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
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
The Cemetery
Cemetery in Wejherowo. This section dedicated to small children. Growing up in Poland, I was never sheltered from the reality of death and suffering. I remember visiting the graves of … Continue reading
Fragile
Every morning I wake up with anxiety. I reach for my phone to quickly scan the news to find out whether the new Korean war has begun. Then I check … Continue reading
Świtezianka
In Polish mythology, Świtezianka is a water nymph living in the lake Świteź, also dragonfly with metallic blue, green, and umber colored wings. Watercolors, acrylics, and ink on paper, 18 … Continue reading
No Commitment
Medusa – one of my early paintings. Remarkably, as I look back, I feel myself drawn to the same color palette again; soft grays, blue, black. Maybe I have come … Continue reading
Glossolalia now on Spotify
I am excited to announce that my album “Glossolalia” is now on Spotify. I recorded the album two years ago with the fantastic string quartet from Poland – NeoQuartet and vibraphonist … Continue reading
A Winter Memory from Poland
A winter memory from Poland, many years ago: Apocalyptic amounts of snow paralyze the entire country. Trains equipped with plows are not able to get through. Forget about buses and … Continue reading
Swimming in the Sea of Invisibility
I didn’t like my arts teacher in elementary school and the sentiment was reciprocated. I did not agonize over the fact as the teacher didn’t like any of her students. It … Continue reading
“May Night” by Tadeusz Miciński
Crowned donkeys sat on the grass – crickets kiss a wild rose – and death shimmers on the pond and plays a frolicking song. Mayflies, … Continue reading
Geometry, Language, and Music – My Path to Composition – Radio Interview on “Zero Crossings”
What do geometry, language, and music have in common? The ancestral shadows, George Michael, and creative loneliness – it’s all there. I am talking about my convoluted path to composition … Continue reading
Taking Musical Chances, Reaping Musical Rewards
More than a year ago I took a chance on a string quartet from Poland I have only heard in recordings. I flew in to Gdańsk, we met in person … Continue reading
Arts Education Behind the Iron Curtain, Part 2
If you have not read the first part of this essay, you might benefit from reading it to establish the context of the following. The first day at the Conservatory … Continue reading
Arts Education Behind the Iron Curtain, Part 1
I feel very privileged to have devoted much of my life to the study and practice of music. Having attained degrees from two American universities after completing studies in the … Continue reading
“First In Flight” for Vibraphone and String Quartet on NPR
It’s nice to be played on National Public Radio again. “First In Flight”, my composition for vibraphone and string quartet will be featured today on WUOT Knoxville’s Morning Concert hosted … Continue reading
Is Now Not Enough?
“Is Now Not Enough?” explores the restlessness and insatiability of the human spirit. The same invisible force that propels migrating birds and fish, seems to stir the imagination in search … Continue reading
Awakening – New Media Painting
No matter how hard I try, I can’t get away from color. I have to restrain myself not to turn the saturation all the way up. I think I know … Continue reading
First Premiere in my Home Country of Poland
An emotional moment in my career as NeoQuartet is about to premiere “Glossolalia” and “Is Now Not Enough?” in my home country of Poland, not very far from where I … Continue reading
A Good Sound Engineer – Don’t Enter a Recording Studio Without One
As people continue to listen to “Glossolalia“, they send me comments about the composition, the incredible quality of performance by NeoQuartet, and the nuanced mix of the recording. I am … Continue reading
Working with Vibraphonist Paweł Nowicki – Composer’s Perspective
A few notes from the recent recording session of my new album Glossolalia. Today I share about working with the vibraphonist – Paweł Nowicki. Paweł made a guest appearance on … Continue reading
With Flutist Jadwiga Kotnowska
When I was in Poland, in Warsaw I visited my flute virtuoso friend Jadwiga Kotnowska. She showed me Sinfonia Concertante for flute, harp, and string orchestra by Andrzej Panufnik she … Continue reading
Music Everywhere
The subway trains in Warsaw squeal the same melody the New York trains do. The melody outlines a minor 7th, falls a minor 2nd and rises a minor 3rd. In … Continue reading
Recording at Radio Gdańsk Studio
I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with Jacek Puchalski on my album. Jacek has an extensive experience collaborating with local and international musicians, from classical world, through jazz, pop, … Continue reading
Studio Recording in Gdańsk
With sound engineer Jacek Puchalski at Radio Gdańsk Studio, recording the string album with NeoQuartet. The studio runs on ProTools – one of the reasons I wanted to work with … Continue reading
I am in Poland!
I have survived a major snow storm in North Carolina and, after a few flight cancellations and rebookings, I made it to Poland. I’m in Gdańsk, an old coastal town … Continue reading
Vibraphonist Paweł Nowicki To Record My Music
Meet vibraphonist Paweł Nowicki. Paweł will make a guest appearance on my upcoming album featuring my music for strings performed by NeoQuartet. He will be the soloist on “First In … Continue reading
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
NeoQuartet in Rehearsal – More New Music to Come
NeoQuartet in rehearsal. I am composing a new work for them to be recorded next month in Poland as a part of my new album. http://en.neoquartet.pl/home/ In this photo: Karolina … 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.
Recording a New Album with NeoQuartet in Poland
I am so very excited that I will be recording my new album with NeoQuartet. I just bought my plane ticket to Poland for February. I am not worried about … Continue reading
Where Does a Talent Come From?
Where does a talent come from? It’s a lucky combination of genes, sometimes from the immediate ancestors, and sometimes from generations far beyond our knowledge. Here is a photograph of … 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
Music Well - Dosia McKay, Composer, Painter, Writer 