Moveable Do

Season 5 starts out strong with an interview with Norwegian composer, Ola Gjeilo. We talk about his piano improvisation skills (as well as his new piano solo album) and why he keeps coming back to choral music. He also enlightens us to the differences and similarities between his musical life in Norway versus his musical life in Manhattan. Pieces featured on this episode: "Lux Beata Trinitas," "Ia...

Just a quick preview/bonus episode talking about the upcoming Season 5 of Moveable Do. Plus, Steve shares a new piece called As God Is, We May Be. See you in 2 weeks for the launch of Season 5 on September 6! Keep the Music Moving!!

Moveable Snippets will bring you one piece that a composer would like to share with the world. Today's Moveable Snippet comes from composer Joseph Vergilio and his piece "I Giochi Vecchi (The Old Games)." Learn more about Joseph Vergilio and his music at https://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/MrJoesMusic . Keep the music moving!

Moveable Snippets will bring you one piece that a composer would like to share with the world. Today's Moveable Snippet comes from composer Makaela Joy Bragg and her piece "Melody in Grey." Learn more about Makaela Joy and her music at https://makaelajoy.com . Keep the music moving!

Moveable Snippets will bring you one piece that a composer would like to share with the world. Today's Moveable Snippet comes from composer Justine Koontz and her piece "Insomnia." Learn more about Justine and his music at  https://justinekootz.com . Keep the music moving! Moveable Do has been named one of the Best Music Composition Podcasts by Feedspot.com. Check it out here: https://blog.fe...

Moveable Snippets will bring you one piece that a composer would like to share with the world. Today's Moveable Snippet comes from composer Terry Shaw and his piece "Still I Rise" with text from Maya Angelou. If you have interest in this piece, please contact me and I'll get word to Terry. Keep the music moving!

In this special episode of Moveable Do, Steve closes out Season 4 by sharing this season's intro song, "Bwana Ni Mchungaji Wangu" and sharing the exciting direction Moveable Do is moving for Season 5! Thank you to all the guests from this season: Roger Emerson: https://rogeremerson.com Will White: https://www.willcwhite.com Sarah Quartel: https://www.sarahquartel.com/ Andrew Maxfield: https://andr...

The tables get turned on Moveable Do host Steve Danielson as he gets interviewed about his life and works. Hear what it was like growing up in a large musical household, a two-week residency in Kenya, and how he works on keeping his music accessible yet enjoyable. Thank you to Jennifer Cook for conducting this interview! Pieces featured on this episode, "Croppy Boy," "I Carried Your Oxygen," "Befo...

Indian-American composer Dr. Reena Esmail talks with Moveable Do this week about her unique blend of Western Art Music and Hindustani Music. Hear where her interest in Hindustani music came from and where it has taken her. Also, get a wonderful new book recommendation. Pieces featured on this episode: "The Tipping Point," "When the Violin," "Tuttarana," and "This Love Between Us." For more informa...

Composer Craig Courtney chats with Moveable Do this week about his work with Beckenhorst Press, his time living in Austria, and how his parents found out his musical talents. With training in instrumental music, what turned him to choral music? Featured on this week's episode: "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night," "A Better Resurrection," "The Invitation" from Divine Encounter, and "Ukr...

This week, composer and lyricist Jennifer Lucy Cook talks about growing up in a musical household and then taking the leap into becoming a professional musician. As a mentee of Eric Whitacre, hear how he has helped influence and shape her career path. And, have you ever watched The Bachelor and thought, this needs a musical highlight reel, you've come to the right person! Featured on this episode:...

Composer and violinist Chrysanthe Tan joins Moveable Do this week to talk about their fascination of combining music and the spoken word, what its like to tour with Ariana Grande, and a mutual love of ours: Star Wars! Find out what Chrysanthe's favorite Star Wars song is. Featured pieces on this episode: "If You Lived in Your Body," "On the Other Hand," "Magic Lady," "I Dream of Kitty" (Premiere),...

For this special 50th Moveable Do interview, Eric Whitacre joined me to talk about a wide range of topics. He discussed what his goals and ambitions were as a teenager, what music inspired him growing up, and how he eventually ended up collaborating with NASA. We went back to the beginnings of the virtual choir world and explored what might be next. I also got to pick his brain a bit about his com...

Take a dive into Orthodox Hymnody this week with composer Nazo Zakkak. Though he started as a jazz pianist, he has shifted his life to composing and conducting hymns for the Orthodox Christian liturgical cycle. Explore some very poignant moments as well as some humorous - like which of his pieces is based on a song from "Frozen." Featured on this episode, "Gladsome Light," "Canon for St. Andrew,"...

This week Bryon Black II takes the leap from a Moveable Snippet segment to a full Moveable Do interview. Listen as Bryon talks about faith and composition, the importance of music education, and his process when arranging Spirituals. Plus, find out which VeggieTales song played a role in his early compositional pursuits. Featured on this episode: "Brotherhood," "On Christmas Night," "Magnificasti...

Moveable Snippets will bring you one piece that a composer would like to share with the world. Today's Moveable Snippet comes from composer Eric Hunter and his piece "Benediction for a New Life." Learn more about Eric and his music at  https://erichuntermusic.com . Keep the music moving! Moveable Do has been named one of the Best Music Composition Podcasts by Feedspot.com. Check it out here:...

Multi-faceted composer and performer Kurt Bestor sits down with Moveable Do this week to discuss a broad range of composing topics: from writing simple love songs, to writing film scores, to collaborating on projects with the Osmonds, to writing music for the 2002 Olympics! He also tells the story behind his wildly popular and currently applicable,  "Prayer of the Children." Pieces featured o...

This week, composer Dr. B.E. Boykin talks about her simultaneous work as a choral professor and a composer. We go back and talk about her musical family and some of the influences that helped her on her path. Plus, what's her favorite color and what does that say about her? Featured pieces on this episode, "Consolamini," "Unified Prayer," "We Wear the Mask," and "Joshua Fit the Battle." For more i...

While attending and participating in the composer fair at Northwest ACDA convention in Spokane, I was able to catch some composers and get a word about some of their latest works. This is the third part of three bonus episodes. This episode features Cary Boyce - "Ave Maria," Ash Shirazi - "A Lover Leaves", David A. Klement - "Time is...", and Judy A. Rose - "I Feel Tired Sometimes." Each composer...

Steve sits down with Andrew Maxfield and talks about growing up in a musical family, his travels around the world, his work with the poetry of Wendell Berry, and his project for orchestra and narrator, "They All Saw A Cat." Featured on this episode: "Invitation to Love," "The Singing Bowl," "For the Future," and "One Household, High and Low." Enjoy a step into the world of the Sacred Harp singing....

This week I sit down with Canadian composer Sarah Quartel for a discussion about connections: singer to singer, conductor to ensemble, choir to audience. We discuss growing up making harmonies with washing machines to singing with choirs through high school and beyond. How does Nine Inch Nails fit into Sarah's music? Let's listen and find out! Featured pieces on this episode: "The Bird's Lullaby,"...

While attending and participating in the composer fair at Northwest ACDA convention in Spokane, I was able to catch some composers and get a word about some of their latest works. This will be the second part of three bonus episodes. This episode features Brian Galante - "Ring Out Wild Bells," Reg Unterseher - "A Little Song of Life", Karen P. Thomas - "Alchemy", and Dawn Sonntag - "There Will Com...

Composer, conductor, and podcaster William White talks with Moveable Do about his work in Seattle, WA. We discuss his podcast, The Classical Gabfest, his early compositions for piano and clarinet, his love of Nirvana and the Beatles, and the influence of Beethoven on his writing. Learn about his work with Harmonia, a symphony and chorus that he conducts in Seattle. Featured works on this episode:...

While attending and participating in the composer fair at Northwest ACDA convention in Spokane, I was able to catch some composers and get a word about some of their latest works. This will be the first part of three bonus episodes. This episode features Richard Nance - "In Profundum Maris," Mari Esabel Valverde - "Winter Ride", Nicholas Ryan Kelly - "Now Boarding", and John Muehleisen - "Singing...

Season 4 of Moveable Do opens with a fantastic interview with Roger Emerson, one of the most performed choral composer/arrangers in the world! Join us as we talk about growing up in a musical family, his time with a rock band, his process of arranging and composing, and about some of the people that have influenced his amazing 45 year career. Featured on this episode: "Shoshone Love Song," "Red Ri...