Performer Blogs@Sequenza21.com

Jay C. Batzner is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida where he teaches theory, composition, and technology courses as well as coordinates the composition program. He holds degrees in composition and/or theory from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, the University of Louisville, and the University of Kansas.

Jay's music is primarily focused around instrumental chamber works as well as electroacoustic composition. His music has been recorded on the Capstone, Vox Novus, and Beauport Classical labels and is published by Unsafe Bull Music.

Jay is a sci-fi geek, an amateur banjoist, a home brewer, and juggler.





6/11/2007
Percolating

I write quickly. I don't spend hours each day slaving over details and nuance. Everything comes out of me in a rush. It is, if you excuse the phrase, rather orgasmic. And I have tremendous difficulty revising. Fixing an error here or there is no big deal. Reworking an entire section, though, is next to impossible. I'd rather write a new piece. I'm no longer the person I was when I wrote the first piece and it is hard to get back into my own head and into the moment that created it.

Since I write quickly, I don't write constantly. I go through long stretches without writing but my brain is always drumming up the next piece. Then, at some point, comes the moment of no return: I have to write the piece or lose it. I've lost a couple in my life and I'm really sad about that. I don't want to lose many more.

The interesting thing about my podcasting is that I have to make something even if I don't want to. I didn't really want to make something last week and ended up, quite accidentally, making one of my favorites to date. It is good for me to do this. It also arms me with techniques that I can bring out so I don't lose another piece.

Anyhow, be sure to listen to The Collected's latest podcast piece. A trio for clarinet, trombone, and bass by Denise Gilson.