Dosia McKay – Composer Portrait – Part 1
If we have not met in person, this might be the second best. In this candid video I discuss my pathway to composition, the sources of inspiration for my music, and … Continue reading
Ethyle
In nineteen fifteen Ethyle was twenty three So says the back Of a sepia photograph Only shards of second hand memories remain That no man took away her name That … Continue reading
My Poems, Essays, and Short Stories on Facebook
If you have enjoyed my poetry, please consider following me on Facebook. I set up a new page devoted to my poems, essays, and short stories. In my writing I … Continue reading
Two Moods for Clarinet and Piano – 2. Wind Chimes
And here is the second movement of my Two Moods for Clarinet and Piano performed by Steve Loew and Daniel Weiser in a house concert in Arden, NC. In this … Continue reading
Two Moods for Clarinet and Piano – 1. Haunted
I would like to share with you a video of a recent performance by Steve Loew and Daniel Weiser in a house concert in Arden, NC where they presented my … Continue reading
The Phone Call – a Short Story
She always knew it would end like this. It has been more than three days since she had heard from him and that was unusual, even for his introverted nature. … Continue reading
Who Needs Art?
Before my grandmother died, I had enough foresight to ask her to write down a few stories from her life. She left a beautiful diary describing her childhood, adolescence, and … Continue reading
Anemone from Lacrimosa with Choreography by Ann Dunn
Enjoy Anemone, the closing track from my album Lacrimosa, here in the interpretation of choreographer Ann Dunn of the Asheville Ballet. The video features a live performance at the Diana … Continue reading
Asheville Ballet Performs Lacrimosa by Dosia McKay
As the first event in its 50th Season, Asheville Ballet will perform Choreo-Off II at Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville, NC Friday, September 28 at 7:30 pm Saturday, September 29 … Continue reading
Writing
Why couldn’t life be A multiple choice test? That way you could get it right Most of the time If you had The faintest idea And a sense of direction … Continue reading
Free Download – Lush for Piano, Saxophone, and Jazz Orchestra
In the mood for something mellow today? Enjoy this free download of my composition “Lush” for piano, soprano saxophone, and jazz orchestra.
Playing Poker
Forgive me Lauren but I lost dexterity To shuffle the decks Of life’s persistent questions I used to array them in ornate fans Draw a random card And I would … Continue reading
Aurora – Ethereal Music Evoking Northern Lights
When I wrote Aurora, I wanted to blend the boundaries between the aural and the visual. I wanted to free the music from any constraints of rhythm or pulse and … Continue reading
The Plunge – A Little Shot of Attitude
Enjoy a preview of one of my tracks from my debut album Lacrimosa. Hear more music and download the album here. This one, entitled The Plunge, signifies to me a … Continue reading
Lacrimosa – New Album Now Available on CD
In addition to MP3 downloads of my album on iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby, I am now happy to offer compact discs. You can order them directly from me by … Continue reading
Alone and Pensive / Solo e Pensoso
A preview of one of my tracks from my debut album Lacrimosa. Hear more music and download the album here. This track is an arrangement of the opening stanza of … Continue reading
Lacrimosa – Now Available on Amazon MP3 Downloads
Amazon categorized Lacrimosa as Modern Classical, Dance/DJ/Electronic, and Miscellaneous. I would say that’s fairly accurate. I hope to ruffle some feathers in the Miscellaneous department! Follow this link to listen … Continue reading
Sweet Delirium
Sweet Delirium, one of the tracks on my new album Lacrimosa, employs sampling and layering of vocals. It also features Hardanger fiddle, a traditional Finnish instrument. Enjoy the ambience, ambiguity, and … Continue reading
A Whisperer in the Land of Shouters
Do you ever feel like a whisperer in the land of shouters? Enjoy a preview of one of my tracks from my debut album Lacrimosa. Hear more music and download … Continue reading
Is Beautiful Out of Style? – Composer Dosia McKay Bets Her New Album It Is Not
Dosia McKay’s debut album Lacrimosa is available for download on iTunes and other major digital retailers. Lacrimosa is a post-classical fusion of Renaissance and Electronic Soundscape music. Dosia McKay’s creative … Continue reading
Lacrimosa – New Album Available for Download
My long awaited debut album Lacrimosa is now available for download at the following locations: iTunes CD Baby More digital distributors, including Amazon to follow and the CD is in … Continue reading
Lacrimosa – New Album To Be Released This Summer
Lacrimosa – The Inspiration The Latin word Lacrimosa opens one of the stanzas in the Dies Irae sequence of the traditional Requiem mass and means mourning or weeping. Although it … Continue reading
To Be Asked
If he could only hear That it was time That it’s been too long And would he please come Birthday or not Rain or hunting season He would have gone … Continue reading
Resuscitation
Yesterday I saw a girl Of maybe twenty five springs Clenched between the gutter Of a urine stained sidewalk And an insisting grip Of an assertive hero Compressing her helpless … Continue reading
Cantabile for String Quartet Featured in Brooklyn, NY
I recently had the pleasure of collaborating with the string quartet of the S.E.M. Ensemble under the direction of Petr Kotik in their annual Workshop & Reading of New Works. … Continue reading
Food
In the end only food matters And those who endure your talking With your mouth full Kingdoms rise and fall For the freedom of drinking The right kind of borscht … Continue reading
25 Fun Exercises to Trigger the Flow of Creativity
Many people in creative fields struggle from time to time with the inability to tap into the flow of creativity. Call it the writer’s block, lack of inspiration, the departure … Continue reading
Free Download – Lush for Soprano Saxophone, Piano, and Jazz Orchestra
As my holiday gift to you, please enjoy a free download of my composition “Lush” for soprano saxophone (Rob Jacoby), piano (Rich Shemaria), and jazz orchestra (NYU).
Grit and Glitz – A New String Trio Premiered in Brooklyn
I was recently invited by the W4 New Music Collective to participate in their program of new music at Exapno in Brooklyn, NY. I composed a new string trio for … Continue reading
“Unveiling” Premiered by North/South Consonance in New York City
Play Excerpt 1 Play Excerpt 2 On June 7 North/South Consonance under the direction of Max Lifchitz premiered my work for string orchestra entitled “Unveiling”. The concert took place in … Continue reading
Middle Eastern, Indian, and Western Instruments Create a Unique Blend in the Soundtrack
I recently had the privilege to work on a soundtrack to a documentary entitled “The Work is One” by Michelle Pomeroy from the NYU Wagner School of Public Service. The … Continue reading
My Musical Interpretation of “The Girl on the Bridge” Knife Throwing Scene
I had the privilege to record 4 demo soundtracks with the NYU session players over the last two years. My first session featured 5 instruments, the second session – 11, … Continue reading
Enchanting Soundtrack to a Short Film “The Garden”
I recently completed a demo soundtrack to “The Garden” (2009) – a short film by Jason Stefaniak. Enclosed is only a short fragment of the film. My goal in writing … Continue reading
The Bubble Tree – Winner of the Skirball Film Scoring Competition
My score to The Bubble Tree, an animation by Ran Jing recently won the Skirball Film Scoring Competition and was premiered by the NYU Symphony Orchestra in a live concert … Continue reading
New Soundtrack: Brothers in Arms – A Short Film by Amos Ezra Katz
I recently completed a score for “Brothers in Arms” (2006) by Amos Ezra Katz. Using French horns, English horn, clarinet, guitar, and percussion, I attempted to create a dark, emotionally … Continue reading
Birds – A New Soundtrack to a Scene from a Film by Alfred Hitchcock
I recently completed another film scoring etude by composing new music to a scene from the 1963 film “Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock. Creating psychotic chaos from musical material takes a … Continue reading
How Much? – A New Soundtrack to a Short Film by Nick Ordway
Here is another soundtrack to a short film I completed recently. “How Much?” by Nick Ordway takes a look at the position of immigrants in our society. The music is … Continue reading
Words – A New Score to a Short Film by Max Strebel.
Here is a little gem of a film – “Words” by Max Strebel (2009). I wrote a demo music soundtrack to it as an exercise for one of my composition … Continue reading
At the Airport
Those who arrive Smile guardedly Not seeing yet Yet being seen Those who depart Cry guiltily Not missing yet Yet being missed But we are playing In the maze of … Continue reading
“Unveiling” – New Work for String Orchestra
I am happy to announce that I have completed another orchestral work. “Unveiling” for string orchestra is one in a series of three orchestral compositions I am currently working on. … Continue reading
Will You Come Before Winter?
Will you come before winter? Frost silenced the mornings The mirror of the harbor Cracked the rays of the sun Will you come before winter? Fall fulfilled her waiting Aimless … Continue reading
New Soundtrack to a Scene from Ivan’s Childhood
Here is a scene from Ivan’s Childhood (1962) by Andrei Tarkovsky I scored recently. I recorded the soundtrack at the new Dolan Studio at New York University. Ivan’s Childhood is … Continue reading
The Climb – New Soundtrack to a Short Film by Vincent Ma
I am happy to unveil the soundtrack to a short film by Vincent Ma, a talented filmmaker from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. This beautiful and evocative film … Continue reading
War and Peace – A New Soundtrack to the Battle Scene
I am pleased to present my latest scoring demo – the battle scene from the 2007 War and Peace film by Robert Dornhelm and Brendan Donnison. It is a mixture … Continue reading
Vasily Kandinsky – It’s Only Art. Or Is It?
“Every work comes into being in the same way as the cosmos – by means of catastrophes… The creation of the work of art is the creation of the world.” … Continue reading
Christmas Archangel
Small talk potluck smiles Clench my jaws tight Just like stage fright An hour of social delight In a less-traveled corner My weathered friend I finally gird myself With long … Continue reading
Things Are Unsaid
Things are unsaid In a certain way Fork on the left Knife on the right Definitely don’t smile Before Christmas Sometimes after the fact It’s good to acknowledge But only … Continue reading
Music Well - Dosia McKay, Composer, Painter, Writer 