In this week lecture, we discussed with Jonathan Holland on his career as a composer and his insights. I felt very connected with Jonathan because of his messages he portrayed through his music , his stylistic choices and by being an african american composer. I very much liked the frist piece that Jonathan played for us because it used the elements of double mindedness. You could very much point of the main melody and the "harmonically stable" parts in it ; but then on top melodies that were clustered, chromatic lines, and contrasting melody were there. I feel like music that plays with uncommon harmonic and melodic tendencies should be tapped into more because it makes you think a little differently, and challenges what you think sounds "right".
I think this was the first composer we heard that composed music based off social issues which was pretty cool. As a composer myself, I ultimate goal is to be able to take social and political issues from my surrounding communities and make music that can educate, inspire and create conversation, which I think Jonathan did with his compositions.
I am guessing that Jonathan main instrument was piano but I wish I asked more about his upbringing as a student into the composer world since we are all in that journey, maybe if one of you talked to him and got more info you can comment below to discuss!
Another main point that I saw through his music was his use of use of drum kit, audio tracks and spoken word in classical compositions. I feel like in this day of age, its hard to not use those.
Overall , Jonathan is pretty dope! I wanna be a Jonathan lol
I agree, super dope dude! My personal favorite was the second piece he played for us "Synchrony", the commission by the Radius Ensemble. Holland was so eloquent in describing his feelings about the inspiration that drove the piece, specifically police brutality against black Americans. Saying the incidents touched him through their sensation, seeing the initial moments of horror (in video and audio clips) and realizing that it was only a matter of circumstance and location that separated himself from the victims was such a powerful statement. Including the Eric Garner and Sandra Bland audio clips and bringing them to a concert hall setting where the audience had to sit, listen, and experience them without being able to click “next” and/or scroll down on their news or social media feed was also very powerful.
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