Hello, Mr. Doughty.
> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:09:41 -0400
> From: Bryan Doughty <[email protected]>
>
> Dear Bear,
> I am sure I will get flamed away on the list, but you
> asked: "why can't I get an Orchestral Recording made
> of my Horn Concerto?"
>
> I think you should seriously consider how you present
> yourself and your works in your emails. The email
> below, in my view, only hurts your recording
> prospects because of its tone. To me, this one email
> says a lot.
"Tone"? Well, you've lost me. I was raised to think
like a scientist and be meticulously honest. Which word
do you think is rude, sarcastic, bragging about
accomplishments that I haven't done, or being dishonest
in any way? If so, I am more than eager to apologize,
but I think you are merely reading something else into
my simple words.
> Some other thoughts if you are seriously looking to
> get the concerto recorded:
>
> I searched Google, but did not see a website for you.
I have NO IDEA how to program a computer or make
a website, and don't have the money to hire someone to
do it for me. However there are a few good websites
about me, that are owned by other people.
> Getting one will add more impact if you are going to
> present your Concerto to others.
You should know that I am incurably ill with
Advanced Diabetes, and go Unconscious, each time for
over an hour (sometimes as long as 8 hours), and it
happens several times a week, averaging 28 times each
month! I am only surviving on Welfare, so I do not
have the budget for anything beyond mere survival.
(I've had to document each one for Disability Court, so
I know I am presently over 960 Documented "Diabetic
Black-Outs" in just the last 7 years!)
I originally studied as a composer during the 1980's,
and then had to get out of music for many years to make
a living. In the Mid-1990's I took my Master's as a
Composer, have been composing heavily since then,
and trying to develop a career. Too many people
assume that I must be a child, writing baby-simple
music. Instead I am 55 years old Composer and Music
Theorist Specializing in 20th Century Chromatic
Modality and Counterpoint. My music that is similar to,
but much more complex in Counterpoint than,
Hindemith.
It always was my ambition to write a Concerto and
Accompanied Sonata for Each Major Instrument of the
orchestra. In just the last 12 years, I have several
sonatas and am finishing my 7th Concerto, each being
for a different kind of Solo Instrument. (They are: Piano,
left hand only; Horn; Harp; Viola; Clarinet; Oboe and
now Contra Bassoon.)
> Is it published and readily available for purchase? If
> not, get it published as this will also add impact.
I self-publish my scores on my aging Mac Computer
using the "Finalé '98" Music Printing Program. I print
and coil bind all my scores, including Part Books, etc.
William Kraft warned us NOT to let a Publishing
House take our Copyrights, because they NEVER
publicize new music, and thereby Suppress it from being
performed. Besides, I can barely afford to mail one
package a month to anyone, so why send one to an
oppressive publishing house?
> Has it been performed at local, national or
> international conferences? If not,....
Actually I've had performances of various works in
over 20 countries around the world, but usually on
university campuses, so they were not for pay. That
includes the Beijing China Music Conservatory,
Ljubljana Slovenija, Peabody in Baltimore, etc.
> Have you sent copies out MANY copies to college
> professors around the globe? If not,...
Yes, but some never respond as soon as they see that
I write Professional Level music, and not baby-simply
ditties.
> Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:37:40 +0200
> From: Hans Pizka <[email protected]>
> . . . This does not depend upon tonal or atonal or
> twelve tone. . .
Perhaps Prof. Pizka implies that my music might be
too modernistic or even 12-Tone for listeners. Instead
NONE of my music is "atonal", nor "12-Tone". ALL of
my music is in Mid-20th Century "Chromatic Modality"
which means that it sounds like a blend of Hindemith,
Shostakovich, William Schuman, Barber, Prokofieff,
Bartók, etc.
My "Horn Concerto" is mostly like Shostakovich,
with a Humorous First Theme in the Third Movement
Rondo, that is a bit like Prokofieff. In the last 8 years,
I've sent a few E-Mails to Prof. Pizka offering to send
him the CD (with the Piano Reduction Version) and
Scores of the 4 works of mine, on Dr. Karen McGale's
Horn Dissertation, but he never answered any one of
those E-Mails.
> Is it on any contest lists (state, national or
> International)? If not,...
A few years ago, a young US Euphonium Student
wanted to play my Euphonium Transcription of it at his
university's Concerto Competition. After I sent him the
scores, he vanished and dodged answering my phone
calls and E-Mails. (I get that reaction a lot, when people
find out that I wasn't kidding, when I said my music is
just as hard to play as Shostakovich, Hindemith or
Prokofieff.)
Of course, it was nice when I got to have the Harp-
Alone Version of my schmaltzy, but very difficult to
play, "Introduction and Ashkenazic Rhapsody for Harp
and Orchestra" performed in Early 2001 at the Israeli
International Harp Performance Competition.
When people apply for a job, loan, or ask for help,
they are expected to explain their credentials and/or why
they deserve consideration. However when I do it, you,
Mr. Doughty, suggest that I have a bad "tone". I thought
I was acting like a professional, and showing extreme
courtesy by explaining some of my merits in detail, but
you seem to think otherwise. I find that unexpected and
confusing.
Bear Woodson, Composer
Home: 520 - 881 - 2558
"Bear Woodson" <[email protected]>
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