The Song You've Always Known

Change of address

2011-06-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

This blog has moved to a new address:

http://www.songalwaysknown.wordpress.com

(FYI, this Wordpress-powered page will soon replace the current one as the new and improved home of joelscottdavis.com. Please update your records, bookmarks, RSS feeds, etc.)

Thanks for your continued support!

JSD

A Good Collaboration is Hard to Find

2010-07-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

...but I've been fortunate enough to experience one recently, courtesy of the ever-innovative Jack Maatman:

Sugarplum Fairy, Sugarplum Fairy from jack maatman on Vimeo.

Animation by Jack Maatman
Music by Joel Scott Davis
Enjoy.

–JSD

Mississippi ReMixed Update, pt. 2

2010-07-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

For those who live in Mississippi, Mississippi Public Broadcasting will be airing a repeat broadcast of Mississippi ReMixed this Thursday, July 15th, at 9:00 PM Central Time.

If you are able to tune in, don't miss this free opportunity to see the film for yourself!

Mississippi ReMixed Update, pt. 1

2010-07-06T10:38:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

I must admit that I'm dreadfully behind on my blogging, once again! There are numerous updates that I look forward to sharing with you soon, but first I would like to begin with some more "pressing" news:

This past June, I was delighted to discover that the PBS documentary I scored last summer, Mississippi ReMixed, is currently under consideration for national and international distribution! This is great news, and I'm extremely excited for director/producer Myra Williams Ottewell – what a well-deserved honor for her and her project!

Here's the only catch: Myra is currently in need of fundraising help to overcome the last financial hurdles that stand between the film and its worldwide audience. I ask you to please consider partnering with this project – either by making a donation, or by helping to spread the word online – so that its message of racial reconciliation can impact viewers not only within the state of Mississippi, but across the globe.

Songs About God – Performance Tonight

2010-04-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

Attention, Birminghamians: I would like to share a bit of *last-minute* concert information with you, for anyone who might be in the mood for some new music this evening! I'm very happy to announce that G. William Bugg and Kathryn Fouse will be performing my 2008 song cycle Songs About God tonight at 7:30, as part of Life Love Loss – the final concert of the Birmingham Art Music Alliance's 2009-2010 concert season.

I am deeply grateful to Bill and Kathryn for their willingness to bring these songs forth once again, as they were the catalysts for its commission and subsequent performance at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in October, 2008. In addition to the Carnegie premiere, they also performed the work at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, as well as on multiple occasions at Samford University, including one performance that was reviewed by Michael Huebner, music critic for the Birmingham News. In the summer of 2009, Bill went on to perform the songs at a solo recital program during the International Haydn Festival in Vienna, with Beth McGinnis on piano.

The songs themselves are, perhaps, a reflection of homesickness on my part; for whatever reason, I have taken to reading such Southern authors as Flannery O'Connor, Walker Percy and John Crowe Ransom with renewed fervor ever since I moved to Los Angeles nearly three years ago. Ransom's early poetry struck a particular nerve, leading me to set four poems from his 1919 collection Poems About God for this particular song cycle.

Although I won't have the privilege of attending tonight's concert in person, my parents are driving over from Atlanta expressly for the occasion (thanks, Mom and Dad for always going to such lengths to support my musical endeavors, even when I'm on the other side of the continent)!

Other performances on the program include James A. Jensen's stirring Lullaby for Louise, as performed by Donald Sanders and Jeffrey Flaniken, along with new works by Craig Biondi, William Price, Cynthia Miller, and Monroe Golden, performed by artists such as Craig Hultgren, Laura Noah, Adam Bowles, Donnie Ashworth and Leonard Candelaria.

As a former member of BAMA, I am deeply grateful to be included on their concert programs from afar – I hope that those of you in the area will be able to go and support this outstanding organization for new music, if you can!

The concert begins at 7:30 this evening (Monday, April 12), and it will be held in the lovely Brock Recital Hall at Samford University. Tickets are $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for students (with ID), and free for all Samford students (with ID).

Concert tonight at Room 5

2010-04-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in the neighborhood of La Brea this evening, please consider stopping by Room 5 Lounge (right above Amalfi Restaurant) for some great live music.

I'll be there at 9:30pm to accompany the talented Thena Dare and Ted Beam on a few songs, so please stop in for some good music, drinks, and cake, in honor of T&T's upcoming birthdays. Cover is $8.00 at the door – hope to see you there!

Broadcast premiere of Mississippi ReMixed - Tonight @ 8pm on MPB TV

2010-02-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

The documentary film Mississippi ReMixed will have its broadcast premiere TONIGHT on Mississippi Public Broadcasting stations at 8:00 PM (CST)!

If you live in Mississippi and are able to tune in (or know of someone who is), please show your support by getting the word out and watching tonight's premiere broadcast on MPB TV.

For those who don't live in Mississippi (like me!) but want to see the film come to your neck of the woods, then I encourage you to go to any of the following websites (MS ReMixed's Facebook fanpage, MS ReMixed Contact, or MS ReMixed Community) and let your voice be heard! If there is enough interest and support, the director will have a better opportunity to bring this movie to a nationwide audience.

Also, don't forget to check out the soundtrack for the film at http://joelscottdavis.bandcamp.com!

Mississippi ReMixed Soundtrack

2010-02-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

In anticipation of tonight's private screening of Mississippi ReMixed here in Jackson, I am pleased to announce the limited release of selected musical cues from the film. Some of these pieces are miniatures, while others are a little bit longer; all of them are quite simple, direct & slightly Southern, and each one was written in service of the film.

Although the documentary is currently scheduled exclusively for broadcast on Mississippi PBS stations, I'm hopeful that a grassroots movement can get this movie to a broader audience soon. Please visit the main Mississippi ReMixed website to find out more about the director's mission, journey, and unique story that needs to be heard.

In the meantime, for those who might be interested in purchasing a digital download of Mississippi ReMixed – Original Music from the Documentary Film, click here.

<a href="http://joelscottdavis.bandcamp.com/album/mississippi-remixed-original-music-from-the-documentary-film">Comin' home by Joel Scott Davis</a>

Mississippi ReMixed – World Premiere

2010-02-06T10:40:00.000-08:00

As the old song lyric goes, "I'm going to Jackson..."

In a matter of hours, Lauren & I will be flying to Jackson, MS for the private screening and subsequent world premiere of Mississippi ReMixed – an hour-long documentary directed by Myra Williams Ottewell – for which I composed the original music.

This project marks my first film score, and I'm very excited to see/hear the final finished product. The multi-talented Oren Hadar (of Juno fame) mixed both the music and the final audio for the film, and it was a pleasure working with him. He knows how to make you sound better than you really are, which is quite a powerful skill...

Monday's screening party will bring together many of those who have been involved in the making of the film (director, producers, technical staff, etc.), along with people whose stories are profiled within the documentary itself (James H. Meredith).

To find out more information on the film, Monday's screening party, and Thursday night's premiere broadcast on Mississippi PBS stations, click here.

Also, stay tuned for further updates coming soon, including information regarding the release of an EP featuring original music from the soundtrack!

–JSD

Roll over, Beethoven...

2010-01-29T16:52:00.001-08:00

If you're in the L.A. area and want to hear some great live music, then come to Molly Malone's this evening for the debut concert of Sounds Like Orange – the new cover band that's bringing back the R.O.C.K. to rock n' roll, one note at a time.

New year, new possibilities...

2010-01-10T11:34:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Happy 2010!

We're only 10 days into the new decade, and it's already off to an amazing start. There are some exciting projects in the works that I am quite eager to share with you – stay tuned for new developments in the coming days...

In the meantime, here is a sneak preview of the forthcoming PBS documentary Mississippi Remixed – directed and produced by Myra Williams Ottewell for Ottewell Media, Ltd., with original music by Joel Scott Davis.

Cheers,
JSD

What I did on my summer...vacation?

2009-09-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

Met John Adams and Peter Sellars – check.

Played a 1911 Steinway - check.

Celebrated turning another year older with a trip to Zuma Beach - check.

Joined a rock n' roll band – check.

Somehow learned enough French to pass a reading translation exam on Rameau - check!

Composed my first full-length film score - check.

All in all, not a bad summer – more to follow...

Cheers,
JSD

A Lecture Upon the Shadow - April 28th Premiere

2009-01-27T16:07:00.001-08:00

On Tuesday, April 28th, the talented soprano Ursula Maria Kleinecke-Boyer will be presenting the world premiere of my setting of A Lecture Upon the Shadow by John Donne. Joining her will be Karen Cahill on flute, Ana Maria Maldonado on cello, and Tatiana Thibodeaux on piano. The concert, which is sponsored by The Musicians' Club of Pomona Valley, will be at 7:30 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church of Pomona, 676 North Gibbs Street, Pomona, CA. The concert is free and open to the public.

Ursula and Ana Maria both performed on a marvelous recording of this piece done at the Claremont Graduate University Recording Studio last June, and this upcoming concert will be the first public performance of the work - I hope to see you there!

Cheers,
JSD

Songs About God

2008-12-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to share this exclusive premiere recording of my 2008 song cycle Songs About God with you. The work was written for the performers heard here, G. William Bugg (bass-baritone) and Kathryn Fouse (piano), and this recording is taken from their Carnegie Hall preview concert at Brock Recital Hall on Tuesday, September 23 2008.

To read a review of the piece by Michael Huebner of the Birmingham News, click here.

Music page

2008-09-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

For those looking for music, check out my Myspace page for streaming audio of selected compositions:

http://www.myspace.com/joelscottdavis

Cheers,

JSD

On Creativity and Inspiration, part one -- Creation as Discovery

2007-05-04T05:43:00.000-07:00

The elusive concept of creativity has fascinated me for some time now, and it still continues to do so. Regardless of our differing interests or occupations, creativity will always be an integral part of our experience as living, thinking beings. I guess it has a particularly strong grip on me as a musician and an apprentice composer: I often feel that I'm on the hunt for this mysterious creative force, much like Steve Zissou's quest for the Jaguar Shark of lore. Though I am not on a vengeful, destructive quest for my subject, I find that the closer I get to catching a glimpse of it, the more spellbound and inspired I become.

One conversation that my dear friend Thomas and I have had in the past deals with the notion of creativity as an act of discovery rather than direct creation. To borrow Mr. Richie's analogy, the process of writing a piece of music (or painting a picture, or writing a novel, or [insert creative act here]), is akin to shining a flashlight in the dark, illuminating objects,
items, and places that have been there all along, just waiting to be discovered. To put it another way: it is a bit like archaeology, and the archaeologist (composer) is carefully chiseling and excavating to uncover some relic that has been buried in time, unbeknownst to anyone in the present age. The artist's dedication and hard work yields a boon which he brings up to the surface to share with his fellow man. In this sense, he is not the originator of his find -- it existed long before he arrived -- but he has the unique responsibility of presenting it to all mankind as the one who discovered the buried treasure.

This interpretation of the creative act has heavily influenced my approach to the arts. It certainly creates its own series of questions regarding our capacity to act, think, will, and create, but I will discuss these (read: my) doubts later. In spite of my reservations, this viewpoint has oftentimes had a liberating effect on me: I can distinctly recall having this initial conversation with Thomas in the west-campus parking deck of Samford just days before my first major composition project was due. The pressure of deadlines and grades vs. creative freedom was building, and I was trying to construct an ending to a piece that was wide-open but due in a matter of hours. Following our discussion, I felt like a burden had been lifted -- I returned to the piece with an attitude of finding the ending to the piece rather than creating one. The piece, entitled For Poets, was completed on time and was performed that spring by a piano trio of close friends, and my interest in composition grew quite rapidly as a result.

In the months that followed, an interesting situation presented itself: after a modestly-successful foray into "classical" composition, how did I follow it up? I had sketches and fragments of ideas, but nothing was taking shape quite like the piano trio had. I found myself trying to approach writing with some sort of preset formula to yield results, but to no avail. Disparate themes and chord progressions piled up on separate sheets of manuscript paper, each one set aside for a separate project. Fearing that the Muse had departed, I tried to recall what my thought-process was as I wrote a cohesive work, but I was astounded when I realized that my mind could not go back there. For instance, if you held me at gunpoint and demanded me to recreate the firings and backfirings taking place in my brain as my hands wrote down measure 37's piano part, I couldn't give you an honest answer. I just couldn't do it. It was as if the mental-path that I followed when writing For Poets had vanished at some point after I left it; or, to quote from Sting, one of "the banks of chaos in my mind" had frozen my account, leaving me locked out and possessing only the spare change of my last withdrawal as a souvenir.

I bring up this dilemma because I feel that it bolsters the aforementioned viewpoint a good bit. How so? Well, look at it this way: when you solve a math problem, there is a thoughtful, methodical, organized process that occurs in your mind. You would not typically come up with new ways of finding the perimeter of a square every time -- you would simply plug numbers into a given formula or method, and come up with an answer. This thought-process is something you can consciously return to, allowing you to analyze and isolate variables, correct them if you were wrong, and repeat in the future for the same results. In the creative process, the step-by-step formula gives way to freer forms of thought and action, making it far less likely to obtain the same product by repeating one method over and over again.

In the music I've written, I can go back to it and mark the chords up and down with corresponding Roman numerals a la music theory; I can show you the over-arching formal structure; I can maybe even attempt to explain some of my emotive purpose behind it all -- but I simply cannot logically show you (or myself, for that matter) exactly how those notes got there. In the end, it is a mystery, a vaguely-familiar state of mind that is perhaps akin to an out-of-body experience, or those moments when you're lying there somewhere in between consciousness and dream.

The strangeness of the creative state leads me to wonder how in control we really are over our capacity to write, say, think, or do something new. I'm definitely not the first to question this creative capacity...let me share some examples from other artists:

"Creativity is a gift. It doesn’t come through if the air is cluttered." - John Lennon

In the case of the Beatles, John Lennon commented on how he oftentimes felt like an "FM Radio;" he was merely picking up songs on his dial and broadcasting them to those around him. When Paul McCartney penned "Yesterday," he had just awoken with a tune in his head intact from his dreams the night before. In fact, he was so certain that it was someone else's song, he almost didn't publish what went on to become the most-covered song in the history of pop music.

To go further back in time, how about the music written in a mere 24 days that became Handel's Messiah? If the composer-at-the-helm went without sleep in order to finish his masterpiece, where did its coherent brilliance come from? According to various tales, Handel was often found in his chamber weeping as he wrote the piece...it was almost as though he was just as much (or more) of an observer of this work as he was its composer.

As much as I would like to believe that it is in our power to create such powerful substance as music, I'm just not so sure that's the case (although I will discuss this vantage point in a future post). So if we're not the creators, who is? Where does such creative power come from? And how does it manifest itself in us, so that music does come about through human vessels, though it may not have originated completely within our souls?

...perhaps there is a Brooding Omnipresence at work here, as well.