Jun 30 2022
Those of you who know me and/or have closely followed my work know that one of my big projects I’ve wanted to do is to write a book on my modally-based harmonic system, which I’ve been developing since diving head first into the modal realm way back in 2002–back when I was a mere teenager …
Jun 29 2022
At long last, I have finally opened up a store page on the site, from which my sheet music can be purchased directly. At this moment, there’s only a couple items for sale–my Piano Works Vol. 1 collection, and the solo version of the Modal Tangos, Op. 57a–but the repertoire of items for sale will …
Apr 05 2021
After a period of relative quiet here, due to the pandemic, things are starting to pick up again in terms of performances (still virtual), recordings, and other activity here. First things first, my most recently-completed piece, Cyan Egg Music, Op. 59 for flute, alto sax, and horn, will be presented by the most excellent and …
Jun 29 2020
Awhile back, my dear friend Rhonda Rizzo, who runs the piano blog No Dead Guys (and has also played a number of my works over the years) interviewed me for a feature on the site–which is now online, and can be read here. I had a blast answering Rhonda’s questions, and I get into some …
Jun 29 2020
Earlier this year, after the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out everyone’s performance calendar, the (mostly) Seattle-based wind trio Onomatopoeia (Cassie Lear, flute; Soren Hamm, saxophones; Rebecca Olason, horn) released an “online premiere” of my Cyan Egg Music, Op. 59 (2019), on their Facebook page and on YouTube–the latter of which has been embedded below for your …
Apr 04 2020
As I suspect all readers know at this point, the COVID-19 situation has pretty much shut down all concerts for an extended period of time–something which has been quite difficult on all of us in the music world, beyond the already difficult task of dealing with a global pandemic. Fortunately, my dear friends in Onomatopoeia …
Mar 01 2020
As mentioned in my last update, I’ve been starting to get farther and farther into DIY recording, and have been attempting that process with my Symphony No. 1 in C-Sharp Locrian, Op. 58 for string orchestra. Today, I have an initial taste of that to share–a score video with my current iteration of the 1st …
Feb 10 2020
Thus far, 2020 is shaping up to be a pretty busy year for my musical endeavors, so I thought I’d do a quick rundown of some of my upcoming events, current projects, and other happenings: Today (February 10th, 2020), I’ll be presenting at this month’s meeting of Cascadia Composers, the local Oregon/Northwest chapter of the …
Dec 16 2019
A Primer on Arabic Numeral Harmonic Analysis in Modern Modal Music Alexander LaFollett If you have encountered my theoretical work on the area of modal and non-tertian harmony, such as my exploration of harmonic syntax in the Locrian mode, you would have also run across my Arabic numeral analysis system, which I use to label …
Jan 25 2018
The Locrian Mode: No, It’s Not Unusable As a modal composer and theorist, known for geeking out about harmonic technique, I have always been fascinated by the way others perceive the Locrian mode. From my perspective, it is simply a mode, and one that I have been known to use on occasion in my own …