tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18723612872650624602024-10-24T16:19:03.905-06:00journal of musician, writer, and web designer Nathan Howe <br> of <a href=http://gratemusic.com>gratemusic.com</a>, <a href=http://ldsmusic.us>LDSmusic.us</a>, and <a href=http;//noisebox.net>NoiseBox.net</a>Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-61013582298900325442007-09-04T22:31:00.001-06:002007-09-04T22:42:08.366-06:00

Yes, it's true. This blog, which has been well-used at its BlogSpot location, is making the leap to the WordPress platform, and I'm moving on up to local hosting! (Ooh! Ahh!) That means I don't have to rely on Blogger's, well, reliability, for better or for worse. It also means I get to tackle problems by myself.The BlogSpot blog will remain in its place for the moment, but it will not be

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-75504276616157872852007-08-30T23:44:00.000-06:002007-09-04T22:30:58.489-06:00

As I was speaking with a fellow musician today (he is the teacher in whose classroom I am student teaching), we got onto the subject of jazz. I mentioned that I can't stand to listen to a jazz station for long periods. This got us into a good conversation about modern music and what gives good music its "edge." I have a few philosophical points to share on this:All music comes from somewhere. It

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-16435160867139576592007-08-29T17:15:00.000-06:002007-08-29T17:23:24.380-06:00

I suppose I've never been a huge fan of women's trio literature. I was in a children's choir, so I've sung quite a few SSA pieces, but I love the fuller sound and increased chord options available with only one additional part. But some type of bug must have bitten me the other night, and thus I arranged Father in Heaven for SSA women's voices. I'm really happy with the result. Get the sheet

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-27107315863265069992007-08-28T15:58:00.000-06:002007-08-29T16:29:03.131-06:00

I hate to restart my participation in this blog with something so tragic, but I have found something that must be shared.I am somewhat a connoisseur of bad music. Whether it's poorly written, ill-conceived, or just plain annoying, I have a love-hate relationship with songs that make me cry for non-sentimental reasons.To introduce today's installment, I have to say that there is nothing funny

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-67961427180823986572007-08-18T17:15:00.000-06:002007-08-18T17:18:46.004-06:00

But we have started the new NoiseBlog at http://gratemusic.com/noiseblog - check it out.

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-58444099577946209712007-04-09T13:51:00.000-06:002007-04-09T15:49:08.266-06:00

I just returned from a fantastic week in Colombia. Yes, that Colombia. I participated with a choir from our university in an international festival of sacred music during Holy Week. It was fantastic. I will not give an extensive travelogue at this point - I will only say that there are two Colombias: the one you see on CNN and the one I visited. They hardly resemble one another. The people were

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-53425475192145751132007-03-23T16:01:00.001-06:002007-03-23T16:01:07.081-06:00

Volume 2,&nbsp; Issue 4 Thanks for subscribing to the Noisebox, bringing you&nbsp;Grate news about&nbsp;Joyful Noise.&nbsp; We had some technical issues with sending the Noisebox last week, so here is the update for 14 March 2007.&nbsp; Another new piece will be posted within the next few days, so keep an eye out.&nbsp; Here&#39;s what&#39;s new at gratemusic.com and LDSmusic.us right now:&

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-90337534795667069702007-03-22T02:01:00.000-06:002007-03-22T02:15:16.884-06:00

Two things I learned within ten minutes of each other:1. The Red Cross office in my town is being permanently closed. Donations dropped off right after Katrina.2. The Red Cross has a very successful new ad campaign in California. I like their new in-your-face approach. http://blog.wired.com/design/2007/03/masterpieces_of.htmlStart stocking up on necessities, folks. I'm not an alarmist - it's just

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-47723189897285544192007-03-13T11:23:00.000-06:002007-03-13T11:24:16.729-06:00

Overall analysis:Of course we have made progress, but I forsee that the next ten years will be significantly more challenging for the LDS music industry. There will be increased demand, but it will be fulfilled more and more by several small companies rather than a large Deseret/Seagull conglomorate. And Deseret will fight back, trying to buy out the little guys as they become popular. I

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-9906517621926908672007-03-13T11:22:00.000-06:002007-03-13T11:23:13.200-06:00

Other Considerations:Marketing: It has generally become less ethical. Yet LDS people have also established a pattern of illegal copying, which makes real sales harder to make. This will be a big issue in the industry in the next ten years.Distribution: It is more widespread, and thus more competitive. The advent of self-distribution online is good for independent artists, but not necessarily

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-78364114670926383982007-03-13T11:20:00.000-06:002007-03-13T11:21:26.275-06:00

Vocal performance:Again, at the high end, we see that it has improved slightly, but the style has not changed radically. On the amateur hobbyist end, things are worse than ever because we hear so many more of them. (I should say at this point that I probably ought to consider myself an amateur hobbyist, but I do take pride in what I do and try to make it the best possible considering my

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-69998417914721923362007-03-13T11:18:00.000-06:002007-03-13T11:19:20.625-06:00

Arragements:I hesitate to say they are better. For recorded music, they require more gadgets. Synthesizers have improved, so the arrangements sound better in production. Some, like Mack Wilberg, Tyler Castleton, and Enoch Train, have certainly bloomed in their arranging skills in the last decade. But as far as the overall quality of most arrangements we hear, both on CDs and in Church, I

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-88938625152936366792007-03-13T11:16:00.000-06:002007-03-13T11:17:42.907-06:00

Production values and Recording Quality:They have increased and decreased at the same time. Part of this has to do with the reduction in cost for decent recording equipment and software. If I had started out doing what I do ten years ago, the technology I have now would have been far beyond my means, and I run a pretty bare-bones operation. It is possible to set up a home studio for $500 if

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-77129476816289699722007-03-13T11:14:00.000-06:002007-03-13T11:15:34.295-06:00

Songwriting (as a craft):Much improved. I am especially encouraged that more LDS musicians seem to be writing on themes of the Restoration. Looking a decade back at the songs of Michael McLean and other similar artists, many of them were quasi-ecumenical songs (pretty, but with not much doctrine) which were mostly designed to make the listener feel good. I sense that among the good LDS

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-63967330067081270412007-03-13T11:08:00.000-06:002007-03-13T11:13:59.354-06:00

On the LDS Musicians group, Michael R. Hicks proposed that we look back on the past ten years in the LDS music industry and reflect on our progress in specific areas. To avoid posting one huge block of text, I will post my "State of the (LDS Music) Union" address in topical segments, beginning with the preamble:Disclaimer:In 1997 I was a freshman in high school and I had never heard of EFY (I

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-78480807859393068642007-03-12T18:18:00.000-06:002007-03-12T18:23:34.250-06:00

WARNING: If you are rude at a formal concert, expect to get a ticket. I've just finished Audience Police, our newest sub-site on NoiseBox.net. You can print tickets to give to people who do rude things, like:clapping within a setloudly unwrapping candies and cough dropsneglecting to take their screaming children to the lobbyusing cell phones during the showAre you ready to join the Audience

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-21858807534647029382007-03-07T12:03:00.000-07:002007-03-07T12:07:26.792-07:00

This one was a bit of a rushed job, but it turned out better than some pieces I have done with plenty of time to spare. I wrote this arrangement for one of our local missionaries to use at a conference this weekend with Elder Henry B. Eyring. I hope it goes well.Noisebox 07 March 2007Volume 2, Issue 3Crusader's HymnBasses and altos, rejoice! In response to popular demand for solos written for

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-9180501630073565162007-03-06T12:09:00.000-07:002007-03-06T12:15:21.758-07:00

It's still in early development, but I am working on a new site, NoiseBox.net. It is a place where musicians and poets can get low-cost profile pages for people to sample their work and find out where to buy it. Still in the process of getting artists and poets on board (so far, I've just been working hard to get the site up and running). But that's one reason I haven't posted much lately.

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-65256348913936388252007-02-28T11:11:00.000-07:002007-02-28T11:19:24.904-07:00

This doesn't show the spread of specific denominations or acknowledge any of the minor (yet significant) religions of the world, but it's quite interesting and worth the minute and a half that it takes to run.

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-19205071374804236682007-02-26T23:13:00.000-07:002007-02-27T01:16:43.476-07:00

New Noisebox today. This song had an interesting little process - David and I recorded our parts several hundred miles away from each other, and then I mixed them together here.Volume 2, Issue 326 February 2007Miracle of FaithYou have already heard the piano music to Nathan Howe's new solo Miracle of Faith on the YFE 2006 video from BYU Idaho. Now you can download the MP3 and hear the full song

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-54691334245695597162007-02-20T02:00:00.000-07:002007-02-20T02:03:50.824-07:00

Here's the latest Noisebox. This one took quite a while due to the current busy circumstances of my life at the moment.20 February 2007Volume 2 Issue 2Abide with MeIt took a bit more than a week, but new music is back, with an arrangement of the beloved hymn Abide with Me now available on gratemusic.com and LDSmusic.us. Nathan Howe has arranged it for TTBB chorus and baritone solo, and this

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-83497112216616045542007-02-16T23:19:00.000-07:002007-02-18T23:21:18.115-07:00

Yep. It's awesome.http://www.msfirefox.com/

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-89758710371038001712007-02-02T23:14:00.000-07:002007-02-18T23:22:23.584-07:00

Volume 2, Issue 102 February 2007:back to work, almostAfter our extended winter vacation, new music will begin once more next week on gratemusic.com and LDSmusic.us. While you wait, check out our exciting news!First, at 7:30 the evening of Friday, 9 February 2007, the annual Church Music Festival is happening at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. A choir will be performing When Godly Sorrow

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-50987368627879943392007-01-25T18:20:00.000-07:002007-01-25T18:31:08.637-07:00

Could you pass this test now? Could an eighth grade teacher pass this test now? This is a test from Salina, Kansas. Text reprinted from here.8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, Kansas - 1895This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 from Salina, Kansas. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smoky Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, Kansas and reprinted by the Salina

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1872361287265062460.post-9445191789127036542007-01-22T18:05:00.000-07:002007-01-25T18:20:40.525-07:00

It has been quite the hectic few weeks, and I'm taking a slight pause on both this blog and the music websites in order to take care of some small administrative tasks. Like what, you ask?Submitting music to a particular publisher for wider distribution.Beginning my last semester of undergraduate classes before student teaching.Tangling in red tape while trying to apply to student teach.Fiddling

Nathan Howehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04766458793041504485noreply@blogger.com0