Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three of David’s compositions that make reference to a river: Symphony No. 9, Movement I, "Shall We Gather at the River," Symphony No. 2, Movement II, "Deep River," and Symphony No. 10: The River of Time, Movement II, "Mother and Boy Watching The River of Time."
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three of David’s compositions that have the special quality of "seeking" or "searching" for something: The Seeker, Desert Roads, and Unending Stream of Life.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three compositions in which David references a color in the work's title: My Lady White, “Out of the Blue” from This is the World, and Golden Light.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three beautiful examples of David's "Songs Without Words," of which there are literally dozens to choose from: "Awakening" from Songs for the Coming Day, Evening Song, and "Lost" from Song Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three of David’s “lesser-known” chamber works: Quintet for Winds No. 4, Heaven to Clear When Day Did Close: Fantasy on a Theme of Barney Childs, and Arise!
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we examine three of David’s works that make reference to light: First Light, Illumination, and Golden Light.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we showcase creative arrangements of Give Us This Day.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we examine three of David’s works that make reference to the earth: O Earth, O Stars, Symphony No. 6: Living Earth, and Mother Earth.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three compositions that specifically mention "dreaming" or "meditation" in their title: A Child's Garden of Dreams, Movement I, Sea Dreams: Concerto for Two Horns and Wind Ensemble, Movement III, and Recitation Book, Movement I, "Broken Heart: Meditation on the chorale melody Der du bist drei in einigkeit."
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three new recordings of favorite works: Tone Studies, Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble, and First Light.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature three new performances of favorite works: Symphony No. 8, Symphony No. 5, and Hell's Gate.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature several performances of Symphony No. 10 that came as the result of Matthew Maslanka being in residency with various ensembles and their conductors.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we take a look at three of the many pupils David worked with over the years as well as one of their compositions: Symphony No. 3, "For David" by Kimberly K. Archer, This is Our Joyful Hour by Kevin Krumenauer, and Heroes from the Sea by Onsby C. Rose.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature a spectacular livestream rehearsal featuring Jerry Junkin working with the Vandegrift High School Wind Ensemble in David's epic Symphony No. 4.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature the Eastman Wind Ensemble in rousing performances of Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, Tears, and Symphony No. 2.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature captivating performances of Hymn for World Peace, Out of this World, and This is the World.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as we remember him through David's composition, Letter to Martin.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we take a special look at David's philosophies on music, the creative process, and creating peace through musical tones.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. We start the beginning of 2019 by taking time to remember the life and music of David Maslanka.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature five of the most extraordinary performances of Illumination from 2018.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature five of the most extraordinary performances of Recitation Book, Mvt. V, Fanfare/Variations on Durch Adams Fall from 2018.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature five of the most extraordinary performances of Traveler from 2018.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature five of the most extraordinary performances of Symphony No. 4 from 2018.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature five of the most extraordinary performances of Give Us This Day from 2018.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature amazing performances of Angel of Mercy, In Memoriam, and Traveler.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature spectacular performances of Mass, Liberation, and Prelude on a Gregorian Tune.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature fantastic performances of On This Bright Morning, Golden Light, Morning Star, and Illumination.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature phenomenal performances of Symphony No. 9, Hohner, and Tone Studies.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature thrilling performances of Symphony No. 5 and Recitation Book, Mvt. 5, "Fanfare/Variations on Durch Adams Fall."
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, emotional performances of Remember Me: Music for Cello and Nineteen Players, Requiem, A Solemn Music, and Beloved.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, amazing performances of Sonata for Bassoon and Piano, Movement II, Orpheus, and Little Concerto for Six Players.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, exceptional performances of Peace, Tone Studies, Movement V, "Wie Bist Du, Seele?" and David's transcription of Goldberg Variations for Saxophone Quartet.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, captivating performances of Alex and the Phantom Band, Rollo Takes a Walk, and Music for Dr. Who.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, sensational performances of California, Montana Music: Fantasy on a Chorale Tune, and Montana Music: Three Dances for Percussion.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, phenomenal performances of O Earth, O Stars, This is the World, Mvt. IV, and Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, Mvt. II.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, fantastic performances of Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble, Little Symphony on the name BArnEy CHilDS, and Desert Roads: Four Songs for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, phenomenal performances of Quintet for Winds No. 3, Movement I, Quintet for Winds No. 1, Movement 1, and the entirety of Quintet for Winds No. 2.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, amazing performances of Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble, Hell's Gate, and Symphony No. 2, Movement II.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, marvelous performances of Illumination, Heart Songs, and Mother Earth.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, spectacular performances of Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Sonata for Oboe and Piano, and Sonata for Bassoon and Piano.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we remember the life of David Maslanka and Alison Matthews with unforgettable performances of Symphony No. 4, "Song for Alison" from Song Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba, and Symphony No. 10: The River of Time.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, sensational performances of Hohner, Crown of Thorns, and Hurtling Through Space at an Unimaginable Speed.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, we feature the Masato Kumoi Saxophone Quartet with amazing performances of Songs for the Coming Day, Mountain Roads, and Recitation Book.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, a marvelous Concerto for Marimba and Band, Variations on Lost Love, and Song Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, the Münchner Rundfunkorchester gives a stunning performance of 11:11 - A Dance at the Edge of the World and World Music.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, a spectacular Concerto No. 3 for Piano and Wind Ensemble, Beloved, and "Groucho's Dance" from Concerto No. 2 for Piano and Wind Ensemble.
Maslanka Weekly highlights excellent performances of David Maslanka’s music from around the web. This week, a fantastic Symphony No 8, Hymn for World Peace, and Requiem.
David discusses his composing process and the inspiration for Symphony No. 10. This is excerpt from David's forthcoming memoir, written only months before his death.
What's next for the music of David Maslanka?
I am a constant and wide-ranging reader. My undergrad and graduate work was almost all music, with just minimum requirements in other areas. Since that time I have done extensive reading in many topics, including history, psychology, anthropology, religion, mythology and poetry. I read very little about music! History can give the facts and big ideas about an age, but poetry opens the soul, allowing an immediate and intimate engagement with people of other times.
My reading, like my composing, is not preplanned. I go where my interest pulls me. Over time it has focused on the issue of war, and with that, the foundational issue of human violence: What is it in each individual, what in society? What is the nature of war? How is violence transformed in the individual and in the world? Violence cannot be avoided or eliminated, no matter how much we may pray for peace. On the other hand, it is possible actively to work with the energy of violence. I have come to understand that violence can be transformed in composing and performing music. Players and audiences come to a unified sense of well-being. The deepest insight I can offer is this: you cannot hate while making music.
Two stories on this theme:
No. 1
I traveled to Beijing, China in July of 2016 at the invitation of Li Fangfang, founder and music director of the Beijing Wind Symphony, and the Asia-Pacific Band Directors Association which was holding its 19th annual conference. Bands are […]
David Maslanka shakes the hand of Li Fangfang after a powerful performance of Symphony No. 4 by the Beijing Wind Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Li invited David to participate in the 2016 Asia Pacific Band Directors Association Conference.
On Feb. 4 2016, I traveled from New York City to meet Tim Mahr and the St. Olaf Band at Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, New Jersey. We were hosted by director of bands Chris Wilhjelm.
Rehearsing Angel of Mercy with the St. Olaf Band and Dr. Tim Mahr in Montvale, NJ
The St. Olaf Band had been on tour and had done at least six performances of the piece before I heard the music for the first time at Chris Wilhjelm’s school. We had only an hour to rehearse. 
Rehearsing Angel of Mercy with the St. Olaf Band and Dr. Tim Mahr in Montvale, NJ
This was only a beginning time of my hearing into the music, and helping the band fully to embrace it. They were playing well but they were still searching for the voice of the piece. 
The St. Olaf Band bassoons: (Left to Right) Joshua Kosberg, Colin Scheibner, Eliza Madden. The bassoons open Angel of Mercy with a gorgeous soli chorale.
The music wasn’t complete in my […]
Playing Symphony No. 9 with a high school band was supposed to be impossible. Sam Ormson writes about his musical development through David's music.