Recordings

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Vibrant for saxophone, electric guitar, percussion, and piano

Andy McFarlane

Full of energy and enthusiasm. Quivering. Pulsating. Bright. Striking. Strong. Resonating. I chose these words from the title's definition, according to a quick Google search. I loved each of the synonyms, especially as they related to the human spirit and the creation around it. As I played around with the music, I thought of a star’s energy with its own vibrancy:

from a distance—brilliant and promising, quivering, pulsating, striking—

and close—dangerous yet controlled, bright, strong, resonating.

May we be

Full of energy and enthusiasm.

Quivering.

Pulsating.

Bright.

Striking.

Strong.

Resonating.

performed by the Hinge Quartet,
mastered by Michael Cassinari
Vibrant
@2022 Andy McFarlane

SPEAR Etude No. 1

Andy McFarlane

SPEAR (Sinusoidal Partial Editing Analysis and Resynthesis) is a program by Michael Klingbeil used by electronic music composers to enhance their works. As I worked with the program for the first time, to boost lower frequencies in parts of “Vigor | Disquiet,” I became majorly sidetracked… In this first etude, I took Spear’s sinusoidal analysis of an ice skater’s double lutz and reduced it to a few of its loudest partials. The entire piece was built by manipulating these few lines, which are stated (without manipulation), overlapped, and transposed to create the beginning gesture. In my view, the piece can be enjoyed best if the viewer is prepared to watch closely, listen deeply, and/or laugh!

-Andy

SPEAR Etude No. 1
© 2021 Andy McFarlane

envies, for alto sax, tenor sax, horn, trumpet, violin, viola, cello, vibraphone, 2 percussion, and piano

Andy McFarlane, Cedarville University

My thesis for undergraduate, envies is a musical narrative describing a man’s terrifying vision of Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Armies, and his woeful, fearful reflection on humanity’s evil.

conductor: Jonathan M. Lyons
performers: Julia Brummel, alto; Wesley Kane, tenor; Megan Troyer, Trumpet; Sarah Plumley, Horn; Arne Anderson, vibraphone; Brandon Apol, Josiah Hintz, percussion; Anna Raquet, Harp; Hannah Rinehart, piano; Ellen Raquet, violin; Samuel Franklin, viola; Hanna Bahorik, cello

envies of the simple mind
©2016 Andy McFarlane

Piano Loops (1-6)

ANDY MCFARLANE

This playlist is an ongoing series of experimental improvisation for piano.

In basic, the concept is to improvise layers (I like to call them "instances") of music one at a time, then take each away in reverse order.

Piano Loops
© 2013-2019 Andy McFarlane

Irae, for trumpet and horn

ANDY MCFARLANE

"Irae" is one of my first "serious" works in composition. The title is a form of the Latin word "ira" meaning "anger" or "wrath" or "ire" Because of its form, the title literally means "of wrath" commonly heard in the phrase "Dies Irae" or "Day of Wrath."

The instrumentation is fitting with both the horn and the trumpet having deep roots in calling troops to battle. In any case, use of just the nominative plural form of "ira" gives ownership to the players to tear the piece to shreds and feed it to their audience.

performers: Cameron Swett, trumpet; Andrew Symington, horn

Irae
©2013 Andy McFarlane

The Arborist for solo cello

Andy McFarlane

Curious, the relationship an old tree might have with an arborist in a park. Imagine the tree-expert sizing up the beast—diagnosing a disease, checking for insects or blights, pruning back undesirable branches, or establishing grounds for removal due to rot or obstruction. Think of the tree’s perspective. Slowly establishing roots and shooting branches upward, producing leaves and fruit every year while withstanding storms and winters, the tree notices a human come closer than usual—more interested than the occasional human-lings that hang on its branches. Not knowing this human’s intentions, the old plant observes, full of curiosity and helpless.

cello, Audrey Hudgens

Vast, Unmeasured, Boundless, Free for brass choir

ANDY MCFARLANE, Cedarville University Brass Choir

Vast, Unmeasured, Boundless, Free is an arrangement of the hymn "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" (lyrics Samuel Trevor Francis, music Thomas John Williams) written for 20 piece brass choir and percussion and premiered as the prelude for the 2016 Cedarville University Commencement.

Perspective, for brass quintet

ANDY MCFARLANE

Entering into the abstract realm of thought, the theme the trumpet states at the beginning of this piece represents a person's initial thoughts towards a challenging situation. The music takes us on a journey through his analysis of the situation, his frustration towards its effects, his disregard for the problem, his search for the remedy, and his anger through it all. As rehearsals of thoughts inevitably conclude, nothing in his situation gets changed or solved, except perhaps his perspective.

performers: Nate Chester, trumpet; Megan Troyer, trumpet; Sarah Plumley, horn; David Brown, horn; Joe Morris, tuba

The piece is divided into four sections, each using a word from the title respectively--"vast, unmeasured, boundless, free"--infusing each with musical descriptions of Jesus' love, as Francis does with his words.

performers: the Cedarville University Brass Choir

Into the Fray, for tenor, soprano, and piano

Andy McFarlane

Some may recognize this short poem from the movie The Grey. starring Liam Neeson. I have taken this work, written by the father of Neeson’s character, John, and set it to a folk tune in the Dorian mode, placing the chant in the mind of a new character, perhaps John’s grandchild. My character, a soldier in a futuristic war, has been abandoned by his platoon in an immediate evacuation due to heavy enemy troop movements. Behind enemy lines, the soldier ponders his great-grandfather’s words as consolation during his dire circumstance. The woman’s voice represents his spirit and those emotions that fight for control of his will:

“Once more into the fray.
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know.
Live and die on this day.
Live and die on this day.”

performers: Matthew Crickard, baritone; Brittney Miesse, soprano; Hannah Rinehart, piano