Eric Whitacre (2015)

Is Lux Aurumque about your hair?

Has anyone ever told you that you are, by far, the most attractive composer of all time?

Hi Eric,

As a trombone professor, I think your music would work extremely well for brass instruments, especially one as vocal in nature as the trombone. Have you written anything for trombone choir, and if not, would you ever consider it? I know a whole lot of trombone players that would be very interested in this possibility.

P.S. I've loved your music since playing October in High School band :)

Have you considered a collaboration with Frank Ticheli?

You seem to be one of the only modern composers outside of film scoring that has achieved actual fame outside of the niche music community. Aside from writing powerful and expressive music, do you focus on PR or did it just happen?

Why do people hate parallel fifths when they sound so cool?

Eric. I grew up in the city. I was lucky enough to live close to a grass area which offered a dark patch at winter evenings. Here I wrapped myself in the winter darkness and looked up on the stars. The dreams and possibilities they offered were magnificent and never failed to lift me from the machinery of the everyday life in the city. Nothing was impossible out there. For instance; one evening when I was gazing up to the stars after a day of silent snowfall it hit me. The crystal cold snowflakes that glittered around me, they were stars fallen from the frozen black skies above. How wonderful to be surrounded by stars and planets; every snowflake a world of unexplored dreams and possibilities. As I grew up the stargazing went into slumber, as did the magical feeling.

Our daughter is three months old and The Seal Lullaby is the soundtrack of her life. I wanted to choose one song that I play for her through her lifes amazing moments; from the womb 'til the first snow or first shooting star.
As I look into my childs eyes of wonder, with The Seal Lullaby in the background, I get that feeling from my childhood in my heart again. It reaches deep down and massages parts of my heart that needed resuscitation.

My question is: do you have a favourite song that touches you deeper than most and never seem to loose its potency?

Thank you for everything.

Hello! I just had a couple of pretty random questions

1) Are there any real plans yet for your rumored collaboration with Pentatonix?

2) I loved your work on the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie and your music feels cinematic already so I was wondering if you had any interest in scoring any movie on your own? If so what sort of film would it have to be?

Thank you and I can't wait to listen what you release next.

First, I must thank you for some of your second alto parts. It's pretty rare that we get to use our actual range, but your music lets us altos create some actual music beyond the same note over and over again.

Since you are one of my favorite composers, I have to know: who are your favorite composers?

Good day, Mr Whitacre!
Huge fan of you and your music, especially "Ghost Train" and "Alleluia." :)

Two quick things if you don't mind. XD

1. I'm working on composing, and I was wondering: if you could tell the younger version of yourself anything about composing music, what would it be?

2. How likely is it that you could come and do something in the Atlanta area?

I teach middle school choir in Texas, so I spend a lot of time with 6th grade boys. We spend a portion of every Friday rehearsal watching a video of something choral-music-related, and they're big fans of your virtual choirs ("Can we watch the guy floating around and conducting the videos again?!?!!")

Anyway, I would be remiss if I didn't ask these questions: What's your favorite super hero, and can we challenge you to a game of lines-and-spaces trashketball the next time you're in Dallas?

Hi, huge fan of your work. I remember first being introduced to your work by working "Sleep" sophomore year of high school for TMEA All-State auditions. In two weeks I have my university audition for Stephen F Austin as a transfer student. Any Advice?

Eric, you are the man. If I start a techno-pop band will you play the synth and wear funky glasses?

Not sure if you've answered this elsewhere: are you a synesthete? If yes, do you call upon it when composing?

(My synesthesia associates music with texture, and your pieces are BEAUTIFUL to listen to/visualise. Not that they wouldn't be without it, but it gives it another dimension.)

Would you rather have fingers as long as your legs, or legs as long as your fingers?

Mr Whitacre! Huge fan!

My question is, in your opinion, how do you think choral music and orchestral music will evolve in the future? Do you think more and more new genres will combine with “classical” sounding music? or what new genres do you think will exist?

Also, how do you keep your hair looking so awesome?

Compared to other progressions, where do power chords progressions rank?

Hello! I am currently part of a senior wind ensemble near Toronto, and last year we played October. We completely BUTCHERED it. So this year we're playing Lux. Any tips to you know... Not butcher this one?

To tag along on this question, maybe something for brass quintet or brass choir as well? :)

Do you remember conducting your three biggest fans? I'm the gal. Was after the amazing show with Laura Mvula. I'm such a huge fan of both you & Laura.

And a question - what inspires you the most when writing music?

What are your thoughts on how people reacted to your obviously facetious tweet regarding Paul McCartney in that Kanye song? The media latched onto it and all of the retweets as a bunch of ignorant nonsense when in reality they were the ones not getting the joke!

Do you think you'll ever compose any big works for solo piano? I get chills just thinking of a piano sonata by you.

When's the next virtual chorus coming out?

What tips do you have for someone trying to write their own music? I'm thinking in terms of your techniques for ideation. How do you keep your music consistent in its outlook- that's my real problem...!

Mr. Whitacre,

I am a student majoring in Vocal Performance and I also have a passion for conducting in a choral setting. What strategies would you recommend to a slightly newer conductor that would put them into a higher tier?

Have you ever accidentally dropped something on you key board and used the resulting chord in a song?

What piece of music are you most proud of?

Who are some of your favorite composers who are still working today?

Hiya! Caitlin here. From FB. Cause that totally matters.
BUT! How do you go about auditioning members for the Eric Whitacre singers? And when do you audition more, if you do? :)

Hi Mr. Whitacre!

Everything about your life/job seems absolutely perfect, so the question I have is what do you like LEAST about your job? Is there anything that doesn't set your soul on fire? Thanks for this awesome opportunity by the way, you really are one of a kind in your fan interaction :D

Die Antwoord? Really? I just somehow don't see your styles meshing very well.

What's your favorite place/setting to sit down and compose?

Do you typically throw out and rewrite large sections of a piece before it's complete? If so, how often? Do you ever regret doing so?

While you're here, I just wanted to tell you that “When David Heard” is the most moving and powerful thing I’ve ever heard. Thank you for writing it.

Eric, just want to say that you are my favorite composer! What is your favorite piece to conduct?

Who do you hope to collaborate with in the future?

Perhaps you need to grow more as a person, or perhaps you're perfect just as you are.

Mr. Whitacre,

How would you feel about writing more pieces for Wind Ensemble? I am a euphonium player so it's my only option in terms of playing opportunities in large ensembles and I have been looking forward to more works since I have played October and Ghost Train.

Thank you for the AMA!

If you couldn't do what you do right now, what would be the thing you would do instead?

Hey Mr. Whitacre! I have a question about an instrument- how do you feel about the bassoon, and what role do you like to give it in your music? I'm having a lot of fun playing October on bassoon, but I've read the scores for Ghost Train and Equus- both fantastic pieces, but let's just say I'm glad that it's October that we're playing and not one of those two. ;)

What is your writing process like? Do you use software or are you still old fashioned with only pencil, paper and a piano? I know you're pretty techy so I'm curious as to how technology plays into the life of a professional composer.

Hey Eric! Can you help me convince my symphonic band director to let us play Godzilla Eats Las Vegas for my final concert next year?

Hello Mr. Whitacre.

Two questions:

1.) How do you think the process of composing has changed over years both in the notation and scoring and the sound of the finished piece?

2.) Do you like Sriracha?

Hey Eric, big choir geek here! I've posted on your FB page a few times and been to one of your concerts, and must say it was even more amazing than when I met the Dalai Lama! :P

I must ask, what is your favorite place in the world for its choral culture? Who does it best?

Without giving out too much personal information, my choral director is Bob from the US Midwest (I can PM you his last name if this doesn't ring any bells). Being the fun-loving, sarcastic guy he is, he loves to rub in the faces of all his students the fact that he knows you well. When you want to take a break from answering legitimate questions about all your great music, would you mind making some sort of funny statement about Bob, such as, "Bob is a big goober."? I'd very much appreciate it, and thanks for doing this AMA!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure music?

Eric - you have a very distinctive tonal palate and harmonic vocabulary, which is, obviously, something a lot of young composers aspire to. How did it develop? Was it more of you experimenting with sounds, or the study of other composers with unique styles, or both, or something else altogether? Do you ever feel limited by your own tendencies?

I noticed that quite a few of your pieces are titled in Latin. Do you know Latin?

When I was in band in High School, we played Lux Aurumque. Absolute favorite song we ever got to play. Just wanted to say you're an awesome composer and I love seeing you Facebook posts!

My question is one horse sized duck or one hundred duck sized horses?

Hello Mr. Whitacre I'm a music education student and in my music theory classes we are always learning the rules of music theory and music composition. Our instructor always says "this is the one rule that (insert composer here) would never break"
Are there any "rules" taught in a classroom that you just refuse to break?

How did you come up with your harmonic language? Specifically use of clustered chords.

And follow up question, if you see this: will we be seeing you at the ACDA convention in SLC this year?

What are the smartest and dumbest things that have been said about your work?

What were your first words when you found out that The Seal Lullaby was rejected to make Kung Fu Panda?

Mr. Whitacre, thank you for all you have done for the choral and instrumental world!

Which piece of instrumental music, written by another composer, is your favorite?

Any updates on Paradise Lost? I've been dying without your demos on SoundCloud. Would love to be a part of seeing a US production.

Hello!
I meant what I said a while back about that coffee-table book of your photos. There is such clear connectedness between your music and your photo eye. It's like gifting your audience a glimpse of your obvious 'musico-natura-architect' synesthesia.
What would it take to get a book started?
How do I get on board? 😊
SarahBDutton

Hi Eric, I love your work. October is my absolute favorite piece of music for concert band. Do you have any favorite composers? Also, if Beethoven were alive today, what kind of music would he be composing?

Hi from VC Friends! My question is what's going on with Paradise Lost? Is there an opening date yet? Any plans to bring it to the US?

Is there a contemporary or classical composer that you look to for inspiration or ideas?

Great to see you on here! Do any of your pieces come in 3 part? Have you considered writing for SAB more? I am in a small church choir, but would love to do some of your music!

Mr. Whitacre,

What is your favorite type of group to write for, and what is your dream group to write for?

Also, your music is amazing!

Hello! When you started many were resistant to your liberal use of dissonances. What advice do you have for the avant-garde choral composer experimenting with new techniques and forms in vocal SATB music, who's trying to get performances and start their career?

Hi Eric, how's it going?

So, two questions, one short and one not so short.

What's your biggest professional worry these days?

And my real question that I've asked Hans Zimmer and Ramin Djawadi on their AMAs, but to no avail (don't fail me now, internet!) - when you worked on the Pirates film score with Zimmer, did you work with whatever singers you were alloted by the powers that be, or did you have some latitude in selecting the musicians you wanted?

The reason I ask, is that I'm aspiring to be a professional choral musician, with the likes of The Sixteen, Chanticleer, etc, and I also have an enormous love for movies and movie scores; one of the notches on my professional bedpost is to sing on a movie score like yours, or a suitably grand and epic Star Wars score or the like. I've taken part in a live orchestral performance of Lord of The Rings, but to get in on the ground floor, and be a part of the real recording is a dream I'd love to fulfill. With that in mind, I'd love to know if there are go-to session musician ensembles used in the industry, or if ye contact a choir that you've always liked the sound of, or what's the story? I need to know what ensembles I need to join, and what strings I have to pull and composers to shamelessly flatter/bribe/blackmail.

Oh, and also a note - When we used sing When David Heard back in college, we used suffer an unusual problem (the basses at least) with the repeated double forte high c "My Son" from bar 151 onwards, we used pour all of our guts in to it, and it sounded bloody magnificent, but in pulling back suitably for the quieter end, we suffered a rather unique issue - our hearts were beating with such a fervour from the ff section that it caused our voices to jump in time, and we couldn't really control it during the piano original motif from bar 195, to the extent that we'd nearly be singing "Whehehehen Dayayayayvid hererererd."

Anyway, Keep 'er lit.
Wet-Paint.
I am not a crackpot.

Hello, Eric Whitacre! What was one of the most unusual influences you had that inspired one of your pieces?

Some boring questions for you!

-Who would you say was the most important composer in musical history?

-What composer (pre-20th century) would you say has had the largest impact on your life as a composer?