Days of Innocence for Piano Quintet
When I first came in contact with a piano in my childhood, I was mesmerized by the instrument. Not knowing anything about musical scales or the significance of the black … Continue reading
AI Music
Right now, artificial intelligence in the field of music is in its infancy, but one day soon, I’m sure, it will catch up. When it reaches the capability to compose … Continue reading
Provenance
What thoughts come to your mind when you hear the word “migration” or “immigration”? Is it adventure, exploration, and discovery, or danger, political conflict, and refuge? Perhaps you imagine what it … Continue reading
Voice and Piano Transcriptions
I was able to carve out some time for a song cycle I composed in 2019 for mezzo-soprano, flute, bassoon, and guitar. The piece was commissioned by visionary flutist Kate … Continue reading
New Music for Cello Solo
The first draft of the new cello piece went out to D. Scot Williams who commissioned it. Seven and a half minutes of music exploring all registers of the instrument, … Continue reading
Hello There, Music
No one knows I have begun working on the cello solo piece, not even Scot Williams who commissioned it. Earlier this week I casually began drafting the shape of the … Continue reading
On the Rooftop of the Kennedy Center
It was never my dream to have my music performed at the Kennedy Center. I simply did not believe in dreaming outrageous, impossible dreams. Yet the improbable happened, all the … Continue reading
Glossolalia Anniversary
In February of 2014, I booked a recording studio and traveled to cold and overcast Poland to collaborate on a recording with NeoQuartet from Gdańsk. I didn’t have to do … Continue reading
New Music for Cello
I am thrilled to be commissioned by D. Scot Williams to compose a new work for cello. Not a stranger to contemporary music, Scot has previously commissioned several other composers, … Continue reading
Earthrise for Symphony Orchestra
I am alarmed by humanity’s fascination with destruction. We consume hundreds of films and video games devoted to natural disasters and cataclysms. We entertain ourselves with graphic depictions of gore, … Continue reading
Earthrise – English Horn Solo Excerpt
Before I share with you my new orchestral piece, let me tease you with a short excerpt of the English horn solo. I have never written for this instrument before … Continue reading
Circadian Rhythm
I am learning about solar noon and solar midnight. In London, for example, they happen at 1:04 pm and 1:04 am. If we assume that the optimal sleep length is … Continue reading
Synesthesia
When I talk about color in music (besides being a composer, I am also a painter), I am often asked whether I have synesthesia. I do not, and I am … Continue reading
Fragility
A year ago, during great personal distress, I composed Fragility. Now I am haunted by the same feelings as are so many of my family and friends. One might have … Continue reading
New Orchestral Music
I am nearly finished writing my latest orchestral piece. It has taken me to colorful harmonic places I have not encountered before. Principal English horn players will find a blissful … Continue reading
Rapturous Amazement
What is the purpose of life? In my view, the purpose of life is to enter a state of rapturous amazement. If we take the time to look around, we … Continue reading
How Long Did It Take You?
I truly dislike it when people ask, “So, how long did it take you to paint this?”. How should I answer this question? Should I count the time before I … Continue reading
Patience
At the end of last year, I worked intently on a new orchestral piece but then Christmas and New Year, predictably, broke my stride. Music composition is like long-distance running … Continue reading
The Guiding Light
Producing an album often seems like driving a car from the back seat. Theoretically, if you know where you want to go and are able to communicate clearly, and if … Continue reading
Fragility Official Music Video
Fragility official music video is out on YouTube. Fragility is the opening track of my latest album entitled Groundless. The video concept and editing are mine but the amazing videography … Continue reading
Groundless
https://dosiamckay.com/music/groundless/ I have made ambitious plans for international travel in 2020. I was considering Japan or Korea but a friend strongly suggested China. I had already purchased the plane tickets … Continue reading
Things I Wish I Knew
On the occasion of the release of the 3rd Endless Immersion album, I am reminded of the video I created for the first one. My hair might be different now … Continue reading
Waiting for the Titles
I spent the last few days editing tracks for my upcoming album. One darling was killed in the process and the rest had to justify to me why I should … Continue reading
Endless Immersion 3 is Here
iTunes | Amazon | Bandcamp | Spotify https://dosiamckay.com/music/endless-immersion-3/ The next installment of the Endless Immersion series and another full hour of seamless, immersive musical experience is here. As always, I have a difficult time categorizing my music. This … Continue reading
Manifesto
Manifesto is a strange yet captivating film. Because it is a mish-mash of many art and political manifestos recited in new contexts by the ever-inventive Cate Blanchett, there is no … Continue reading
Endless Immersion 3
Before I release my brand-new album, I will first release the 3rd installment of Endless Immersion. Originally conceived in 2015, Endless Immersion was a soundtrack to an art installation in … Continue reading
Composer Desk Again
I am documenting this makeshift set up before the arrival of my new desk. It looks convoluted but ergonomically speaking, it works very well. It is actually my drafting table … Continue reading
Composer Desk
I am reinventing the wheel again, that is, I am reexamining the ergonomics of my music studio setup. The three main elements always are the MIDI keyboard, the computer keyboard, … Continue reading
At Peace
The score has been spiralbound and the parts have been taped according to the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association’s guidelines. All that remains is to send the materials to the Knoxville … Continue reading
Dark Sister, Sing from Rubble Becomes Art
Here is the recording of the premiere of Dark Sister Sing from Rubble Becomes Art, a triptych of art songs commissioned by Kate Steinbeck and Pan Harmonia. This performance took place … Continue reading
“Watercolors” for Orchestra to be Premiered by the Knoxville Symphony
I am delighted to share that my “Watercolors” for Orchestra will be premiered by the Knoxville Symphony on the Masterworks Series concert in October. Although I was not born in … Continue reading
The Flow – Chapter 1
Numbness does not have to be destructive. Its lukewarm embrace can be nourishing, sustaining, prove wonderfully protective. When all other emotions have failed, numbness remains to offer a guiltless escape. … Continue reading
Freakish Intensity
The cover design made it more real. The novel is out with the editor and I am inching toward the release of the book. I am about to enter the … Continue reading
From Faint Inklings to Tangible Embodiments
Once upon a time, Kate Steinbeck had a faint inkling about commissioning new music for her ensemble. We had talked about it many months in advance, before she really knew … Continue reading
Rubble Becomes Art – Score Editing
The final and crucial step of self-editing. Yes, I could catch the same mistakes on the computer screen, but there is something tangible and more immediate about editing on paper. … Continue reading
New Music for Pierrot Ensemble and Percussion
I had a lot of fun creating this graphic animation/representation for my new piece. “Abandon” captures a fleeting moment of forsaking self-imposed restraints in favor of complete freedom and joyful, … Continue reading
Rubble Becomes Art
I have spent the last four months composing a triptych of songs commissioned by Kate Steinbeck and Pan Harmonia, based on the poems of three North Carolina contemporary poets. Although … Continue reading
A Unifying Principle
How do I express this movement musically? And when I hear gripping music, how do I paint it? These two artistic disciplines have been closely related in my creative output. … Continue reading
The Flow – A Psychological Thriller for Artists and Creatives
The Flow, my psychological thriller went out to Beta Readers today. I never thought I would write a book like this. I was only going to outline the plot, just … Continue reading
The Flow – a Psychological Thriller
An exciting day for me. I have finished the first draft of my psychological thriller and I’m able to share a more descriptive blurb with you: “A broken artist. A … Continue reading
Pan Harmonia Commission
I am pleased to announce that I have received a commission from Kate Steinbeck of Pan Harmonia to compose a new work in celebration of Pan Harmonia’s 20th season. This project will be … Continue reading
Composing the Harpsichord Concerto
Enjoy a composer / painter studio visit while I share the inspiration, challenges, and discoveries in writing a harpsichord concerto. https://dosiamckay.com/music-scores/harpsichord-concerto/
In Search of Divine Patterns
I have always believed that there is a divine order in all things. Studying calculus in college and diving deep into music theory showed me hidden treasures few people are … Continue reading
Toolbox
You can accomplish anything if you have the right tools. However, the problem often lies in the fact that the right tools may be out of reach, you may have … Continue reading
A Quiet Room with a Large Window
To be perfectly honest, following many of you ultra successful artsy people on social media has been difficult recently. Your premieres, international travel, awards, commissions, exhibits, and accolades–you are in … Continue reading
The Climb
Mount Shasta. Out of every three climbers who attempt the summit, only one reaches it. But not before conquering the Misery Hill, which is described as a false summit. You … Continue reading
Pilgrims
We are all travelers, pilgrims, believers in higher purpose, traveling in different directions, but somehow on similar paths. Or maybe on different paths but drawing the same conclusions. Who knows? … Continue reading
Open Spaces
I have heard about the vast spaces of the West and it doesn’t surprise me that people have been drawn by them for centuries. Here anything seems possible. I want … Continue reading
Music Well - Dosia McKay, Composer, Painter, Writer 