Unless you managed to have your composition career well underway by the time you graduated, you, like me, will need to get an additional job. The nature of that job is up to you—but it is something you must anticipate and plan for. These comments are not meant to discourage you from becoming a composer. […]
Continue readingCategory: News & Events
Behind the Scenes on “Motion Lines,” from the PRISM Quartet’s latest album
As you may have heard, the PRISM Quartet’s latest album, Surfaces and Essences, came out this past week. I’m thrilled that my piece “Motion Lines” was on it—along with a bunch of other great music by Christopher Biggs, Victoria Cheah, Viet Cuong, and Emily Koh. First things first, if you haven’t listened to the album […]
Continue reading
Celebrating Ten Years
Ten years ago, on March 31, 2010, I launched josephsowa.com as the home for my music. At the time, I was a few months out from graduating with my undergraduate degree from BYU. A lot has happened since then! Here are some of the highlights: . . . what more will happen this decade? Stay […]
Continue reading
2017 in Review
Welcome to the end of another year! It’s been a great one for me. Let me share the highlights below. tl;dr Just listen — Pieces Written or Premiered Motion Lines (2016). Premiered by PRISM Quartet Blossom Music (2017). Premiered at the fresh inc festival Granite and Sage (2017). Premiere forthcoming An Integrity of Clouds (2016-17). […]
Continue readingNews: Boise State Residency
March 9–10: Visited Boise State University as a guest composer, where I taught composition lessons and gave presentations on James Tenney, orchestration in Star Wars, and my recent music. (Photo: Composers’ trip up the canyon. From left to right — Sam Richards, myself, Jared Knight.)
Continue reading
News: Motion Lines Premiere
My saxophone quartet Motion Lines was premiered by the renowned PRISM Quartet during their Brandeis residency.
Continue reading
“Summer Has” a Semi-Finalist in National Competition
A newsletter arrived in my inbox a few days ago from a competition I’d entered. I thought it was nothing. But I was wrong.
Continue reading
“Like Day and Night”: Solos for Oboe and Violin Now Available
I’m pleased to announce the recordings and publication of two very different solos for oboe and violin: one for the instrument alone, the other with piano accompaniment; one comprising a variety of moods, most fast, the other composed of a single, slow mood.
Continue reading“. . . Ring in the new”
2012 was a good year, but 2013 promises to be even more exciting. Certainties In 2012, blogging was my neglected step-child. This year, expect a steady and frequent stream of posts as I keep you in the loop about how my music is progressing, what I’m listening to, and what other thoughts and cool things […]
Continue reading“Ring out the old . . .”
It’s been a good year for composition. It hasn’t been such a good year for blogging, so it’s time to highlight the best of 2012 and the opportunities coming in 2013. I’ll start in this post with 2012. Second Performances My biggest milestone this year was finally having pieces enter performers’ regular repertoire. I wrote “Icarus […]
Continue reading