Category: Uncategorized
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The World Confined
A bee buzzes past you, merrily making its way to a patch of nearby flowers. You like bees, and it is a beautiful day; the previous rains have been dried by the sun, and the heat is bearable. You want to stand and gaze at the sun, and at the clouds, and hear the breeze […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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“I’m going on an Adventure!”
“Sebastian, do you have all you need? The carriage will be here shortly. Make haste!” Barbara is flustered and impatient, but it is an impatience enveloped by adoration. Bach sits at the table, his steaming cup of coffee resting next to his Bible. “Patience is a virtue, my love,” he intones with a smile. He […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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My Goals for 2022
It has shocked me that two months have gone by since the beginning of this new year. I’m sure most of us have resolutions or goals, and while some may be easier to achieve than others, I find it may help to keep a constant list for reference. ‘Once written, twice remembered’ is perhaps a […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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The Audition
Your hands lift from the keys and the final chord resounds in the sanctuary of the church. You shift your feet nervously, attempting to not touch the pedals; faintly you hear the men at the bellows of the organ cease their work, panting heavily. Your palms are covered in sweat and your heart hammers within […]
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Practice makes Perfect
“Again.” You look at the keyboard, a small sigh escaping your mouth. This will be the third time that you have played your scales this lesson. And more importantly, it is not a private lesson, but one with other pupils present. Is the purpose of honing musical skills meant to be practice, or humiliation? you […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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The Long-Awaited Judge
“He is coming?” “Soon.” “He is coming–soon, you say?” The eyes of the organ builder grow wide in fright. The other man nods. His air is one of importance and pomposity. “If I seem impatient, Hildebrandt,” he intones with warning in his voice, “then my father is infinitely less patient,” he says, folding the parchment […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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Thoughts on my *Three Keyboard Suites
*three? keyboard suites…three mature and decent-quality keyboard suites… In this post, I discuss three of my suites for keyboard, which were written between the years of 2014 – 2018. Currently a new suite was recently composed but I don’t think I’ll be talking about it here. If you like, in a later post I can […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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Thoughts on Programmatic and Absolute Music
A PICTURE MAY BE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS; PERHAPS MUSIC IS WORTH A THOUSAND PICTURES In this post, I will be presenting my thoughts on programmatic and absolute music. What are these terms, and what do they mean? Do they apply to all music? Is the ‘meaning’ of music truly set in stone, or is […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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Historical Fiction: The Bothersome Critic
The cello vibrates between your knees as you run the bow across its strings. It would resonate forever if you weren’t cramped between two other bass players as well as the harpsichord. Three violins commence their own tuning while the trumpeter loudly blasts three notes. The singers gather about, talking among themselves. The sun barely […]
mitchbouchercomposer
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Historical Fiction: Bach, Giver of Gifts
It is just past mid-day as you make your way to the marketplace. A bustle of noise, a gaggle of geese, the shout of merchants selling their goods–all of these things fill your eyes and ears. You hoist your basket onto your hip and remind yourself to not go over your budget like almost every […]
Baroque but Needs Fixing 