New year, new website. MuseScorer of the month: Timothy K Hamilton
This week, we rolled out a new version of MuseScore.com. Redesigned from the ground up, the site is now able to handle more traffic, has tightened security, and is much more touch-friendly and optimized for devices with differently sized displays. What’s more, with the Drupal platform that the site is built on upgraded, we can now use state-of-the-art software libraries to further improve and extend MuseScore.com’s functionality, as well as the user experience.
While we’re still working to address some problems that popped up in the transition, we’re excited to kick off our new series, “MuseScorer of the month.” This is your chance to get to know one of MuseScore.com’s many brilliant members each month of 2017 (and, perhaps, beyond). We will feature a wide variety of composers and types of music in this series. So, without further ado, meet Timothy K Hamilton!
How did you discover MuseScore?
I found MuseScore while I was looking for a low-cost alternative to the costlier software composition packages. At that time, I started with version 1.1, I think, in February of 2015. It took me about a month to get up the courage to upload a piece to the MuseScore.com website. By my third composition, I had two comments on the day it was uploaded, one by Mike Magatagan, a true wizard of MuseScore. I found that one key was consistency: uploading a work every week or two, and spacing it out fairly evenly. At the same time, I discovered the enjoyment of “following” other composers and listening and commenting on their work.
What motivates you to compose?
I’m a member of the Episcopal Church, and many of the pieces I have uploaded fall into Church and Christian music genres, though I also have done more instrumental work. The comments system both gives me a chance to encourage other composers, and to receive encouragement or enlightenment about something I overlooked. Both are fun and helpful, and help keep me going when I feel like giving up (as most composers do from time to time, I reckon). I can honestly say that I probably have doubled or tripled my output in the last year and one half due to the community at MuseScore and their receptivity and support.
What is your typical composing workflow like?
I generally start my pieces with a melody line, since I think a fine melody is crucial to a good musical work. The chord underpinnings can be many and varied for the same melody line, and take some “feel” and trial and error to get right. For my lighter, smaller, keyboard pieces, I generally compose on the keyboard, even though my piano skills are highly limited. For larger works, I start right in MuseScore, where I can listen to what I have written immediately after it has been written and make changes instantly. When I think I’ve finished a piece, I play it at about ¼ speed or less to listen to the chord and non-chord progressions and make sure they are solid, or at least that I like them.
What have you shared on MuseScore.com that you’re most proud of?
The Episcopal Church has a beautiful service of music called “Evensong”. If you have an Episcopal Cathedral or large congregation in your area, you might give it a listen. One of the pieces that is always sung is the “Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis”. I just completed writing and uploading my 4th one of these. I know there is a limited audience for four-part choral pieces, but I’m quite proud and excited about the work I’ve done on these.
Check out Timothy’s latest gorgeous Magnificat.
Watch for our next MuseScorer of the month in February!
