Artist Spotlight/Michael Moore/New Release

 Michael Moore was previously featured in an Artist Spotlight and now he's back with a new EP called Winter Solstice, which is going to be released on December 6th.

“Winter Solstice” captures both the quiet beauty and the electric energy of winter’s longest night, weaving together a tapestry of sound that reflects the essence of the season. The delicate yet expressive piano compositions serve as a guiding force, inviting listeners to traverse vast snowy landscapes. From the serene stillness of a frozen dawn to the exhilarating anticipation felt as a winter storm approaches, each note echoes the diverse experiences winter has to offer. Some pieces stir the soul with the intense imagery of snow whipping through dark skies, while others settle gently, evoking the soothing, tranquil glow of candlelight at twilight. Every track is meticulously crafted to highlight a different facet of winter, striking a harmonious balance between melancholy and hope. In doing so, it encourages listeners to pause, reflect, and fully embrace the contrasts that define this magical season.

The “Winter Solstice” EP, released on December 6th, 2024, features enchanting titles such as "Memories" and "Snowfall," alongside four newly composed pieces: "Solstice," "Starlight," "Family," and "Moonlight." Together, these six evocative tracks encapsulate the myriad emotions of winter, offering opportunities for contemplation and connection. Each composition beckons one to find solace in nature’s dramatic beauty, while simultaneously providing a musical retreat into the heart of winter’s embrace. As the melodies unfold, they weave a narrative that celebrates the season, making “Winter Solstice” an essential listening experience for all who seek warmth amid winter’s cold allure. So, whether you are cozied up by the fireplace or wandering through a snowy landscape, allow the rich soundscapes of Moore Music to envelop you and transport you to a world where winter’s magic reigns supreme.

Get the Winter Solstice EP

View the Winter Solstice EPK

Composers Who Went Against The Grain

Musical trends have long been a defining aspect of artistic expression, shaping the soundscapes of various eras. Today, platforms like Billboard and social media provide an almost instantaneous pulse on what’s en vogue in the music industry. However, this phenomenon is not new; it has existed throughout history, as evidenced by the vibrant music scene of the 1600s. At this time, J.S. Bach found himself at a crossroads, as the public's passion lay predominantly with Italian opera. In a period dominated by this trend, Bach chose to carve his own path, creating intricate compositions that emphasized counterpoint, the interplay of melodic lines. His refusal to conform ultimately paved the way for future luminaries like Mozart and Beethoven, allowing them to explore richer, more expressive musical territories.

Similarly, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart encountered the constraints of trending norms in his time, particularly regarding opera. While the prevailing fashion dictated that operatic repertoire be sung in Italian, Mozart dared to pen his works in German, capturing the essence of his cultural identity. This bold choice didn't come without its challenges, as dramatized in the film "Amadeus," which highlights the tension between artistic vision and societal expectations. Meanwhile, Beethoven further defied conventions by experimenting with shorter melodic ideas while simultaneously expanding the formal structures of symphonic and chamber music. His innovative spirit inspired an entire generation and solidified his place as a key figure in the transition from the Classical to the Romantic era.

In a reflective juxtaposition, we see composers like Franz Schubert continuing to utilize the succinct forms of the Classical period, even as others lured by the allure of larger, more expansive pieces began to dominate. Tragically, both Bach and Schubert faced periods of obscurity; Bach's genius was largely unrecognized until the revival efforts led by Felix Mendelssohn, while much of Schubert's work lay unpublished and hidden away until posthumous recognition. Beethoven's famous assertion that his music was intended for the future speaks to the audacity and foresight of these composers, profoundly underscoring their awareness that their contributions would transcend the trends of their times. Their legacies serve as a testament to the power of artistic integrity, highlighting how unique voices not only challenged prevailing tastes but carved enduring pathways in the fabric of music history.

Third Stream Music

The other day I came up with the concept of ‘Third Stream Music,’ to describe what I was doing compositionally. By this I meant the stream of so-called ‘classical music’ combining with ‘pop’ or ‘jazz’ music. 

One cannot ignore the cultures behind these; one might be called ‘refined or civilized,’ and one might be referred to as ‘more primitive or freer.’ I really started thinking about these concepts when I heard a radio interview with the great Russian composer Igor Stravinsky who said something to the effect that he admired American jazz and was working to incorporate this ‘primitivism’ into his own musical compositions.

And I thought, well yes, hasn’t this been the conflict all along? Both sides have their negative and positive aspects and each side is guilty of magnifying the negative aspects of the other; you can be ‘civilized’ into a slave state and ‘primitive’ just means they don’t know any better. Or does it?

I decided to Google ‘Third Stream Music’ because I felt that someone before had certainly also arrived at this terminology.

Sure enough; Gunther Schuller, who was a composer, coined the term in 1957 in a lecture at Brandeis University. You can read more about this here;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_stream

Critics on either side complained that Third Stream Music violated their ‘traditions’ and diluted the purity of their genres.

Interestingly, Mr. Schuller defined what Third Stream Music was not, going on to say it was not jazz with strings, jazz played on “classical” instruments, classical music played by jazz players, not inserting a bit of Ravel or Schoenburg between bebop changes-or the reverse (lol!), jazz in fugal form or a fugue played by jazz players. 

Curiously these are all things that have been tried in the past (mainly by the ‘classic’ camp as their audience began to desert them and symphony orchestras started going broke.) 

These sorts of efforts do fall flat. It’s kind of like putting a Rolls grill on a VW.

I don’t think you can just set out to mix the two. It has to come from a genuine intention to expand one genre or the other. That’s why I think Stravinsky was the most successful at it.

New Review on The Sounds Won't Stop

 I just got a great new review on 'The Sounds Won't Stop;

https://www.thesoundswontstop.com/dizzy-obrian

A Simple Change of Mind (The Power of Perspective)

This is something a little different. I heard a voice say 'a simple change of mind' in a dream and I decided to call my latest alternative rock track 'A Simple Change of Mind.' The video demonstrates this basic principle.

My Recent Interview on the Artist First Radio Network

 I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed on the Artist First Radio Network. We talked about how I went from 'strictly classical' to a creator of diverse genres like alternative rock. We also talked about my own experience running an internet radio station and the stories about big label rip-offs I heard from my own interviews. They also played several of my musical tracks. This interview is still available as a podcast, by following this link; https://media.artistfirst.com/ArtistFirst_Music_Special_2024-07-15_Dizzy_OBrian.mp3

Clytemnestra

Clytemnestra; the second synthpop track in the Electra Suite.

Twisting With The Fates

This is the fifth synthpop track in The Electra Suite.

Electra

Upon getting it into my head to write a suite of music called ‘The Elektra Suite’ or ‘The Electra Suite,’ I decided to read up on Elektra so I could better organize the different movements of this suite. After all, rather than just write six movements, I thought it would be more interesting to kind of thematically link the movements by giving them specific titles and have each movement more or less match the mood of its title.

First, I discovered that there were three main Greek plays concerning this character. It was obviously one story but told in three slightly different ways.

Electra is the story of a woman who is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Agamemnon goes off to war and Clytemnestra kills him when he returns. Electra gets mad and kills Clytemnestra with help from her brother Orestes.

Simple right?

Oh no. Agamemnon had sacrificed Elektra’s other sister to have good sailing when he went off to war. Elektra is apparently not upset by this.

Electra spends time as a peasant and shacks up with a shepherd but never marries him. She marries one of her brother’s friends after they kill their mother and return to palace living.

Electra is driven nuts by the Furies for killing her mother.

This story really bothered me. This is a hard story for a contemporary western reader to get their mind around, since one is used to very clear-cut heroes (or heroines) who have very clear motives for taking revenge and things all work out for the better in the end.

Duh! Yeah, I know it’s a tragedy! But still!

Is it about establishing a rule that will improve things for the lower classes? No. Do Elektra and Orestes get to live happily ever after as rulers or even nobles? No.

What kept bothering me was that in the very early Greek Mythology the name Elektra means ‘The Bright One,’ yet in these stories she ends up in the Pleiades constellation but she can’t be seen because she is a dim star who married a mortal. Huh?

And then I thought, well wait, these ancient Greek plays are going to be slanted according to the propaganda the playwright was wishing to disseminate, just like modern works.

And, yes, there was a need for an apologetic ending, just like “A Clockwork Orange,’The Hunger Games’ and, yes, ‘Harry Potter.’ So, of course, Elektra had to be run down by the Furies in the end since, in that version, the playwright was grinding the axe for the ‘new Athenian trial by jury system’ and people needed to be able to feel guilty about what they had done. 

Now here’s where I’m at, personally on this story. Keep in mind that the royalty in ancient Greece (as well as many other places) were regarded as divinity.

So this story is about reclaiming one’s birthright as divine, which is everyone’s birthright as demonstrated in the story by Elektra becoming an ‘ordinary’ person and still being able to reclaim her birthright.

Granted, it’s not pretty but then neither is suppression.

Hellfire; New Alternative Rock Music Video by Dizzy O'Brian

This is the new synthpop music video, 'Hellfire,' by Dizzy O'Brian.

Artist Spotlight| Michael Moore

Michael Evan Moore is an artist born and raised in the Los Angeles Area. He has had an interest in music and film since his early childhood. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music composition, he received further education from UCLA in Film Scoring. 

Having developed a strong familiarity with orchestration and audio engineering, he has composed professionally for directors and produced for other artists throughout his career. Some of his most notable orchestrations were recorded at renowned studios in Los Angeles such as East West and The Village.

His debut single, “The Unknown” released in 2018, captures the essence of life’s unknown nature, being unpredictable, and absolutely subject to change.

His most popular single, “Memories” released in 2021 is a journey through the past, present, and future. This song is dedicated to his late grandmother who left a lasting impact on his life and family. 

“Waves”, released in 2022, depicts the high and low tides of life. In this song, he weds the melody of the cello to the harmonic progression of the underlying piano. 

His newest single, “Snowfall” encapsulates bringing light and warmth to the dark world that we live in. Michael Evan Moore hopes to illustrate his life’s stories and also capture the stories of others through his music.

Michael Evan Moore - Snowfall

Preorder Snowfall

Preview on Apple Music

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