March 13, 2008 Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I have been very busy with work and academics. I recently finished a set of some pretty crazy piano pieces that will premiere sometime next Fall. Also, the premiere of my chamber orchestra piece "Coalescence" will be on April 23rd 7pm at UCSC Recital Hall, go here for details. I've been getting requests to post more of my new work and while I am very excited to share it, I can only show so much. After dealing with labels I have become wary of how much work I can stream online. I promise soon, I will have more new work on my player :) I have 3 commissions I need to fulfill in the next 4 months so I need to get crackin'. Thanks everyone for all your kind (and even unkind) messages. "All this negative energy just makes me stronger." Check out the Anti-Mag article and interview with me here. ~NV
January 2008 Just finished my first 2 pieces of 2008: a chamber piece entitled "Coalescence" op.59 and my first orchestral composition "Expand the Hive" op.60. I have two premieres coming up: the first will be in April at The Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz and the other will be at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in May. Check out my "Upcoming Performances" link for more info. The Pioneer newspaper recently did an article about me which you can read here. Please go out and get my CD if you haven't done so already, support contemporary classical music (a dying animal shaking its fist at MTV). Ars Nova Classics and I have worked out a deal for me to sell copies directly from my site for a lower price (only $8.00!). ~NV
December 2007 Big things abound! First, my debut CD "The Burning" has just been released by Ars Nova Classics. This past Summer several Classical Music labels expressed interest in releasing my work. After much negotiation and speaking to other artists on these labels, I settled on one of the more "independent" ones. Much thanks to Paul for taking a chance with my music, Rich for his beautiful artwork, my fiancee Denise for her very artistic photographs, and most of all - the musicians on the album. You can purchase the CD HERE or ask your local record store if they can order it. By 2008 it should be distributed to major outlets around the world. As far as composing goes, I am writing at full speed once again. Taking the entire Summer off from composing has really paid off; at first, I was extremely depressed while not composing but now it is coming out in surges. I must thank Jeff Miller for that piece of advice - distancing myself from musical creation for a while was sort of like cocooning my musical mind as it internally evolved. I am very excited about the new work I am creating, it is different and much more dimensional than my previous compositions. New unreleased piano piece on streaming AUDIO! Here are some brief program notes on it: Transient
Reflections op.55
This is the first movement of a 3 movement work to be premiered at the SF Conservatory by I-Wen Wang. Always check my AUDIO page for updates on new pieces and my BLOG for program notes on any new work. Thanks everyone, please pick up a copy of my new CD and let me know what you think. - NV
November 2007 New look for a new era! Its been over 4 years since I updated the design for this site (Bray helped me construct the original one). Since then I have finished my BA in Music at CSU East Bay and learned some basic coding (not a flash guru yet). My friend Rich provided the artwork on the top frame, he just finished designing the artwork for my debut CD which will arriving stores in late November but you can soon get it online here (for much cheaper). More details on that coming next month!
October 2007 Sorry for the lack of updates but I was just taking a break from writing. I have been busy researching, theorizing, and planning. I just started. Grad School and I must say it is very exciting, challenging, and exactly what I need right now. I am taking 4 intriguing courses (Research, Composition, Asian Resonances & Current Issues) and am a Graduate Student Instructor (Theory I - 70 students). I have 2 pieces in the works: my 1st orchestral piece and a chamber piece. I will be trying new ideas previously unused by myself. I have started "pre-composing" and theorizing my new piece in entirety: a new method I am adpoting. Also have exciting news coming up of a possible International nature....I'll keep you posted. BTW - Interview I did with a webzine is here.
July 2007 My Senior Recital is finally up for streaming video! Thanks to Carlos and Brandon of Panopticon Films. I am now fully moved into my studio in Santa Cruz and I love it! Can't wait until school starts. What have I been doing for the past month??? Relaxing...not composing...reading comic books...discovering the things that fascinated me as a child. But music is brewing...commissions for video games, piano, and Church is on the table but I am letting it stew for a bit before I stir it up.
June 2007 Lots of news - I am graduating Cal State East Bay this Saturday June 16th. My Senior Recital was great!!! Read more about it in my Blog here. I have been writing a lot this year due to many requests from different ensembles - and luckily I have recorded nearly all my new pieces. Here are the new pieces and a little description on each one: 1. "Never Odd or Even" op.47 (2007) - My first piece for 2007. The piece, like the title, is a palindrome. Only not a literal one - it's an emotional palindrome that requires extreme sensitivity for the listener on many levels. Listen for the motivic transformations and the fugue. Dedicated to my fiancee - Denise Mahoney. (Performed by Lawrence Granger, Alex Kadarauch, Irene Gregorio, and Jeff Patterson) 2. "The Vertigo Series III. Confrontations" op.49 (2007) - There are many levels fighting for supremacy in this piece: a musical Confrontation. The original theme from the 1st movement ("Monolith" op.35), a new rhythmic motive that develops and encompasses all that cross its path, and a Spanish motive that becomes intertwined with the other 2 thematic ideas. They end up culminating into huge waves of gravitational harmony pulling you down into an abyss of musical infinity. (Performed by the CSUEB Percussion Ensemble directed by Arthur Storch) 3. "Without a Dream" op.50 (2007) - My friend, Rodrigo Cortes, has been asking me for months to compose a song for him to sing. This came to me as I was driving home, all I could think of writing was the saddest thing I could imagine: everything you ever thought you wanted is gone...now life is meaningless. (Performed by Rodrigo Cortes and Dominic Serrano) 4. "Emergence of the Kraken" op.52 (2007) - Another friend of mine, Israel Santiago, has been asking me to write a trombone choir piece. Rafael Hernandez (my Composition teacher at the time), wanted me to write using no references (piano, Sibelius, etc.) - only my internal ear. So this became an exercise in texture. It is also a tone-poem on Alfred Tennyson's "The Kraken". Dedicated to Israel Santiago and Andrew Walker. (Performed by the CSUEB Trombone Ensemble) 5. "De civitatibus" op.53 (2007) - For my last piece as a student at CSUEB I wanted to write a piece for a retiring professor, Dr. David Stein. He loves choral music and has been encouraging me to write more choral music. Thanks to him I wrote "Lumen et Tenebras" op.45 which earned an award. The text is from JOB 24:12 and it is composed in the style of late Gesualdo. Carlo Gesualdo is a composer that caught my ear when I noticed the similarities in our sound. (Performed by Amy Boyer, Mary Low, Liz Calame, Sean Cooper, Alex Kadarauch, and Nick Vasallo) Videos from my Senior Recital will be here in July!!!
May 2007 COME TO MY SENIOR RECITAL on Saturday June 2nd 7pm at CSUEB. It's been a good beginning of the year so far: on tour with the CSU East Bay Singers Buddy took us around the Bay Area (Berkeley, San Francisco School of theArts, Miramonte High School, Alcalanes, and more) and luckily my piece made it on some of the programs. The choral directors from SFSOTA and Miramonte want to perform a future choral work of mine, hopefully that will follow through someday! Buddy has been kind enough to interview me for an article on the Music Department webpage. Check it out HERE. Other than that I have been finishing many pieces - just completed my 4th-6th pieces for 2007 - The Vertigo Series III. Confrontations op.49, "Without A Dream" op.50, and "In Tribulatione" op.51 (recorded with Amy Boyer and Liz Calame). It will premiere at the Percussion Ensemble recital on Thursday May 24th 12pm in MB1039 at CSUEB. My Senior Recital will be on Saturday June 2nd at 7pm in MB1055 at CSUEB. Please come and I promise a show you will never forget! So I got injured and had time to write a piece, my back was in so much pain my body triggered it's natural painkiller which felt strangely euphoric. I read a prayer from the Bible and felt music from a certain passage speaking to me. In the span of 24 hours I wrote "In Tribulatione" and recorded it with my friends Amy Boyer and Liz Calame. It's text is from 2 Samuel 22:7 In tribulatione mea invocabo Dominum, et ad Deum meum clamabo. Et exaudiet de templo suo vocem meam, et clamor meus veniet ad aures ejus. (In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears) thanks for listening
April 2007 It's been a while since I have updated - sorry! A lot has happened: the premiere of "Lumen et Tenebras" went extremely well (thanks to Buddy and the choir), I got into the DMA program at UCSC (I can't wait!!!), and I have written 3 pieces since. I am also gearing up for my Senior Recital on Saturday June 2nd 7pm at CSU East Bay MB1055. There will be mass hysteria, bliss, danger, and most importantly excellent musicians performing my 3 years of work at CSU East Bay. So I finally have "Lumen et Tenebras" op.45 up for listening. I have 2 versions: one with the CSUEB University Singers directed by Buddy James and the other with a few of my friends. This version is recorded by my friends from school - unofficial NV Chamber Vocal Group - Amy Boyer (soprano), Liz Calame (alto), Sean Cooper (tenor), David Zelenka (tenor), Rodrigo Cortes (baritone), Alex Kadarauch (bass), me (low bass). thanks to everyone involved! again and forever Nick P.S. - I'll post the LIVE version next week let me know which one you like better
January 2007 Good news!!! I just found out I won the 2007 CSUEB Student Composers Composition Competition. The piece called "Lumen et Tenebras" (Latin to English translates to "Light and Darkness") will be performed on: Sunday, March 18 at 7 p.m. The
Harps Eternal: Choral Americana The CSUEB University Singers led by Dr. Buddy James will perform it. The piece is very meaningful to me, the text's musical depiction captures emotions that I feel strongly and frequently akin to. It's written for 8 part SATB and it sounds different than any other piece I've written so far. Please come to the performance if you can! thank you all,
December 2006 Lots of new pieces have been completed and recorded: "Inconsolable op.42", "The Dysfunctional Family op.32", and "5 Stages of Grief op.38" are all for solo piano. Thanks to I-Wen Wang (San Francisco Conservatory of Music) and Dominic Serrano (Cal State East Bay) for performing them. You can listen to them on the AUDIO page. Also special thanks to the Trombone choir at CSU East Bay (Andrew Walker, Israel Santiago, Andrea Fennern, and Chris Palmer), Kenny Lavoie, and Andrei Ivanov. They performed "The Red Plant: Prelude and Fugue op.46" there will be a video and recording of that performance soon as well. Coming up is a performance and recording of a new choral piece "Lumen et Tenebras op.45"
October 2006 2 new pieces have been recorded - "Sigillum Sextum" op.33 (2005) a big choral ensemble piece with latin text from Revelations and "Vivi In Infernum" op.40 (2005) an acapella 8 part chorale with latin text from The Book of Numbers. Thank you to all the performers from Cal State East Bay: Amy Boyer, Liz Calame, Sean Cooper, Alex Kadarauch, and David Lockhart. Stay tuned for a video from the movie "Duplicity" as well as recordings for some solo piano pieces.
July 2006 Working on the score for the film "Duplicity". It's a suspenseful mystery flick in B&W. I posted a clip from the documentary I did in the late Spring for Contra Costa County Development - check it out in the VIDEO section. Currently I am also composing a solo piano piece to be performed by Eve Wang from the San Francisco Conservatory. I also plan on re-recording "Lamentation" as well as recording "12 Stages of Grief", "Insomnia", "The Dysfuncional Family", "Sigillum Sextum" and "Vivi en Infernum." Check back soon for those.
June 2006 2 new pieces uploaded! "Lamentation" op.41 and "Howling Winds: Voices of the Dead" op.43 were premiered on Friday June 2, 2006 at CSU East Bay. Thank you to all the performers: The Bow Peeps, Alex Kadarauch, Jeremiah Massey, Dominic Serrano, Lisa Karn, Dave Lackhart, David Zelenka, Amy Boyer, Liz Calame, Sean Cooper, Matt Payne, Ryan Rey, Julian Hogan, John Stockton, Ken Lavoie, Andrew Walker, Israel Santiago, Steve Silva, Dan Ferriera, Jessica Vicksell, Eric Garcia I am currently working on a solo piano piece, this summer I will be recording "Sigillum Sextum" op.33 and "Vivi in Infernum" both are choral works.
May 2006 New piece - "The Vertigo Series" II. Necromantic Dances was performed Tuesday May 16, 2006 by The Vertigo Series. There is now a recording up on my AUDIO page. "Part I. Monolith" has been remixed and that is also up on my Large Ensemble audio page. 2 more works will be premiered on Friday June 2, 2006 8pm at Cal State East Bay. I will post recordings once those are done. In the works is a solo piano piece.
April 2006 2 works are in progress - "The Vertigo Series Part II" op.39 and an untitled piece op.43 for bowed piano, double bass, vibraphone, bass drum, and soprano. These 2 works and another will be performed in May at Cal State East Bay, I'll post dates as soon as I get them. I just finished the score for "Phoenix" and will have clips for that movie as well as 2 other projects I recently finished. Check back for those.
March 2006 Hey everyone, sorry for not updating in a while but I've been very busy. I was out of the country and finishing some commissioned works. I am currently working on a new psychological thriller called "Phoenix". It's gonna be an eerie score, perfect for my tastes. I also have 2 other movies coming up in the next 3 months so I'll keep you posted. I have finished a new piece for Classical Guitar, Cello, Soprano, Alto, and Percussion called "Lamentation" op.41. It's a very melancholy and dark piece that moves around quite a bit...it will be performed sometime in the Spring at CSU East Bay. I am still completing "The Vertigo Series Part II" and "The Vertigo Series Part I" was performed live March 7th 12pm at CSU East Bay MB 1055, check out the LIVE VIDEO. I'll have clips for download soon from the video I scored for Contra Costa County's Development Dept.
December 2005 New recording! The Vertigo Series, a new ensemble at Cal State East Bay, has recorded my piece "The Vertigo Series Part I." It is the first of a trilogy I will be writing over the next several months specifically for the new ensemble. Much thanks to everyone that recorded for me: Alex, Tommy, Ryan, Curtis, Israel, Andrew, Noah, Amy and those who helped: Matt and John. Extra kudos to Alex and Tommy, who rocked a performance of my piece "The Atheist" op.34 on Thursday at Cal State East Bay. Upcoming: I will post a video clip of the music I did for Contra Costa County Development as well as the live performance of "The Atheist" op.34. I am editing "The Rising Empire" op.29 as well as beginning The Vertigo Series Part II. NEW DOWNLOADS - op.35"The Vertigo Series Part I", Iron Kid
November 2005 As promised I have a new recording of op.34 "The Atheist" performed by Alex Kadarauch on Cello and Tommy Folen Jr. on Bass. I have finished my choral ensemble piece op.33 "Sigillum Sextum" and my new ensemble piece op.37 "The Vertigo Series Part I." I will have a recording of "The Vertigo Series Part I" sometime next month. In the meantime I am composing music for Contra Costa County's Development Dept. NEW DOWNLOADS - op.34 "The Atheist"
October 2005 I have finished 3 pieces this month: my big symphonic band piece "The Rising Empire" op.29, a cello/bass duet "The Atheist" op.34, and a small ensemble piece titled "Swarming From the Ground" op.36. I will try and have recordings of those pieces within the next couple months. I am near completion with my choral ensemble piece "Sigillum Sextum" op.33 and have started a new strange ensemble piece titled "The Vertigo Series Part 1" op.35.
September 2005 I finally started my work for op33 "Sigillum Sextum" and when I get around to it I will complete the articulations for op.29. I have been taking some heat for music I provided to certain projects containing references to abortions and the like. I appreciate all the emails and calls I have been receiving and I hope you can understand that I cannot discriminate who I work with based upon their beliefs...I would not turn down a project that consisted of a different culture or religion than mine (where social beliefs would be completely different). I
have a new video to show, it's a clip of the pilot episode for "Iron
Kid" a children's 3-D animated series. Enjoy! NEW DOWNLOADS - "Iron Kid"
July 2005 The Planned Parenthood video is finished, click here for the mp4 file. Also completed are my 2 preludes for piano, based upon the language of Debussy. In the works this month, I am going to finish articulating my symphonic band piece op.29 and starting my choir piece op.33. NEW DOWNLOADS - "A Superhero For Choice", "2 preludes for piano"
April 2005 I just finished the score for the psychological thriller "Sinful Wives" (formerly titled "Mine") There is a clip available in the VIDEO section. I also completed the studio recording with my band Antagony, and I have a song called "The Awakening" up for download as well. Later this month I will begin scoring a project for Planned Parenthood. I am still completing my symphonic band piece with all that is going on....slowly but surely. NEW DOWNLOADS - "Sinful Wives ", "The Awakening"
March 2005 Currently working on the movie "Mine." The score is very dark and penetrating. There are 2 audio clips I posted from the movie on the AUDIO page. Other than that I am still working on the symphonic piece - op.029...it's a very large work and is taking a long time (so many lines) but once I'm done with that I am finally going to write a choral piece. Stay tuned! NEW DOWNLOADS - "The Burning ", "The Burning II"
December 2004 Merry Christmas! Lot's of updates to share - solo piano piece in g# minor op.026 "December" is available for download, new video "Cultivate and Collapse" available for download, and I have been asked to compose music for the feature length film "Mine." I will have a clip for that movie as soon as possible. NEW DOWNLOADS - "Cultivate and Collapse", op.026 "December"
November 2004 I've been really busy with school as of late and have been focusing a lot on my instrumental pieces. I have finally almost finished composing my woodwind quartet - op.17 in c minor. It will be performed and recorded by the end of the year. The movie "Azira" has now been retitled "Die Garage Band Die!" and I also finished composing the music in that movie. Antagony has been learning new material which we plan to record sometime next year. NEW DOWNLOADS - "Cultivate and Collapse"
September 2004 While I was in Taiwan I composed a piece for my grandmother on the piano. I had it performed by Eve Wang and have a recorded version of it on harp for you to download. It is called op.028 "Behind the Light." Also my music will be on the big screen for the first time! Storytime Pictures will be showing a FREE sneak preview of the "Iron Kid" animated TV series. I would be honored if you could make it, feel free to bring friends and family. For more details go here. My first feature length film, Azira, will be done by the end of the month. NEW DOWNLOADS - op028 "Behind the Light"
August 2004 This month I'll be finished scoring "Azira" as well as op.028 solo piano piece in D minor. In the meantime I have composed a new "electronic" piece - check it out below. NEW DOWNLOADS - tek005 "Only a Dream"
June 2004 Good news, I will be scoring a feature length horror film called "Azira." Thanks to Scott for giving me a chance to show what I can do with my music. I have a sample scene scored and it's available for download in the VIDEO section. Also in the works is op.028 solo piano piece in D minor. I also finished scoring "Iron Kid: Episode 2", there will be a free screening sometime in July in Palo Alto of both Episode 1 & 2. I will let you know the details when I have them. NEW DOWNLOADS - "Azira"
May 3, 2004 The next month is going to be busy, I have been getting many requests for writing original music: both classical, metal, and experimental. Latley, my output has been pretty steady and heavy. I finished composing op.027 "Falling Into You" (solo piano piece in D major). Check it out below along with a new metal song "Beneath the Black." NEW DOWNLOADS - op.027"Falling Into You" "Beneath the Black"
April 1, 2004 I finished scoring the first episode of "Iron Kid" earlier this week. Unfortunately, I cannot show any video clips of "Iron Kid" at the moment but I do have a condensed version of the score I did. I posted that along with a new Scolding Romeo song, check them out at the link below. Other than that I am working on op.017 (woodwind quartet in C minor), op.026 (solo piano in G# minor), and op.027 (solo piano in D major). I am updating once a month from now on so check back often. NEW DOWNLOADS - op.025 "Destiny Approaching" "The Saddest Day"
March 7, 2004 I have been keeping myself extremely busy lately. Finished 2 big projects and a new solo piano piece in the past couple weeks. The first one was a 4 minute teaser for Storytime Pictures called "Iron Kid": superb 3-D animated action cartoon. It turned out really great and now I will be composing original music for the first episode. The 2nd project was a short silent film called "The Temptress" for Turner Classic Movies. Once I get approval to use both video clips I will post them on my video section. Check back often for updates on those. I posted the new piano piece op.023 "Running" and the score for "The Temptress" called op.024 "The Storm." Download them below! NEW DOWNLOADS - "op.023 Running," "op.024 "The Storm""
February 1, 2004 I just finished scoring and sound designing the animated short "Roadkill" for the legendary Jules Marino (Director of Animation for Hanna Barbara, Filmation during "He-Man", "Smurfs", "Scooby Doo"etc.). Download it out now, it's only 16mb! *To download - "Right click on link-->Save Target As..." NEW DOWNLOADS - "Roadkill"
January 20, 2004 Good news, I'll be scoring a new animated short called "Roadkill" for the legendary Jules Marino (Director of Animation for Hanna Barbara during "He-Man", "Smurfs", "Scooby Doo"etc.). I'll keep you posted, in the meantime here's a little short and sweet rock song. NEW DOWNLOADS - "Kissing Tears"
January 2, 2004 It's been an overwhelming and insane past couple of weeks. I have a new piece for you guys, just a simple and placid sounding piece. School is starting again soon and I will primarily be working on music for Storytime Pictures. NEW DOWNLOADS - tek004 December 1st, 2003 Hello all, still awaiting projects that will be coming my way in the new year. During the late Winter-Spring I'll be working on music for the world of Storytime Pictures. Then during the Spring I'll be working on some shorts, and in the summer is my much anticipated Thriller "Sadistic." In the meantime here is some more new music for you. NEW DOWNLOADS - tek003
November 9th, 2003 I've been sick for the past week which gave me time to finish my string quartet, and 2 other pieces! Check them out below. New upcoming project will be a psycho thriller horror entitled "Sadistic"- won't be until after Summer 2004. I will keep you posted. Check back often as I am posting a new piece of music more and more. NEW DOWNLOADS - tek001, tek002, op.022 "String Quartet in C Major"
October 25th, 2003 There has been some revisions on older pieces, you can check them out on the Audio page. In the meantime here is some new material below. NEW DOWNLOADS - op.021
October 20, 2003 Been really busy lately with writing and school. Like to thank Jacob and Melton, a couple new aquaintances, for the recent projects. Looking forward in working with you guys again. And to David - hope you get well soon! NEW DOWNLOADS - op.019, op.015 (new version), op.014 (w/ dialogue)
October 7, 2003 I met a really cool guy recently named Jay. He is the CEO/Executive Producer of a new animated series called "Iron Kid." The quality of the art and animation is top notch. I will be keeping myself busy working on musical ideas for this exciting new project. Also in the works is "Monsters", a young childrens' animated cartoon by Kristen Ankiewicz. I'm also looking forward in working on that. NEW DOWNLOADS - "Iron Kid"
September 22, 2003 My new studio setup is complete. Thanks to David Earl for helping me set it up. I have a couple projects lined up: a short mockumentary called "The Chuck" and a sci-fi fantasy called "Here After." I will have clips up as soon as I get those. NEW DOWNLOADS - op.013, op.018, and "There's Something Wrong"
July 16, 2003 My website is finally up! Please check out the Audio page for mp3's of my music. There are a lot so be sure to click on "MORE" below each section. There are also some short movies I scored for some student filmmakers at Diablo Valley College. Special thanks to my friend Bray Almini for putting this site together. Check back often for updates and new music! |