General 5 — Brendan Moriak

Composer Notes:

This project has been an incredible journey and slowly, and unknowingly, has come together over the past 4 years. I have always been a musical person, and writing music has always been natural to me. Creativity has been my way of expressing, creating, and living for as long as I can remember. One of the concepts that I have developed over the years talking with some of my close friends who are writers, painters, film makers, and fellow musicians, is the Language of Creativity. A concept where creatives can discuss an idea without using technical language regarding their specific craft. This project is designed to explore that language among many creative disciplines and facets.

I decided to compile 7 of my favorite tracks written over the last 4 years. I put them in a specific order and numbered them 1 to 7. I then asked for creative volunteers to listen to the tracks and wait for whatever inspired them to do their art. In doing so, I received a number of different paintings, stories, cards, poems, and even a basket, that have all been created in response to music, with no creative direction at all.

For the final piece of the project, I wanted compose something that culminated all that I had learned and developed over the past 4 years. Coming into freshman year, I had embarked on a journey to compose a piece I wanted to call, The Seven Seas. Inspired by Gustav Holst’s: The Planets, I wanted to compose a piece for each Sea. I had developed themes, and even researched a number of these Seas and took notes in an old notebook. However, halfway through freshman year the project faded and I began working on other pieces. For films and for fun. The following year, composer Thomas Bergersen, released a symphonic piece titled “American Dream.” This piece consisted of 45 minutes of continuous orchestral music that just blew me away. It was so visual yet so classical in its composition. I began thinking about doing a similar piece for myself.

This past October is when it really began. I composed the string intro now known as the “Red Sea” however back then it was titled Lenses. I wanted to write a continuous piece that told a very visual story of emotions. It was not until late March where I had developed 7 distinct sections and realized that each mapped out perfectly to my research on the Seas back from freshman year. This is when I decided to name the piece Seven Seas and title the album Lenses. Just like the other pieces on the album, I wanted this to have non musical elements. To do this, I brought it to two of my best friends, Brice Malusa and Hannah Diamond, to help me develop the musical storybook that this piece has become.

I am truly excited to share this project with everyone and hope that it will spark more creative ideas and endeavors in people who may not necessarily identify as creatives themselves, but have a passion for a creative hobby. Art is not meant to be compartmentalized. It is meant to be broad, shared, and interpreted in many different ways. Art is meant to work together, and when one masters the Language of Creativity, they are able to move around the creative world with ease and create freely and honestly.

Artists

This was the first work I created. I chose to work with india ink for this piece for a number of reasons. I knew this medium would capture the drama that I felt in your composition. I knew that I wanted the figure to be a silhouette to embody a quality of strength and stability. I also knew that working with ink wash means having to be flexible with what the material wants to do, and how the ink decides to move in the water. With this medium there is a level of unpredictability that is both beautiful and frightening. Most importantly, it forces you to trust the process and your instincts.

Nancy Diamond - Strength in the Storm (for “Yosemite”)
The moment I heard this composition I felt a sunburst. I felt hope and renewal and rebirth. I had immediately visualized a two panel piece for this work. While initially I worked on both panels simultaneously, I soon found myself absorbed in one at a time. This work started as an abstraction, with the only representational element being the leaf...almost a period on the end of a sentence. But as I listened to the track, other forms loosely appeared for me. As in the previous work, a personal narrative began to emerge for me.

Nancy Diamond - Shine Your Light (for “The Meadows”)
I designed these scrapbook-ish pages while listening to the first three songs in Brendan's 'Creatives' folder. They got me thinking about how it would look if there were film/movie conceptualizations of certain moments of phases of time in my life, which I tried to reflect through collaging.

Olivia Kozlevcar
Writing poetry inspired by music was a new experience for me. I find that these songs told me stories. Some were fictional, whereas, in others, I found myself. I found stories I didn’t know how badly I needed to tell until the music began to flow. Music is a muse like no other. It tells me more than just the words—it shares its spirit. And for that, I am grateful to be a part of this exploration.

Grace Hasson
The track gave me very much “waking up” vibes. It has a melancholy that also, somehow, feels like the optimism or potential of morning. It’s Juliet telling Romeo that it is the nightingale and not the lark. It’s Emily watching the morning of her birthday from beyond the grave. It’s Prince Hal on the field the morning after Agincourt. The overly romantic theater kid in me can’t stop…so it’s Wendy’s acorn, sitting on the table, left there when she has given Peter a thimble…

Aaron Bogad -Wendy’s Pipe (for “The Boat”)
Because I’m used to hearing Brendan’s broader thematic work, I was really compelled by his more atmospheric pieces. These two in particular take tender, subtle moments and flesh them out into a fully orchestral language; I tried to honor that dynamic in the visuals I generated.

Daniel Sohn
Several of the clips made me feel like "spring" and others made me feel a bit darker in mood. I combined these feelings by making a spring-themed birthday card but in darker atypical spring colors.

Linda Wirt - Birthday in Bloom
The introduction in Clip 2 gave me a sense of melancholy which quickly turned into happiness. I couldn't help but think of warm memories of my parents who have passed. A bit of sadness that they are gone turned to happy thoughts. It felt natural to pick up my basketweaving project and think of them while listening to the soft notes throughout this clip.

Linda Wirt - Woven Memories(for “The Meadows”)
The sweet tones and melody of Clip 5 made me think of wanting to make a gift for someone special. The lightness of the music had me drawn to choosing lighter colors for this project.

Linda Wirt - A Gift for Mom (for “Memories”)
Listening to the album I had so many thoughts and visions. I could see sunrises and new growth and an awakening occurring. 1m4 really called to me. I could feel the sunrising but also something more. There was a feeling of defiance, of something delicate growing in a harsh environment. I kept coming back to the flowers growing in the northern Rockies. These soft elements standing tall against the hard, cold snow-topped peaks surrounding it.

Monica Moriak - Mountain Morning (for “Dragon Soar”)
Jeeya Hussain
This piece immediately reminded me of Aaron Copeland's "Rodeo." I have always liked "Rodeo," so it was not a stretch to like the exuberance of this composition as well. Because "Rodeo" was on my mind, so were cowboys and the American West. The image in the top left corner for the solo scheme, but is not representative of any thing in particular.

Caroline Pfefferkorn - “Aaron Copeland’s “Rodeo Revisited” (for Summon the Horns)
[this] music evokes both memory and reminiscence. The piece reminded me of adolescence and a hazy memory of that time period. I tried to create art in spin tones to harken back to a 'golden era'.

Caroline Pfefferkorn - Hazy Vibrance: Adolescence + Memory (for The Meadows)
This piece felt so nostalgic. I couldn't help but work with black and white images. There is a hopefulness to the music, so I added a bit of color as well.

Caroline Pfefferkorn - To Nostalgia, with regret and regard (for The Boat)
This piece of music immediately took me out to sea. The first thing I thought of was that scene in the movie "Titanic" where the protagonists are out on the bow of the ship and the woman has her arms wide open. In lieu of that, I decided to do a more interpretive version of the music. I was trying to capture the sea, as well as the bombastic nature of the drums in the music. In this art piece, the drums are represented by the fireworks. I felt the music was victorious as the sea lamb.

Caroline Pfefferkorn - Seafaring Freedom (for Dragon Soar)
This composition of music was so beautiful. The more I listened to it, the more is sounded like a gentle, summer rain shower. I tried to create that glow and feeling in this art card.

Caroline Pfefferkorn - Late Afternoon Summer Rain Shower (for Memories)
When I was younger, we had a piano in our house. I took piece lessons briefly, but mostly I enjoyed 'tinkling' around on the keys. During this time, I wrote a little ditty on the piano that was a bit like 'Chopsticks.' This piece reminded me of that time. I felt this musical composition was beautiful and hopeful, like our memories of childhood.

Caroline Pfefferkorn - Childhood: A Memory, A Birthday Party, Neighborhood Kids” (for The Lone Balloon)

1m2 Little Cottage Home with Flowers.jpeg

Poetry and Stories

When the Candles Come to Life

They dance, leap, and spread their light.
The silverware twirls and the curtains
join in and there's a parade of furniture
expecting your arrival.
It starts small, with toothpicks tip-toeing
across the counter, then the sun itself
relinquishes its cloud disguise to see
your face. I don't blame the sun
or the furniture for glowing
when you come home.
You're a ring in ears that
have known only silence.
-Grace Hasson
I Love You, Still

The rain is soft-
feathers from heaven.
You're all around-
dear old friend.
Clouds march-
tempest parade.
I still see your face in the
kaleidoscope of rain
-Grace Hasson
I Know You're Leaving

longing falls across my face
like a shadow or a mask.
I long for you even though
you haven't left yet.
I'm missing you before you've
kissed my cheek for the last time.
you say it'll only be three years abroad,
but I know. I know you'll fall in love
in London and fall in love with London.
and stay there. walk cobblestone streets
in the rain and wonder why you ever
thought you'd miss home.
why you ever felt like you'd be leaving
anything behind.
-Grace Hasson
Rosemary

dried petals on the dresser,
perfume lingering in the air.
she left before I could tell her-
we knew our sun would set,
turn everything red.
never thought she'd
take my heart with her
preserved-
favorite trinket.
-Grace Hasson
If I Told You I Believed in Magic

Would you laugh?
Would you shake your head
if I said I see it in you, and in the sun, and in every snowglobe
in your collection on that old wooden shelf in your bedroom.
If I told you I believed would you learn to believe?
IfI told you I love you would you hold
both my hands in yours and say, this is just like the movies.
Maybe we'll travel the world together. Gather jars of red sand
from the Sahara and blue beetles from the rainforest.
Find magic. Again and again. And maybe we'Il call it that,
or maybe we won't.
-Grace Hasson
The Remnants of a Good Party

I lie with the hardwood floor
bruising my back but I'm beside you
and maybe you're bruising me too
I really don't mind.
You always stick around to
sweep confetti and you treat
the house like it's yours too.
I try to say "what would I do without you?"
but it comes out as "Pass me that cup.'
Most days you still feel trapped behind the door
and trapped behind your parents' screaming silhouettes.
You tell me you're afraid of being like them:
"Let's keep this between you, me, and
the broken bottles."
We're both always in shards
and I try to find something
beautiful in that, but I can't see
through the green glass to what
the point of all this is.
But I hope years from now we're still lying
on the hardwood floor with confetti
sticking to us like pollen. Maybe it's better
if that wish doesn't come true, but it's all
I asked for.
-Grace Hasson
We Were Children Once

Writing letters on the sides
of piano keys.
Writing notes to pass
and loving every person
who passed through our lives.
There's something
elegant about remembering
and struggling to remember.
Velvet of a costume cape-
laughter just as the curtain rises
for the last time.
-Grace Hasson
What I Love About Reading

Traveling with the covers pulled up
to my chest. Running, racing, falling
without getting out of breath.
Scaling towers that chaff the knees
and swinging on ivy green as a pea.
Turning around to face a new adventure-
sailing seas with salt air in my lungs
and yet, I'm already home.
Words have the power to make
the unknown known.
-Grace Hasson
Garden of Memories

I went on a walk the other day.
The sun was glistening through the trees And the leaves swaying with the soft breeze I took my time walking down the street Looking down at the cracks of the sidewalk Until I saw familiar greenery ahead of me My feet stopped in their tracks
As I slowly opened the gates to the garden The garden full of memories.
The sounds of children laughing filled my ears As I glanced upwards to see three young kids Climbing up a willow tree
A smile spreads across my face and I roll my eyes When one of them shouts to the other two:
“Ha! I told you I could go farther than you both!” She looked so confident and proud
I couldn’t help but be impressed with how
The younger me carried herself so well.
I chuckled and turned away Walking further into the garden.
A wooden bench soon came into sight
With someone sitting on one end.
As I sat on the other end she lights her cigarette
And draws in a shaky breath,
Her eyes glossy and full of sorrow
Cheeks stained black from the mascara
that had run down her face minutes prior.
It pained me to look at her
To see her confidence withered away,
Losing parts of herself that she didn’t know could be lost
As she felt hollow and completely empty inside,
like there was nothing left of her to give.
This past version of myself sitting on the other end of the bench Looked at me as I sat up and left,
Not wanting to ruminate on those experiences.
Thinking about leaving the garden
I walk back the way I came in
Until colors of purple catch the corner of my eye.
The flowers danced with the wind, swinging back and forth
Almost as if they were encouraging me to come over And admire how beautiful they were.
“Those flowers are my favorite part of this place”
A voice not too far from me says.
I glance around and find the last ghost of me I saw that day Scribbling away in her journal
And she kept on going and going
Filling the pages full of ink
With all her thoughts, ideas, creations
Anything to keep her inner child alive and her imagination run free, because that was when she felt the most like herself.
To think that version of me was only two days before I went on that walk to the garden of memories.
-Jeeya Hussain
The Bravest Knight

It was a chilly December night,
Snow falls from the sky,
Covering the trees and ground outside Glistening under the moonlight.
Inside a boy in blue pajamas Sits across from his mother Drinking hot chocolate
In front of a cozy fire.
As the boy yawns, he asks his mother “Can you tell me a story?”
She smiles fondly at him and replies “Of course I can”
The boy perks up, and waits for his mother to begin “There once was a knight,” she starts
“Who was the Bravest Knight in the land,
He was admired by many, for he protected
All of the kingdom and the villages from dangers that no one else Dared to cross on their own.
From giant ogres to tiny goblins Beastly dragons and evil witches He was able to keep them at bay Moving everyone out of harm's way No matter the cost”
The boy beamed up at his mother
“Wow, he sounds so cool!” he exclaimed
“How did he get rid of them?”
His mother let out a soft laugh, and continued on “Although the knight was able to push away
All the evils that came across the kingdom’s path What he was most known for
Was not for his ability to face ungodly creatures But for how he was able to defeat them
Without the use of brute force or mighty strength. In fact, his approach was quite the opposite:
The knight was kind and gentle instead”
A puzzled look spread across the boy's face. “Kind and gentle?”
“Yes, indeed” his mother replied,
“All the creatures full of malice
Were met with his compassion
As he always tried to understand
Why each of them had come upon their pain Because he understood that those who hurt others Are hurt themselves.
The knight believed that no one was truly evil at heart, And if he helped heal them from their pain,
Then they would stop passing their suffering onto others. And that’s what happened every time:
For every witch who wanted to cast an evil spell, For every ogre that tried to eat the villagers,
For every goblin who wanted to steal and trick, For every dragon that tried to light the land ablaze, He eased them out of their harm intent.
The knight would find the anecdote the witch was looking for, Supply the ogre with more food to eat,
Give the goblin a sense of purpose it needed,
Find a place for the dragon to live freely.
This is what made the knight different from others, Benevolence was his sword and empathy was his shield.” The mother glances at the time, as she briefly says
“And that’s the story of the bravest knight”
His eyes gleaming, the boy sat in awe at his mother.
“That knight is incredible!”
She chuckles lightly, taking the now empty mug out of her son's hands And starts walking to the kitchen.
“I want to be just like him someday”
After washing the mug,
His mother makes her way towards the fireplace again. Opening her mouth to speak,
She finds the boy in the blue pajamas fast asleep, dreaming that he was the knight in the story.
-Jeeya Hussain
Wasted Youth

If it’s true that youth is wasted on the young
I hope my wise years are wasted just the same
I never want think of my time as it’s spent
Just cash in as everyone cashes out
My currency is never thoughtfully given
Reckless living to aid my dying wills
Bring on thunder and tornados
So I can stand in the storms raging winds
And waste myself again
Loving it
-Miranda Braemer

I designed these scrapbook-ish pages while listening to the first three songs in Brendan's 'Creatives' folder. They got me thinking about how it would look if there were film/movie conceptualizations of certain moments of phases of time in my life, which I tried to reflect through collaging.

Because I’m used to hearing Brendan’s broader thematic work, I was really compelled by his more atmospheric pieces. These two in particular take tender, subtle moments and flesh them out into a fully orchestral language; I tried to honor that dynamic in the visuals I generated.

Several of the clips made me feel like "spring" and others made me feel a bit darker in mood. I combined these feelings by making a spring-themed birthday card but in darker atypical spring colors.

The sweet tones and melody of Clip 5 made me think of wanting to make a gift for someone special. The lightness of the music had me drawn to choosing lighter colors for this project.

[this] music evokes both memory and reminiscence. The piece reminded me of adolescence and a hazy memory of that time period. I tried to create art in spin tones to harken back to a 'golden era'.

This piece felt so nostalgic. I couldn't help but work with black and white images. There is a hopefulness to the music, so I added a bit of color as well.

This composition of music was so beautiful. The more I listened to it, the more is sounded like a gentle, summer rain shower. I tried to create that glow and feeling in this art card.

When the Candles Come to Life

I Love You, Still

I Know You're Leaving

Rosemary

If I Told You I Believed in Magic

The Remnants of a Good Party

We Were Children Once

What I Love About Reading

Garden of Memories

The Bravest Knight

Wasted Youth

Brendan Moriak