Quattrocento – A New Abstract Portrait
“Quattrocento” – a new painting, acrylics on stretched canvas, 24 x 36 x 0.75 in (60 x 91 x 2 cm). More exploration of monochromatic hues and restrained color palette. … Continue reading
Fidgeting in the Sacred Space
Where have you done it? So far I have done it on the kitchen counter, in the bathtub, in the basement, in the bedroom, in the bathroom, the living room, … Continue reading
To Create is to Be Alive
I paint to remember and to forget. To celebrate and to mourn. To rage and to be still. In all of these I want to affirm life and gratitude for … Continue reading
Not Knowing
I remember that day a year ago. It was before I began composing “Endless Immersion”. I only had a general idea of what I wanted to do, too vague to … Continue reading
Joyful Surprise
By all calculations I should not have a good day. Yet I woke up with a renewed strength and a desire to face obstacles on my path to creativity. Give … Continue reading
Unconventional
When I talk about Endless Immersion, I’m supposed to have an elevator pitch to capture your attention in one sentence. I don’t have it. I don’t even know what genre … Continue reading
Endless Immersion Installation
Endless Immersion Installation – the colors morph, merge, dissolve, and drift away. Just like the music. I’ve had a great response to a private showing of the installation. Each guest … Continue reading
Endless Immersion Download
Can you download single tracks of Endless Immersion? Yes, you can. There are only two of them. Each one is a seamless one-hour immersive experience, and you can preview them … Continue reading
Submerged – New Music for Piano Solo
“Submerged” is one of my early compositions for piano solo. Ever since a pianist friend played for me “The Sunken Cathedral” by Claude Debussy in ninth grade, I felt enchanted … Continue reading
Cello – A Guarded Love
The more I play the cello, the more I love it. But if it loves me back, it does so in a guarded way. I have to spend many hours … Continue reading
Endless Immersion – A Sonic Experience
Endless Immersion is out as a 2-CD set and an MP3 download. If you are looking for a truly unique sonic experience, look no further. http://tinyurl.com/kge5osr
Endless Immersion – First Impressions
“I am speechless”, “This is what music is supposed to be”, “I drove and don’t remember how I got home”, “I was so relaxed, I didn’t want to stop listening”, … Continue reading
Times of Solemnity and Reflection
Times, seasons, holidays, remembrances. It’s good to have days set aside for reflection and solemnity. Though our perspectives of the World may differ, we share the the joys, sorrows, and … Continue reading
Endless Immersion – New Album of Experimental Music
Endless Immersion, a new album of experimental music is set to release on April 9, 2015. Endless Immersion – The Concept I want to challenge the traditional way we listen … Continue reading
Is Now Not Enough? – Where Music and Poetry Meet
Have you downloaded the free track from my latest album? “Is Now Not Enough?” – read about the inspiration behind the title. Please share, like, and comment. https://soundcloud.com/dosiamckay/is-now-not-enough-1
I am an Exhibitionist
I am no psychologist, but sometimes I think that our adult years are only meant to be spent resolving our childhood dramas and fulfilling our infantile dreams. Why do I … Continue reading
Flute Concerto – The Espionage
The Espionage concerto was partially inspired by a poem by the same title I wrote in 2008 (see below) and, in a wider sense, by my fascination with the spy … Continue reading
World War I Flavored Film Score
Here is a soundtrack I composed a few years ago to “Brothers in Arms” (2006) by Amos Ezra Katz. Using French horns, English horn, clarinet, guitar, and percussion, I attempted … Continue reading
Cantabile – A Touch of Jazz in a Classical Setting
Something for a happy Friday: Cantabile (in Italian “singable”, or “song-like”) should unfold through long and eloquent phrases, but it does not have enough courage to immediately convey what hides … Continue reading
Glossolalia – Taking Big Risks, Reaping Large Musical Rewards
I met NeoQuartet for the first time during the first rehearsal, three days ahead of the recording session, with the studio and sound engineer fully booked. Were we crazy to … Continue reading
Glossolalia Now on iTunes, Amazon, and Around the World!
The album has launched! Below a few links to a free download, MP3 and CD retailers, a new video, and other goodies: – Bandcamp: http://tinyurl.com/lqgnktr – Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/mdv6czc – iTunes: … Continue reading
Glossolalia CDs Ready for Album Release
Oh, but what do we have here?! The CDs have just arrived and are ready for the June 4 release of the album. This Wednesday I will send out all … Continue reading
Free Download – Glossolalia Track
Free download from my new album Glossolalia played by NeoQuartet. Listen, share, e-mail to your mother, girlfriend, and your boss. Pre-order an audio CD and MP3 album. Leave a comment, … Continue reading
Is Now Not Enough?
Tomorrow I will offer the opening track from my new album “Glossolalia – NeoQuartet plays music of Dosia McKay” for free download. It will be available on Bandcamp at: http://dosiamckay.bandcamp.com/ … Continue reading
Glossolalia – Pre-sale to Begin with a Free Track Download
Let me entice you with colorful graphics for the last time because on Wednesday I will be releasing a FREE download of one of the tracks from Glossolalia performed by … Continue reading
What is the Role of a Composer in Music Creation?
My professor at New York University, Kent Underwood, used to say that the reality of music is not the score, but the performance. It is a humbling proposition for a … Continue reading
Glossolalia – Mysticism and Ecstasy of Inspiration
Glossolalia – The Inspiration Glossolalia, meaning speaking or praying in tongues, is a spiritual practice or a worship expression found in certain streams of the Christian church as well as … Continue reading
Glossolalia Set to Release June 4
My new album Glossolalia is set to release on June 4, 2014! Glossolalia, meaning speaking or praying in tongues, is a spiritual practice or a worship expression found in certain … Continue reading
Fear
Uploading the recording session of my new album to my computer. If the hardest part is behind me, why am I so nervous suddenly? http://www.dosiamckay.com/stringquartet.shtml
Score Study for Upcoming Studio Recording
Can you guess what’s next for me? I have to study my own music for the upcoming studio recording with NeoQuartet. In the folder containing all the scores and parts, … Continue reading
Glossolalia – New Music for String Quartet
Here is the formal design of Glossolalia – my new piece for string quartet I will be recording in Poland next month with NeoQuartet. It’s an adventurous and an unusual … Continue reading
Composer’s Diary – Writing a String Quartet – Part 2
Life, death, ecstasy, discarding two weeks worth of work, and starting over – I talk about it all. I’m taking you behind the scenes of composing my new string quartet … Continue reading
Cantabile Set to Record for New Album of String Quartet Music
Cantabile, one of the tracks I will be recording this winter with NeoQuartet for my upcoming album, is a slow movement from the Three Monologues for String Quartet. I composed … Continue reading
Composer’s Diary – Writing a String Quartet
Unscripted look behind the scenes – the very early stages of composing a new string quartet and some of my scattered thoughts.
Too Much Fun Around Here – Invasion of Clowns – Brass Quintet
The Presidential Brass Quintet at the Valdosta State University performed my crazy fun piece entitled “Invasion of Clowns” yesterday. http://www.dosiamckay.com/music/clowns.shtml Listen to a demo here: http://dosiamckay.com/mp3/DosiaMcKay_Invasion_of_Clowns.mp3
Cherry Blossom Set To Modern Dance
This Friday, September 27, the FresNO Dance COllective (NOCO) under the direction of choreographer Amy Querin will dance to Cherry Blossom from my album Lacrimosa at the Current for Women … Continue reading
Modern Dance With Cherry Blossom
I am very excited that NOCO – FresNO Dance COllective will dance to Cherry Blossom from my album Lacrimosa at the end of September. I always love to see my … Continue reading
Enchantment from Lacrimosa
It’s an enchanting day today! A preview of one of the tracks from my debut album Lacrimosa. Hear more music and download the album here: http://www.dosiamckay.com/lacrimosa.shtml
Epiphanies
I have been reading my diary from ten years ago and stumbled upon a very important turning point. In October of 2003 I wrote timidly: “A thought has been coming … Continue reading
Your Title Here – What’s in a Name?
Writing a piece of music is one thing, but finding an appropriate title for it is another. I always know what the piece is about, but it doesn’t always translate … Continue reading
Does Music Require a Melody?
Is a good melody a prerequisite of a good/interesting musical composition? What do you think? Here is a soundtrack I wrote a couple of years ago for a silent film … Continue reading
What Is the Shape of Your Music?
Why are you attracted to certain kinds of music and not the others? What need does the music fill in your life? What are the circumstances in which you find … Continue reading
First In Flight – New Music for Vibraphone and String Quartet
“First In Flight” is the title of my new composition for vibraphone and string quartet. I wrote it for vibraphone player Jason DeCristofaro who regularly performs classical music and jazz. … Continue reading
New Piece for Vibraphone and String Quartet
I am writing my new piece for vibraphone player Jason DeCristofaro. Jason is a talented musician both in the classical field and jazz. He is also a published composer. The … Continue reading
New Music for Vibraphone and String Quartet
My new piece for vibraphone and string quartet is taking shape. I don’t remember when was the last time I put so much joy and vibrant color into a composition. … Continue reading
“Farewell Dream Garden” for Soprano, Flute, and String Orchestra
It has been almost two years but I was not able to edit this video until now. I wrote “Farewell Dream Garden” for the International “Music in the Garden” Composers’ … Continue reading
Dosia McKay – Is Now Not Enough – String Quartet Premiere
Enjoy the video of the recent premiere of my new string quartet entitled “Is Now Not Enough?” during the Composer’s Voice Concert in Jan Hus Presbyterian Church in New York … Continue reading
Dosia McKay – Composer Portrait – Part 2 – Lacrimosa
Here is the second part of my documentary in which I discuss the birth of my album Lacrimosa. If you missed the first part, you can watch it here.
