: Rokudan no Shirabe (for Koto solo / ensemble) (17th century)
Loose transcription by ear of a live performance of the Washington Toho Koto Society, performed in 2018. In original performance, 5 kotos performed this “etude” in unison. All notes and fingerings were exactly transcribed from a video of the performance. Subdivisions, meter, and pulse shifts were worked out to fit Western notation. Video found here (unlisted): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mNvz7_hmFE
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