Beowulf Residency at the CATWALK Institute
I’m spending April 2019 up in the Catskills Mountains at the CATWALK Institute working on a theatrical adaptation of Beowulf. My...
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Ben Morris
- Jun 12, 2018
Fulbright in Norway: Final Reflections
At this point, I only have a few months left in living in Europe, and it's hit me. I've been busy rehearsing all the music for my final...
Ben Morris
- Apr 13, 2018
Fulbright in Norway: Uneven Beats and the Berlin Conference
While living in Norway, I've developed an interest in the uneven, lilting three-beat groove found in some Norwegian folk music, and how I...
Ben Morris
- Feb 23, 2018
Fulbright in Norway: Site-Specific Theatre and a Mega Big Band
My daily schedule living in Oslo has been enriching—nearly every night, I attend a concert, while balancing a few commissions, lessons,...
Ben Morris
- Dec 17, 2017
Fulbright in Norway: A Visit to Bergen
A lot has happened since my last blog post—new developments and future plans, new creative projects, more travels, and new friends. It’s...
Ben Morris
- Oct 26, 2017
Fulbright in Norway: Introduction
I’m living in Oslo with a Fulbright Grant, working with jazz composer Helge Sunde, writing a large composition inspired by my Norwegian...
Ben Morris
- Sep 23, 2017
Ultima Festivalen: A Recap
Oslo’s 2017 international contemporary music festival, Ultima, has recently come to a close. Ultima is a nine-day festival filled with...
Ben Morris
- Jul 31, 2017
International Gugak Workshop: Week 2
The second week of the International Gugak Workshop began with a free day, which I used to explore the city via its expansive metro...
Ben Morris
- Jul 15, 2017
International Gugak Workshop: Week 1
Week 1 in Seoul began with a night out exploring Gangnam (the namesake of Psy’s “Gangnam Style”)—it’s a sleek, Time-Square or...
Ben Morris
- Jul 9, 2017
International Gugak Center in Seoul, SK: Introduction
These next two weeks, I’ll be in Seoul, South Korea, studying at the International Gugak Workshop at the National Gugak Center, an...
Ben Morris
- Feb 20, 2017
Musical Essence
As I write this, I'm sitting in a courtyard of my university that has a strong vibe to it. It's a place that for me as a particular feel....
Ben Morris
- Jan 14, 2017
Writing a Musical: Part 3
THE. MUSICAL. IS. COMPLETE. Or, abandoned, as they say. But, it’s safe to say all the music is written. The process has been a whirlwind...
Ben Morris
- Oct 11, 2016
Writing a Musical: Part 2
This week, I finished a draft of “Yes, No, Please, Thank You,” a song performed by the hermit—the lead in the musical—and a cohort of...
Ben Morris
- Oct 4, 2016
Writing a Musical: Part 1
I'm in the thick of writing a musical right now, and I want to give all you an idea of my process for those of you curious, or for those...
Ben Morris
- Jun 18, 2016
ACO Jazz Composers Readings: Days 2 and 3
Day 2 started with a check-in with the mentor composers and George Manahan, violinist Bob Chausow, percussion Jim Saporito, and James...
Ben Morris
- Jun 15, 2016
ACO Jazz Composers Readings: Day 1
What a day. In typical American Composers Orchestra fashion, the faculty and guest speakers packed our day full, from 9 am to 4 pm,...
Ben Morris
- Oct 8, 2014
Film Music Examined #3: The Guest and Walk Among the Tombstones
This week I’ll briefly review two scores I particularly enjoyed. The first was that of The Guest, a genre mash-up film from Adam Wingard,...
Ben Morris
- Aug 31, 2014
Film Music Examined #2: Frank
This week I'll take a look at Lenny Abramson’s Frank, which I saw at the O Cinema in the Wynwood Arts District, Miami. The film is graced...
Ben Morris
- Aug 23, 2014
Film Music Examined #1: Night Moves
I'll kick off my film music review series with Jeff Grace's score to Kelly Reichardt's Night Moves, which I saw this weekend at Cosford...
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