My Musical Influences
Posted September 26, 2009

In each choral/vocal piece I compose, I am looking for a musical context that will most effectively communicate the message of the text. In purely instrumental music, my goal is still to effectively communicate, but in a more abstract way.  Perhaps Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said it best: “Music is the universal language of the mind.”

The list of musical influences on my musical corpus is extensive. I find that I must continually challenge myself to discover more about the craft of composing if I am to continue writing music that will encourage others. I am inspired, in this endeavor, by studying the music of great composers. This never-ending process of learning invigorates the desire to create new and, perhaps most importantly, meaningful music.
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